The 4Cs, are the globally accepted standard for assessing the quality of a diamond —color, clarity, cut and carat weight.

1. Cut

Of all the 4Cs, diamond cut has the greatest effect on a diamond’s beauty. In determining the quality of the cut, the diamond grader evaluates the cutter’s skill in the fashioning of the diamond. The more precise the diamond is cut, the more captivating the diamond is to the eye.

2. Color

The color of gem-quality diamonds occurs in many hues. In the range from colorless to light yellow or light brown. Colorless diamonds are the rarest. Other natural colors (blue, red, pink for example) are known as “fancy,” and their color grading is different than from white colorless diamonds.

3. Clarity

Diamonds can have internal characteristics known as inclusions or external characteristics known as blemishes. Diamonds without inclusions or blemishes are rare; however, most characteristics can only be seen with magnification.

4. Carat

The carat is the diamond’s physical weight measured in metric carats. One carat equals 1/5 gram and is subdivided into 100 points. Carat weight is the most objective grade of the 4Cs.

The 4Cs are a great place to start when looking for the center stone on your engagement ring. Choosing one or two of these elements as your priority will help you find your perfect stone according to your budget. For example, if you’re looking to prioritize color and clarity because you love the look of a 'flawless' diamond, then you may opt for a smaller carat size. If you want a large carat size, color and clarity may not be as high on your list.

All in all, you want to base your purchase off of what you like the best to your naked eye. Just how that saying goes… “don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” you also don’t want to judge a diamond solely by its certificate.

Short answer: mined (natural diamonds) are grown by the Earth over billions of years and lab-grown diamonds are grown by professionals in a machine. Both are chemically and physically identical, with the same optical properties.

It would take a trained professional with expensive, high-tech equipment to tell the two apart. Any lab-grown diamond sold by Cleo & Me will have a laser inscription on the girdle that states it's a lab-grown stone. It will have the lab grading report number along with either "lab grown" or "LG". But you can only see it with a gem loupe, not with a naked eye.

Please read our in-depth article about lab-grown diamonds for more information.

Platinum is one of the toughest of all metals. If you work with your hands a lot, you may want to consider platinum. Its density allows it to withstand scratches well (though all metals will eventually scratch with normal wear), and it’s one of the only metals that doesn’t have “memory.” This means that once platinum is shaped into place, it stays like that.

Platinum is also considered a real white metal, which means that the color will not fade but will develop a patina (a soft satin glow) over years. This patina is revered in Japan as a metaphor for a long-lasting relationship of love, making it a popular metal choice there.

Since it’s a pure metal, platinum costs more than gold, but it can be worth it for those who want a strong and hearty metal. Since platinum is pure, it’s hypoallergenic.

In a nutshell, 10k is 41.7% pure gold, 14k is 58.5% pure gold, 18k is 75% pure gold, and 24k is 99.99% or above pure gold. Different alloy combinations give different K gold various colors. One manufacturer's 14K white gold may look different from another brand's 14K white gold.

10k gold has a good color payoff and is strong and durable. 14k gold is high-quality and durable. With a good color payoff, it represents the best compromise between price and actual quality. And if you want strength and purity for your jewelry, 18k gold is the best option. It should be noted, however, that in 18k gold, the yellow color is more predominant, so 18k rose gold will look more orange-red than rose-tinted. Pure gold is commonly used for gold coins or bars, which people may purchase and sell as an investment, and for medical devices. Unless with some type of special technique, 100% pure gold is not suitable for wearable jewelry.

• 10K Gold: 41.7% gold; 58.3% other metals.
• Most 14k yellow gold is comprised of 58.50% yellow gold, 31.25% copper, 5.25% zinc, and 5% silver.
• Most 14k white gold is made of 58.50% yellow gold, 23% copper, 9.50% nickel, and 9% zinc.
• Most 14k rose gold is comprised of 58.50% yellow gold, 39.50% copper, and 1% each of zinc and silver.
• Most 18k yellow gold is made of 75.50% yellow gold, 12% silver, 11.25% copper, and 1.25% zinc.
• Most 18k white gold contains 75.50% yellow gold, 14.50 copper, 5.75% nickel, 3.50% zinc, and 0.75% silver.
• Most 18k rose gold has 75.50% yellow gold, 22.25% copper, 1.25% zinc, and 1% silver.

Sterling silver is a precious metal made from 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% metal alloy (typically copper). Sterling silver is also known as "925 silver" or hallmarked with a "925" stamp, due to its composition.

We use the GIA, IGI, and GCAL for diamond or gemstone certification.

We certify all natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, and natural precious gemstones weighing 1 carat or more.

Occasionally, we might certify smaller stones depending on their value. Please see the product page to determine if it has a certificate and from which lab.

Moissanite is a mineral composed of silicon carbide. In its natural form, moissanite remains very rare. Today, moissanite is exclusively grown in laboratories as an alternative to diamonds. Although they look very similar, compositionally they’re quite different. Diamonds are composed of carbon and moissanites are composed of silicon carbide.

To a trained eye, visually moissanite is slightly more brilliant, a.k.a. produces more rainbow ‘fire’ than a diamond when light hits the stone’s surface due to it has a higher refractive index. Another difference is that diamond is physically slightly harder than moissanite, which moissanite is a 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale compared to a diamond’s rating of 10. With very little difference in the properties, moissanite price is much more affordable than diamond, which makes it a very promising and unique stone, especially for the engagement ring market.

Cubic zirconia (CZ) is another popular diamond simulant, but it falls short in several aspects when compared to moissanite. Moissanite is harder and more durable than cubic zirconia, ensuring longevity and resistance to scratches. In terms of brilliance and fire, moissanite also surpasses cubic zirconia, offering an unmatched sparkle. Lastly, moissanite is more resistant to dirt and oils, meaning your gemstone will require less frequent cleaning. Moissanite is gem-quality, but CZ is widely used in fashion jewelry. CZ is much less expensive than moissanite.

There are only four precious stones: diamond, sapphire, ruby and emerald. All other stones are, therefore, called semi-precious stones. Traditionally, these four precious stones have been the most expensive and sought-after stones. Nowadays, people still categorize gemstones using these two names, but the price of a rare, good-quality semi-precious stone may be far more expensive than a less desirable colored precious gemstone with many inclusions. For example, many natural pearls garner huge prices, often worth more than a low-quality precious diamond, ruby, emerald, or sapphire. Spinels are another example. Additionally, many semi-precious stones can be rarer than some precious stones. Demantoid garnets or tsavorite garnets and many other semi-precious gemstones are hard to find, harder to mine, and produced in much lower quality than precious gemstones.

It's worth mentioning that this separation between precious and semi-precious has no real scientific backing. For example, emeralds are a variety of beryl, and so are aquamarines. Emeralds are precious, while aquamarines are semi-precious.
So, when purchasing a gemstone, we wouldn’t suggest getting too caught up on whether the stone is precious or semi-precious. All gemstones are precious in the sense that if they provide meaning and value to you in a piece of jewelry, they are special! Bear in mind that colors are subjective and a piece of jewelry is emotional. So please keep an open mind when shopping for colorful gemstones.

Yes! Even if it's a ready-to-ship design, we can still make a special one for you! Just contact us about where you want to make a change on which item, e.g., a bigger/smaller stone, different color of the stone or the band, or a different shank style, or even add some elements to the ring, and we can all accommodate your request.

1. Tell us about your dream jewelry piece, including your budget and deadline.

2. Our elite design team will work with you to choose the perfect gem, metal, and style to turn your dream into a beautiful and producible design.

3. Make changes and adjustments until you approve the final design.

4. Your one-of-a-kind jewelry will be made with the highest attention to detail, unmatched quality, and the most skillful craftsmanship.

If you communicate and respond to us in a timely fashion, it will take about 4-6 weeks from initial contact to receive your custom jewelry.

Please add a note at the time of order, and we will contact you regarding the wording, style and location you'd like.

For the MOST ACCURATE way to make sure that the ring you ordered will fit you PERFECTLY, is to first order a FREE ring size measurement tool from us before you order that ring. Trust us you will never regret of the extra time you spend on trying a ring size fitter. It will give you the exact size that fits best on the finger you want to wear that ring.

Your weight and finger size will change a longtime, and your left-hand size might be different from your right-hand size and the specific finger, even the place on that finger which you want to wear the ring DIFFERS. If you randomly buy a ring sizer elsewhere, the ring sizer itself might be wrong and not accurate in the first place. (We've tested so many, and a lot were defective and did not provide the correct U.S. size.) Also, the printed "convenient" do-it-yourself ring size DOESN'T measure correctly at all because you don't know how tight you need to put that pressure when measuring. We don't recommend these at all because they will most likely give you the wrong information, which will cost you significantly more money and time to fix later.

Just pay shipping, with the FREE Cleo & Me Ring Sizer Tool, you will get an accurate measurement of your ring size. You will be confident that the ring you ordered from us will fit you perfectly. And you can reuse the tool as many times as you need and to measure any finger in the future. A piece of mind is what you need when ordering a ring.

We STRONGLY RECOMMEND everyone to order a FREE Cleo & Me ring size fitter before you order a ring, as it will give you the most accurate U.S. ring size.

Measure wrist size is easy: 1. Wrap a strip of paper, or piece of string, around your wrist where you’d like your new bracelet to sit.

2. Measure this length with a ruler to find your circumference. Falling between two sizes? We recommend sizing up if you enjoy a looser fit or down if you prefer a more snug style.

There is no unified answer- You may want different lengths for different styles of necklaces. So, the best way to find out which length to order is to measure some of your current necklaces with different lengths, and try them on to compare and choose which length may work best for the look you want with the necklace you're going to order.

For in-stock items, as long as your order status is not shipped, you can email us to cancel your order if you no longer want it. For custom made orders, please contact us as soon as you want to make a change, but we can't guarantee that it can be canceled or changed since it can go into production at any time. But we will try our best to accommodate your request.

Of course we do! Just select "gift packaging" which requires an additional fee during checkout, and your item will be packed into a nice and luxurious box that for sure will surprise and impress your loved one. If you don't select the "gift packaging" option, your item will still come with a Cleo & Me microfiber pouch, which is perfect to carry when traveling. We don't automatically include the cost of a gift box to all of our products to save you and the earth from unnecessary expenditure and burden if you throw it anyway; based on a survey that most people will store their jewelry in their own organizer instead of the original jewelry box that comes with it.

We ship everything from Irvine, California, USA. We're sorry, but we don't offer in-person pickup at the moment.

We ship worldwide. International shipping fee will be automatically calculated once you provide your address. There are often duties and taxes associated with importing jewelry, we don't prepay any duty or taxes. Please contact your country's Customs agency for more information.

It depends on which specific product you order. We list the estimated processing time in each product's description. Please refer to it. Typically, we ship most in-stock, ready-to-ship products within 2 business days. For custom-made products, the processing time is usually 2-4 weeks. For out-of-stock products, we will email you an estimated shipping time after receiving your order.

We offer free standard shipping on all US orders above $500.00 and free express shipping on all US orders above $10,000. If your order total is below that limit, the shipping fee is automatically calculated based on the order total.

We require a signature on delivery for items over $500. We ship all orders with full value insured when your order total exceeds $500.

For non-customized items, If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you may return it in its original, unworn condition within 7 days for a full refund or exchange. The customer is responsible for the return shipping fee, and for any jewelry item over $500, the item(s) must be sent back with an insured shipping method. Cleo & Me is not responsible for items that are lost or damaged before we receive your returned item(s). 

To return an item, follow these return procedures:

1. Email our Customer Service department at orders@cleoandme.shop

2. Provide the order number with the item number, item name, and quantity that you want to return.

3. Once we authorize the return, we will send you an RMA with the returned shipping information. Securely pack your item and take it to your chosen carrier. If you need packaging materials, the carrier's shipping office can assist you.

4. Reply to the return authorization email we sent you with your shipment carrier name and the tracking number.

5. Our Quality Assurance team will receive and inspect your item(s) to ensure they are in unworn condition and verify that all promotional gift(s) with purchase are present before issuing a refund. If it's unworn and in the original condition that we sent you, with the original label attached to the item, and any certificate or gifts or gift card sent with the original order, if applicable, we will issue you a full refund of the item, without the shipping cost, and email you of the return status. If it's not in the original condition, we will deduct the restocking fee of 10%-100% at our scrutiny and email you the return status.

6. All refunds will be processed within two weeks in the form of the original purchase method. Bank wires will be refunded via company check.

Additional Terms & Conditions

Special orders, engraved jewelry, custom-designed jewelry, and personalized jewelry, such as name necklaces, are not returnable. Items that have been previously exchanged are not returnable. Items sent to our office without an RMA number, packages shipped beyond the 7-day return period, or packages improperly packaged or uninsured when they are over $500 in value will not be accepted.

Returned merchandise must be undamaged and in "new and unused condition" to be deemed acceptable for refund or exchange. Items showing obvious signs of wear or alteration will not be accepted.

If the certificate or the original laboratory grading report is missing, a $150 charge will be assessed to replace the original one.

We cannot resize eternity bands and tension rings, as they need to be completely re-crafted. Therefore, it is very important that you order the correct size at the time of purchase. If you need help determining a ring size or bracelet, please use our ring sizer widget or contact our Customer Service team.

The best way to ensure you get the most benefits is to join Cleo & Me Rewards! You accumulate points for every purchase you make, and the points can be redeemed for credit towards your future purchases.

We run promotions on certain items from time to time, so please browse the "sale" section to see which products are on sale. If we have a site wide promotion, it will be displayed on the website.

For corporate ordering or group purchases over $50,000.00, please reach out to sales@cleoandme.shop for special pricing.

We offer a complimentary one-year warranty on all our jewelry. Manufacturing defects like breakage or tarnishing are covered in this time and we're committed to fixing these quickly and at no cost to you. However, our warranty does not cover lost items, scratches that come with normal wear and tear (like a bent ring or broken chain), improper use or storage of your product, and any modification to your product done by a third party outside of Cleo & Me.

Contact us if you have any questions or want to make a warranty claim.

- Fashion Jewelry Care

Preserve your jewelry's plating by avoiding contact with water, cleaning agents, beauty products, and anything containing derivatives of alcohol. Remove jewelry prior to exercise, washing your hands or swimming. Gently clean your jewelry with a soft, dry cotton cloth to renew its shine.

Especially for sterling silver, to prevent silver from oxidizing, we recommend you do not swim, bathe, or shower in your jewelry.  Storing your jewelry in a dustbag or box with the polishing cloth will prevent unwanted tarnish. If tarnishing does occur, gently clean your jewelry with the provided polishing cloth.

Another great investment is a personal ultrasonic cleaner to keep your beauties extra shiny all the time.

- Fine Jewelry Care

Gold - especially in karats lower than 22k - can have a tarnishing reaction with some people’s skin over time but a polishing cloth will do the trick. We encourage being mindful of your jewelry while exercising. Rings in particular can be subject to bending or lost stones with weights, pulleys or other equipment.

Fine jewelry can be gently washed with warm water and mild soap. Make sure to rinse well. Dry completely with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid chlorine and cleaning agents. While it won’t tarnish, it can minimize its golden shine or damage fragile gemstones.

Our fine pieces are delicate and must be stored properly to avoid tangles, bends or breaks. We suggest storing your pieces in individual pouches, separate from one another, clasped, laid flat or hung.

Yes, we do. To qualify for our wholesale program, you must be a verified jeweler or jewelry retailer with industry affiliation. Please contact wholesale@cleoandme.shop for MOQ, account setup, and other details.