Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you based, and do you have a store I can visit?

We are an online store based in Cape Town, with no showroom or premises to visit anywhere. That is deliberate: without a store to fund, more of your budget goes into the stone and the gold. A video call to talk through rings and designs is always available, and if you are in Cape Town we can meet in person on request. Every ring is made to order here and delivered insured, free, nationwide.

How do I know you are not a scam before I pay?

Heritage & Co. is the trading name of Calibre Connect (Pty) Ltd, registration 2024/10011/07, registered with the Financial Intelligence Centre on goAML (ID 80405). Our Google rating is 5.0. Payments run through PayFast and Stitch, and you can start with a 50% deposit. Before production you see a video of your actual stone with its IGI or GRA report, checkable on the laboratory's website, and approve the CAD. Delivery is insured and signed for by you personally.

Can I talk to someone first?

Yes. Message us on WhatsApp at +27 82 818 9106 or email heritage@heritageandco.co.za and we will book a video call that suits you. Bring a budget and, if you have them, a style and her ring size. We narrow it to two or three options in one call, and if you are in Cape Town we can meet in person on request.

Are your engagement rings solid gold?

Yes. All Heritage & Co. rings are crafted in solid 10k, 14k or 18k gold, or 950 platinum. We do not sell gold-plated, gold-filled, or vermeil jewellery. Every piece is hallmarked and certified.

Can you make my ring in 9K gold?

Yes, on request. Our standard metals are solid 10K, 14K and 18K gold in yellow, white or rose, and 950 platinum; 10K is our most affordable, from R19,500 for a 1ct moissanite ring. If you specifically want 9K, tell us and we will quote it. Whatever the karat, every ring is solid gold all the way through; we never plate.

What is the difference between moissanite and diamond?

Moissanite is a lab-grown gemstone with exceptional brilliance and hardness (9.25 on the Mohs scale). It has more fire than diamond and costs 80–90% less while being 100% ethically sourced. Heritage & Co. uses only premium D/VVS1 moissanite, GRA certified.

Lab diamond or moissanite, and is lab the cheap option?

A lab-grown diamond is a diamond, the same material as a mined one, graded by IGI with the report number laser inscribed on the girdle. Moissanite is a different gemstone with its own fire and a lower price, certified by GRA. Every centre stone we sell is D colour, VVS1 clarity and Excellent cut, a grade that would cost many times more mined. You are not paying for mining or a showroom.

Can I have a mined diamond, or a lower grade to fit my budget?

Yes to both, on request. The site range is D colour, VVS1 clarity, Excellent cut, but for a bespoke order we can source a lab diamond or moissanite at a lower grade, for example E/VS1 or F/VS2, still colourless and clean to the naked eye, at a lower price. Mined (natural) diamonds are also available: give us your budget and we will source the stone that fits. You approve a video of the stone first.

How big is a 1ct, 2ct or 3ct stone?

Carat is weight, not width, so shape matters as much as the number. From stones we have supplied: a 2ct marquise is about 13 x 6.5 mm, a 3ct 15 x 7 mm and a 4ct 16.5 x 8.25 mm. A 2ct oval is roughly 9.4 x 7.6 mm at a 1.4 ratio, or 10 x 7 mm at 1.43. Elongated cuts look larger than rounds. We have real videos of 1ct to 5ct stones in several cuts; just ask on WhatsApp.

Do you offer custom engagement ring designs?

Yes. Everything we make is fully customisable, and you can send us your own design or reference image for a quote. Our goldsmiths design to your specification: stone shape, band style, metal type and engraving. You approve a 3D CAD render and a video of your stone before production begins. Every piece is made to order, and production takes approximately five weeks.

How long does it take, and can it be faster than five weeks?

Standard production is about five weeks from your deposit or payment, then insured delivery. If you have a proposal date, tell us before you order: a ring can be made and delivered within three weeks when needed. You are told at each milestone (stone approval, casting, setting, quality check, dispatch). The factory usually sends photos or videos of your stone and ring, and we check in every week regardless.

How can I pay for my piece?

You can pay in full by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay or instant EFT through PayFast and Stitch, or arrange a bank transfer directly with us. To spread the cost, choose Stitch Pay Later (two to six interest-free instalments), Payflex or Mobicred at checkout.

Can I pay a deposit and the rest later?

Yes. On any made-to-order piece a 50% deposit starts production and you pay the balance before handover, in whatever instalments suit you. It is interest free, has no fees and is not a credit agreement; the ring stays ours until paid in full, and the deposit is not refundable once production starts. Your Consumer Protection Act rights apply in full. Message us on WhatsApp to arrange it.

Is my quote still valid if prices change?

A quote we have sent is generally honoured even if site prices rise; the only exception would be a massive swing in the gold price, and we would tell you first. Prices are the same for everyone and no VAT is added, because we are not VAT registered, so the figure you see includes packaging and insured delivery. Paying by bank transfer? Ask us about direct EFT.

How do I get her ring size right?

South Africa uses UK letters; US numbers and millimetres are also common. US 6 is about 16.5 mm inside diameter (UK L½), US 7 is 17.3 mm (UK N½) and US 8 is 18.1 mm (UK P½). Fingers shrink in cold weather, so if she was measured in winter, go up half a size. A ring she already wears is the best guide, we can post you a ring sizer, and we confirm the size before production. See our ring size chart.

Will a wedding band sit flush against my engagement ring?

It depends on how high the engagement ring is set. A high-set ring leaves room underneath, so a straight wedding band sits flush against it. A low-set ring needs a band with an open gap or a V shape to fit around the setting. We make both, in comfort-fit or flat-sided court profiles. If you already own the ring, send us a photo and we will advise.

Will the stone fall out, and is it covered?

Every centre stone is held by prongs with a gallery rail beneath, on a 2.1 x 1.8 mm band as standard, which is why we give a 20-year workmanship warranty on the setting. If a stone is ever lost, it is replaced at our supplier cost plus a setting fee, for life, under Heritage Lifetime Care. Before production you approve a video of your actual stone; for ovals we source stones with limited bow tie.

Do you ship to all of South Africa, and can it go to my office?

Yes. Every piece is sent by insured courier in plain, unbranded packaging, free anywhere in South Africa, arriving 24 to 48 hours after dispatch depending on region. Direct Signature means the parcel goes to you personally and is never left with security or reception. An office or other discreet address is fine, and you can change the address any time before dispatch.

Can you ship outside South Africa?

Often, yes; it depends on the country. Where the destination allows it we ship DDP, meaning duties and taxes are paid in advance so nothing is due at your door. Tell us the country before you order and we will confirm the details. If you live abroad but are proposing in South Africa, we can deliver to you or a family member here, insured and signed for.

What is in the box, and do I get an insurance valuation?

Your ring arrives in a luxury ring box inside an outer box, wrapped in fine paper and wax sealed, with a cleaning cloth, travel pouch, gift bag and warranty certificate. The original laboratory report (IGI or GRA) ships with every engagement ring, and an insurance valuation certificate is issued for every order so you can insure the piece immediately. Every ring carries the H&Co. monogram inside the band.

What warranty do your rings come with?

Every Heritage & Co. piece is covered by Heritage Lifetime Care: lifetime registration, authentication, and restoration consultations. This includes ten years of complimentary care (annual cleaning and polishing, plus rhodium re-plating on white gold every three years) and a 20-year warranty against structural and manufacturing defects such as setting, prong, casting, or clasp failure. Stone replacement is available at supplier cost plus a setting fee for the life of the piece, and all cover transfers with the piece to a new owner. Full terms accompany your Certificate of Authenticity.

Can you set my own stone or take my old ring as a trade-in?

No, and we would rather be straight about it. Every piece is made new, with a certified stone we source, because that is the only way we can stand behind the 20-year warranty. We do not rework existing rings, set outside stones, or take stones or gold in trade. To sell an existing diamond, an independent valuation and a reputable second-hand jeweller is the usual route.

Does white gold discolour, and what does rhodium mean?

White gold is naturally a warm pale grey, so it is finished with rhodium plating for the bright mirror look. With daily wear the plating thins and the warmer tone shows through; that is normal, not a fault, and it will not cause an allergic reaction. We re-plate it free every three years for ten years under Heritage Lifetime Care: you send it to us insured and we cover the return. To avoid re-plating altogether, choose 950 platinum.

How do I look after and clean my ring?

Soak it in warm water with a little mild dish soap, brush gently with a soft toothbrush, rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth. Avoid chlorine, bleach and household cleaners. Do not steam it at home: ultrasonic and steam cleaning are for professionals, and a coffee machine steamer can shock or loosen a stone. Have the prongs checked once or twice a year. Pearls: wipe after wear with a damp cloth, never soak, and put perfume on before your pearls.

Is engraving included, and what can I have engraved?

Engraving is complimentary on every engagement ring and wedding band, including a fingerprint or a line of handwriting if you would like one. Choose from two fonts, add a symbol such as a heart, and give us the wording during production. Short inscriptions engrave best; we will confirm the character limit for your band width. Each ring also carries the H&Co. monogram inside the band.

Are your diamonds and moissanite ethically sourced?

Yes. All our moissanite is lab-grown and conflict-free, and our lab diamonds are IGI certified. Our website range is lab-grown only; if you would prefer a natural mined diamond, tell us your budget and we will source one for you. Our gold supply chain is fully traceable and we prioritise responsible sourcing across all materials.