Buying Diamonds: Frequently Asked Questions

VISITING MARLOWS

We are situated in the heart of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, at 46/47 Warstone Lane – just by Chamberlains Central Column clock, right next door to Barclays Bank.

Yes, we are open 7 days a week (except Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day).

To keep a diamond wedding ring in good condition, clean it regularly with a mild detergent and a soft brush. Avoid exposing it to harsh chemicals and store it separately to avoid scratches. Professional cleaning is also required regularly to keep them looking glossy and new.

Yes, you very certainly can customize your ring. Just make sure which style you want to give your new ring. Still, if you have any confusion, we have a team who will help you to solve all your queries. Visit or book an appointment to discuss further.

For a harmonious look, your engagement ring and wedding band should be similar in width. A matching width creates a cohesive and visually appealing design that ensures the rings pair perfectly together.

ADVICE

Diamonds sparkle because of the way light works within the stone. Light funnels into the top of the diamond, disperses in a circle and then funnels back out of the top of the stone again. Therefore, round diamonds give the most sparkle of any diamond shape.

There is no need to pre-book a consultation, as our showrooms are open 7 days a week and all our staff are experts in assessing the suitability of a particular design for each individual – so simply come along at your leisure and we will assist you.

DELIVERY

We use the Royal Mail. All shipments will need to be signed for at delivery and all are trackable.

Please contact us for more information on international shipping.

SERVICES

Any purchase made from Marlow’s comes with a lifetime free cleaning and polishing service.

We can certainly arrange engraving for you, as we utilise a specialist engravers within the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter. Alternatively, you are free to visit them directly.

We have 3 manufacturing workshops, so depending on the complexity of the design, we can manufacture a customised engagement ring in as little as 2 hours.

All our products come packaged in presentation boxes.

Our product range is too vast to be covered in a catalogue, but we show a wide selection on our website. There is no equivalent for seeing a diamond in the flesh, though, so a trip to our showroom is a must.

We want the best for you, just like you do. All our diamond jewellery, including engagement rings, is made with the highest quality diamonds. It’s okay if you don’t believe us but you will have to believe the GIA which is the most trusted diamond grading organization in the world. All our diamonds are tested and graded by the GIA experts. We will provide you the proof in form of certificates issued by the same so you can check the details of the diamond engagement rings you have shortlisted. In fact, you can check these certificates online on our product pages before you even make the purchase!

OUR DIAMONDS

The carat is the physical weight of the diamond and not the actual measurements of the stone. We hold a huge range of different carat weights in our showrooms, in a multitude of shapes. We have one of the largest stocks of diamonds available to view in the UK, ranging from 0.20cts – 10.00 cts.

All our certified diamonds are provided with their authentication certificate and a valuation certificate for insurance purposes.

We strongly recommend you consider the GIA, IGI and HRD laboratories. Our diamonds are renowned for superb quality and all come with independent certificates from internationally recognised bodies, such as GIA.

Despite being one of the hardest natural substances, diamonds can be cut. Expert diamond cutters will use the cleaving or sawing process to cut diamonds. To shape, facet, and polish a diamond, diamond-coated tools are used.

Cleaving and sawing are the two main methods for cutting diamonds. Cleaving is used when the diamond has notable grains, allowing the diamond cutters to easily identify structural weaknesses to split the rough stone. Sawing, which uses lasers or diamond-coated saws, is more commonly used as it offers greater control and precision.

Before cutting, a diamond looks like a translucent stone. It lacks the iconic shine and facets but has a unique raw beauty.

Before polishing, a diamond has its shape and facets but lacks the final shine. It will appear a bit cloudy, waiting for the final polish to glow brilliantly.

Aimee Pollard

Visited Marlows for an engagement ring and Sandeep

was the biggest gem of all. Marianne was fantastic to us,, Showing me different diamonds until I found the right one. 👍😍

Emma

Great experience purchasing my eternity ring! Got exactly what

I wanted at a good price! All three rings (engagement, wedding and now eternity) have been purchased at Marlow’s. Would recommend to friends and family if looking for jewellery! Show room has every type of ring you can imagine! Thank you - I love my final ring set.

Hayley

Sara managed to sort out our new ring sizes very quickly.

We had our rings beautifully cleaned and resized. And all complimentary as part of our aftercare. We cannot rate Marlows high enough. Thank you!

Lisa Dorsett

Best in the quarter. Returned after 10 years to be helped by Marianne again

who has such unique attention to detail. Marianne helped us choose the perfect eternity ring, her whole approach is so personal. Other jewellers do not offer the same quality products that are reasonably priced with this expertise.Do not waste your time going anywhere else.