Introducing the Leo Diamond - Exclusive to Ernest Jones

Handcrafted by Leo Schachter, one of the leading fine diamond companies, the Leo Diamond is captivating, breathtaking and desired by women everywhere. Forming the stunning centrepiece of an exquisite collection of rings, pendants and earrings, it is available only at Ernest Jones.

Visibly brighter and independently certified

Visibly brighter  than conventional diamonds, the Leo® Diamond is the first diamond to be indepenently certified for its superior brilliance. With its exclusive patented cut, it is the ultimate expression of love with a difference that can easily be seen by the naked eye.

The Leo Diamond is recognised as a breakthrough in the technique and craft of diamond cutting. The unique symmetry and placement of its facets result in fire, sparkle and brilliance that will take your breath away. Brilliance is how a diamond's beauty is determined and the Leo Diamond, exclusive to Ernest Jones, radiates more brilliance than other conventional diamonds.

Visibly brighter

The Leo Diamond is the first diamond to be independently certified as visibly brighter, a difference that can easily be seen with the naked eye. A diamond's brilliance is defined as the reflection of a bright white light from the facets of the diamond and is determined by the artistry of the cutting and polishing. Each facet must be cut and shaped with precision, and placed with perfect symmetry to create this brilliance, which is called Return of Light.

What is Return of Light?

Return of Light is the measurement of a diamond's brilliance. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is refracted from one facet to another and dispersed through the top. Simply put, the Return of Light is the amount of light returned through the top of the diamond, enhancing the true brilliance and beauty of the stone.

Return of Light is affected by three important factors: white light, color light and scintillation. With some conventional diamonds, the cut may allow light to escape through the side, so less light is returned back to you, making the diamond less brilliant.

The Leo's patented symmetrical cut allows light to enter the stone in such a way that the maximum amount of light is returned back in a sparkling flash known as scintillation. The Leo Diamond's Return of Light clearly outperforms that of a conventionally cut diamond of comparable quality.

Scientifically proven brilliance

The Leo Diamond's superior brilliance, while visible to the naked eye, has been independently measured and certified using state-of-the art optical technology. Today, GemEx Systems, an independent gemological laboratory, uses a tool called a BrillianceScope® to measure Return of Light from different angles. It is both a scientific and objective method of evaluating a diamond. The BrillianceScope® uses five lighting angles to measure the stone with precision and accuracy.

Triple certified brilliance

Every piece of Leo Diamond jewellery is supplied with three certificates guaranteeing its superiority and authenticity:
Every Leo Diamond has been independently measured for its superior fire, sparkle and brilliance and comes with a GemEX certificate. This is your written proof of your Leo's superior Return of Light.

A Certificate of Authenticity containing a unique serial number which matches your Leo Diamond jewellery so that your Leo Diamond cannot possibly be mistaken for any other diamond. You can use this number on our website to trace your Leo Diamond's unique history and identify the expert artisan who designed, polished and crafted it.

An International Gemological Institute certificate, verifying your Leo Diamond's carat weight, cut, colour and clarity.

Certification

Certification is proof of a diamond's 4C's grading. The most critical aspect of the inherent beauty of a diamond is its brilliance. Every Leo Diamond comes with an IGI certificate to show the diamonds 4C's and an additional certification from GemEx Systems that verifies its "Return of Light" - the level of brilliance your diamond achieves. GemEx is the leader in brilliance certification. The certification it provides is based on scientific measurements of white light, coloured light and scintillation taken with a GemEx BrillianceScope. Your GemEx certification is proof of your Leo Diamond's superior brilliance. Certification is proof of a diamond's 4C's grading.

World class diamonds

Encompassing a family of four generations, Leo Schachter is firmly established as one of the leading fine diamond companies with a reputation for designing, cutting and polishing the world's finest diamonds. The company, and its team of world class diamond artisans, has one passion and one alone: to craft the most beautiful diamonds imaginable.

Half a century of excellence

For more than fifty years, Leo Schachter has quietly provided its handcrafted diamonds to the most elegant shops on Fifth Avenue, Rodeo Drive, and leading jewelers in London, Paris and Italy. Recently, Leo Schachter has introduced a range of branded diamonds - the Leo Diamond jewellery collection - which is available exclusively through authorised Leo Diamond jewellers around the world. Ernest Jones is the only authorised Leo Diamond retailer in the UK.

Leo Schachter, a diamond artisan par excellence

The founder, Leo Schachter, an artisan himself, still plays an active role in maintaining his vision for the company as a world leader in the diamond industry. The first Leo Schachter diamond to bear the company name, also bears his: The Leo Diamond.

"We take pride in every diamond we craft. But this diamond is different," says Leo Schachter. "It isn't just another beautiful diamond. It is the epitome of what our company strives for. The Leo Diamond is the first diamond so unequivocally superior to others that we knew we wanted it to bear our name, and ours alone."

Generations of excellence

The superior brilliance of the Leo Diamond has been maintained as each generation of The Leo Schachter family has taught the next to strive for greater excellence. The Schachter family seeks innovative ways to release the maximum beauty of every rough stone, and to value what a diamond represents as the ultimate symbol of love in our society.

Exclusive to Ernest Jones

This dedication and commitment to crafting the very finest jewellery is apparent in all of the Leo Diamond Jewellery available at Ernest Jones , exclusive retailer of the Leo Diamond in the UK.

Leo Diamond History

Fifty years of diamond innovations and accomplishments. For half a century, Leo Schachter has challenged the art of diamond manufacturing, seeking innovative ways to capture and release maximum light within a diamond to optimise its brilliance and beauty.

1952 – Leo Schachter founded his company with 16 diamond artisans.

1967 – The first American diamond company to sell its magnificent diamonds in Japan.

1990 – Developed improved technology for accurate cutting reducing amount of diamond dust lost in the cutting process, yielding a larger diamond.

1992 – Leo Schachter was admitted to the Diamond Hall of Fame by the New York Diamond Industry Committee.

2000 – The Leo Diamond was the first diamond ever independently and individually certified to be visibly brighter.

Leo Artisan®

The Leo Diamond is the crowning glory of the Leo Diamond collection. Its fire, sparkle and brilliance achieve the highest grade any diamond can deliver based on proven scientific measurements.

Handcrafted by leading diamond cutter Leo Schachter, the fire, sparkle and brilliance ratings of the Leo Artisan® collection, are second to none in its class.

Every Leo Artisan® solitaire engagement ring is guaranteed to score three very high ratings, white light, coloured light and scintillation on the GemEx Light Performance Report.