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.
The Four Cs
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.
Graded D–Z. Most Mara engagement diamonds fall between D and G — a rare, icy white that pairs beautifully with platinum.
Hand-selected to be eye-clean. We favour VS1–VS2 — inclusions invisible to the naked eye, at meaningful value.
Weight, not size. We'll show you stones across carat weights so you can feel the difference on your own finger before choosing.
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.
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?
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