Guide · 6 min read
Natural vs Lab-Grown Diamonds
What's actually different, what's identical, and how to decide which is right for your ring.
Diamond Education
What to know before you choose.
A short, honest guide to the things that matter most — written by our gemmologists, for the people who'll wear what we make.
Chapter One
The Four Cs
Cut
The single biggest driver of brilliance. We work almost exclusively with Excellent and Ideal-cut diamonds — light return is what makes a stone come alive on the hand.
Colour
Graded D–Z. Most Mara engagement diamonds fall between D and G — a rare, icy white that pairs beautifully with platinum.
Clarity
Hand-selected to be eye-clean. We favour VS1–VS2 — inclusions invisible to the naked eye, at meaningful value.
Carat
Weight, not size. We'll show you stones across carat weights so you can feel the difference on your own finger before choosing.
Chapter Two
Lab-grown & Natural
Both are real diamonds — chemically, optically and physically identical. The difference is origin and price. We work fluently in both and will help you decide what's right for the piece.
Natural Diamonds
Formed deep in the earth over billions of years. Rarity is built into the price — expect to pay 2–4× more, with stronger long-term value retention. Each one is traceable and conflict-free under the Kimberley Process.
Lab-grown Diamonds
Grown in a laboratory in a matter of weeks using the same conditions as the earth. Identical to the eye, the loupe and the certificate — typically 60–75% less for a comparable stone, so you can choose a larger or finer diamond at the same budget.
Chapter Three
Ring Sizing & Width
Sizing
Australian sizes run alphabetically (commonly F–Z). Fingers swell in heat and shrink in cold — we always size at the end of a warm day, never first thing in the morning. If you're not sure, we'll send a complimentary sizing kit.
- · Average women's size in Australia: M
- · Average men's size in Australia: S–T
- · All Mara rings can be resized within ±2 sizes
Band Width
Width changes how a ring sits — and how it pairs with a wedding band beside it.
- · 1.8 – 2.0 mm — delicate, classic
- · 2.2 – 2.5 mm — most popular for engagement
- · 2.8 – 3.5 mm — substantial, contemporary
- · 4 – 6 mm — men's wedding bands
Still deciding?
Book a ConsultationGuides & Education
Everything you need to know, before you buy.
Honest, plain-English guides written by working jewellers — so you can choose with confidence, not pressure.
Guide · 8 min read
How to Choose an Engagement Ring
A step-by-step framework — from her style cues to setting, stone and metal.
Guide · 5 min read
Understanding Diamond Shapes
Round, oval, pear, cushion, emerald, marquise — finger flattery, sparkle and price compared.
Guide · 7 min read
Engagement Ring Budget Guide
What you really get at $3k, $5k, $10k and beyond — and where to spend vs save.
Guide · 6 min read
Custom Ring Design Process
Inside our atelier: consultation, sketch, CAD, wax, casting, setting and final polish.
Guide · 8 min read
Choosing the Perfect Diamond
The 4 Cs in real life — and the lesser-known factors that affect a stone's brilliance.
Guide · 5 min read
Oval vs Round Diamonds
Sparkle, finger coverage, price per carat — how the two most-loved shapes really compare.
Guide · 5 min read
Diamond Carat Size Guide
What 1ct, 1.5ct, 2ct and 3ct actually look like on the hand — across every shape.
Guide · 7 min read
Engagement Ring Styles Explained
Solitaire, halo, three-stone, hidden halo, bezel, vintage — find the style that suits you.