FAQ

Once you have found an item you wish to purchase, select your size, stone size and metal type if applicable and then click ADD TO BAG. You can then continue shopping or review the items in your shopping bag by clicking BAG in the top right-hand corner of the website. From your bag click PAY NOW SECURELY, you can then either log in to your already existing account or create one by complete the information as requested.

At CARAT* London your security is very important to us and we use an advanced security system for our online customers. We offer Verified by Visa and MasterCard® Securecode which help to prevent unauthorised use by confirming your identity with an extra password when you make an online transaction. To use this service, you must register with your issuing bank. To find our more please visit the links below:

Master Card - http://www.mastercard.us/securecode.html

Visa Card - https://usa.visa.com/personal/security/vbv/index.jsp

Most orders are shipped within 3-12 working days if the item is in stock. If an item is not in stock and needs to be made to order, then it will be shipped within 9-10 Weeks. Occasionally our workshop can get a little busier than normal meaning this process may take slightly longer, we will notify you if this is the case. If an item is on pre-order this can take up to 8 weeks for delivery. If you require an item urgently then please do let us know and we will do our best to get it to you.

For more information on shipping times please see: SHIPPING INFORMATION

All CARAT* London stones are hand and precision machine cut and polished by highly trained stonecutters, therefore if an item is being made to order then the process takes a little longer to complete.

Once you have placed your online purchase you can track the status of your order by logging into your account. We will also keep you informed of the status of your order by email. 

Unfulfilled - The item/s on your order are being sourced or hand made for you. This can take between 3-30 working days. We will contact you via email to inform you of the full status of your order along with your estimated shipping date:  

Email Status: Sourcing Stock - We are currently in the processes of sourcing the items for you and will update you with an estimated shipping date shortly. 

Email Status: In Stock- The item is in stock. The estimated delivery date will be 3-12 working days from the order date. An email notification with tracking number will be sent out once package has been dispatched.

Email Notification: On Special Order- The item is currently being made for you in our workshop and it will take 30 working days from the date you place your order. 

Fulfilled- Your order has been completed and shipped. You should receive an email confirmation of this along with your tracking number. You can track the whereabouts of your shipment by logging into your account. 

Due to the high value of goods we offer, we require a proof of delivery for all online orders. We are unable to authorise packages to be delivered without a signature. If no one is home to sign for the parcel it will be returned to the local delivery office, you can then re-arrange delivery or collect the item in person. This will require proof of ID.

No, they are not Diamonds. While we agree that nothing sparkles quite like a natural gemstone, we believe you will not find a better alternative anywhere else. Many jewellers have also agreed that to the naked eye our stones are very difficult to distinguish from a natural stone because of their very similar characteristics. We employ the same processes and techniques as found in fine jewellery making when it comes to CARAT* jewellery and all of our stones are hand and precision machine cut and polished by highly trained and experienced stone cutters.

For more information on our stones please see: ABOUT OUR STONES

We use premium synthetic stones, high quality Zirconia Crystals and Corundum (lab-grown Sapphire) to create CARAT* London stones. These are then hand and precision machine cut with meticulous attention to detail to create high-quality stones that re second to none.

Standard CZ vs CARAT* cut stones:

* For standard CZ stones low- grade raw material is used in a non-sterile environment resulting in poor clarity crystals with low colour grades.

* CARAT* ‘rough’ crystals are produced in an ultra-clean environment using refined raw materials.

* With standard CZ stones Inferior cutting techniques are used which produce less than perfect stone proportions meaning the stones do not refract and reflect light in an ideal way.

* CARAT* stones are hand and precision machine cut which takes 20 times longer than standard machine cut stones. We employ the same methods to cut CARAT* stones as a traditional diamond cutter would.

* Incomplete facet polishing creates the milky or cloudy effect you see in many inferior CZ stones.

* CARAT* stones are individually polished by hand with meticulous attention to detail making sure not to forgetting the Crown and Pavilion facets that are notoriously left unpolished in standard market CZ stones.

Moissanite vs CARAT* cut stones:

* Moissanite is in fact a faintly green stone which can be seen in natural daylight. Typically, when compared on the white diamond GIA colour scale Moissanite comes in at a respectable I, J and K grade.

* CARAT* stones, rate much high at D or E grade, with D being top of the scale.

* The internal facets of Moissanite can appear blurry when examined closely due to the crystal structure altering the velocity of the light wavelengths unevenly within the stone.

* CARAT* stones are more accurate from an optical point of view, with ultra clean facet lines from the top of the stone.

Colour: Normally when scored against the GIA diamond colour scale, CARAT* stones are an equivalent of D or E in colour. With D being the top of the scale.

Clarity: Typically we yield a clarity of “IF” (internally Flawless) although VVS1 (Very Very Small Inclusions) can be noted in some larger CARAT* stones. The vast majority of CARAT* stones will appear flawless to the naked eye.

For more information on the colour and clarity of our stones please see: ABOUT OUR STONES

We offer 2 settings types, 9k Gold and Sterling Silver.

9K Gold (375Au Gold): Our gold is an alloy of gold mixed with other white metals such as silver and palladium. It is then plated with Rhodium, a Platinum family metal, to give it durability and outstanding shine.

Sterling Silver: Sterling silver is a precious metal comprised of 92.5% pure silver and the rest in an alloy. All our silver is then plated with Rhodium, at platinum family metal, to give it durability and outstanding shine.

For further information on our metals please see: METAL TYPE GUIDE

All purchases at CARAT* have a warranty of one year from the date of purchase (date of delivery for online orders) against workmanship defects. Proof of purchase is required to implement the warranty. The warranty does not cover loss of items/stones or damages caused by accidents, fair wear and tear and/or poor care and attention. Repair fees may be charged if there is any indication of negligence.

CARAT* stones carry a lifetime guarantee on their brilliance and fire. Scratches, micro scratches and damage to the stone caused by negligence, poor care and attention or wear and tear are not covered under this warranty. 

Unfortunately, due to the number of orders produced through our workshops, we are unable to offer a bespoke jewellery service to our customers. Alterations to existing items such as stone colour, metal type or stone size are also not offered unless clearly stated on the product page.

We unfortunately do not sell loose stones.

Once a return has been received by our aftercare team this can take up to 2days to be assessed and processed. Once the refund has been processed it will take 5-10 working days to show back into your account.

Repairs and Alterations can take around 4 weeks in total to be completed. When an item is received for repair/alteration, our aftercare team will assess the piece and provide a detailed report to advise the best course of action, this process takes around 1 week. It will then take a further 2-3 weeks for the repair/alteration to be completed at our workshop and then returned to you.