A Guide to Diamond Engagement & Wedding Rings for LGBTQ Couples

Choosing a diamond engagement or wedding ring is both an emotional and technical decision. As specialist LGBTQ+ jewellers with decades of experience working with natural and lab-grown diamonds, we understand that quality, provenance and design all matter.

ALL GUIDES

Two Brides Ring Guide

Two Grooms Ring Guide

Precious Metals Guide

Care & Cleaning Guide

FAQs

Whether you’re choosing a classic solitaire, a bold statement band, or a rainbow diamond design, this guide will help you understand your options with confidence.

Anatomy of a Diamond
Diamonds are precisely cut to maximise their beauty and brilliance. Although they may look straightforward, each diamond is made up of different sections that work together to reflect and refract light. From the flat top surface to the pointed base, every part of the diamond’s structure affects how it handles light and how bright it appears. We hope this diagram helps you to better understand the complexity of diamonds.

The 4 C's of Diamonds
When choosing a diamond, it’s important to understand that no two stones are ever exactly the same. Each diamond has its own balance of characteristics that work together to determine its overall beauty and value. The key is not simply to chase the highest technical grades, but to find the right combination for your eye, your design and your budget.

Carat - the weight of a diamond. 1 carat is 0.2 grams. Engagement or wedding rings may feature a single 0.05 ct to 0.5 ct diamond, or a cluster of smaller stones. Just a footnote - you should not confuse the carat weight of diamonds with the carat used for the purity of gold (e.g. 18ct gold).
Colour - diamonds are graded from D to Z where D is completely colourless (most prized and expensive), while Z has a yellow hue. Most engagement rings use 'near colourless' stones, typically graded G-H. The standard set by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) describes the grade ranges as follows:
Clarity - is a way to describe marks and flaws within a diamond. Tiny "inclusions" are small pieces of black carbon or other minerals located inside the diamond. External blemishes, those on the surface of the stone, are also incorporated into the clarity score of a diamond. Popular grades for engagement rings are VS1, VS2 ('very slightly imperfect') and SI1, SI2 ('slightly imperfect'). In these classifications, there are imperfections but so tiny you can't see them with the naked eye. Diamonds are formally graded according to the following scale:
Cut - the shape and facet arrangement. The most usual cut is the "modern brilliant" which has 58 facets to maximise the diamond's sparkle. Other popular choices are princess (square) cut and baguette (rectangular) cut. There are many other fancy diamond shapes, so select the one that suits your style - see the section below for further details.

The price of a diamond reflects all of these qualities and other characteristics unique to the stone. With expert guidance, you can select a diamond that feels exceptional to you - one that delivers sparkle, presence and meaning in equal measure.

Rainbow Diamonds
At WOOLTON & HEWITT, coloured diamonds are our specialty. We source natural stones that are treated to create vibrant colours, allowing us to set rings in the colours of the LGBTQ+ rainbow. Our EMOTION in DIAMONDS collection features iconic rainbow engagement and wedding rings, a truly symbolic way to celebrate love, diversity, and self-expression.

Lab-Grown Diamonds
The quality and availability of lab-grown diamonds has increased dramatically in recent years. These are true diamonds, but created in a laboratory rather than deep within the Earth.

The process uses high temperature and pressure starting from a tiny carbon seed to form a full-sized diamond suitable for jewellery.
Main benefit: more affordable than natural diamonds, without compromising on beauty or durability.

We offer both natural and lab-grown diamonds, so you have the freedom to choose the option that best suits your values and budget.

Key Diamond Shapes
The cut of a diamond plays a crucial role in how it interacts with light and how it ultimately appears in a ring. Each shape carries its own character - from timeless and traditional to bold and expressive - so the right choice depends on your personal style, the setting design and the statement you wish your ring to make.

lgbtq diamond engagement ring collection

Brilliant Cut - The most classic and widely chosen cut, its round shape is engineered to maximise light return and sparkle through its precise faceting - see example design.
Princess Cut - A contemporary square shape with sharp corners and strong brilliance, offering a clean and modern look - see example design.
Baguette Cut - A slim, rectangular step-cut stone with understated sparkle, often used for a sleek, minimalist aesthetic - see example design.
Heart Shape - A romantic and symbolic cut that requires expert craftsmanship to achieve perfect symmetry and maximum brilliance - see example design.
Asscher Cut - A square step-cut design with cropped corners and a distinctive 'hall of mirrors' effect, known for its sophistication - see our bespoke pieces.
Marquise Cut - An elongated shape with pointed ends, designed to create a graceful and dramatic silhouette - see our bespoke pieces.

Beyond determining the shape of the stone, the quality of the cut influences brilliance, fire and overall presence. To learn about the anatomy of a brilliant cut diamond click here.

Conflict-Free Diamonds and Sustainability
We believe diamonds should be something to celebrate. That’s why we work with partners who share our commitment to responsible sourcing and ethical business practices.

We aim to ensure the diamonds used in our wedding jewellery come from legitimate sources and are traded through transparent supply chains. Industry initiatives such as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme help prevent the trade of conflict diamonds. All of our suppliers comply with the Code of Practices of the Responsible Jewellery Council, thus ensuring that the diamonds we use meet these international standards.

Conflict-free sourcing aligned with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
Transparency and traceability in the diamond supply chain
Respect for human rights in mining, cutting and trading
Prevention of child labour and forced labour
Safe working conditions in diamond cutting and polishing
Environmental responsibility in diamond mining

We expect all companies in the supply chain to respect human rights, avoid child or forced labour, and operate in ways that minimise environmental impact. By choosing responsible suppliers we aim to ensure that the jewellery we create is produced in ways that respect people, communities and the environment.

Written by Paul - Founder of WOOLTON & HEWITT and LGBTQ+ wedding jewellery specialist
Reviewed by the WOOLTON & HEWITT workshop and design teams