Journal

To transform stones into the sparkly gems we love, they have to be cut to shape. When it comes to finding a piece of jewellery you or a loved one will cherish for years to come, there’s plenty of different cuts to choose from - each with their own unique flair. So, with that in mind, here’s your ultimate illi guide to gemstone cuts and their meanings...

We don’t know about you, but lately, we’ve been dreaming of a luxury getaway. A change of scenery and a chance to explore somewhere new.

A love of travel and a passion for sustainability are at the heart of illi. So, we’re continuing our series of travel-themed pieces with a look at some of Europe's most luxurious eco-friendly hotels...

Thanks to the efforts of campaigners, people are wising up to the fact that the sparkling gems they admire might have cost more than their jewellery store price tag. We’re talking about environmental destruction, human rights abuses and conflict.

But what are ‘sustainable diamonds’? What does it mean for a diamond to be sustainable or ethical?...

Have you ever noticed the tiny markings on a piece of fine jewellery and wondered what they mean? These miniscule markings are hallmarks, designed to let you know that the piece of jewellery you are buying is genuine. Without them, we’d be clueless when it comes to figuring out what our jewellery is worth...

Here’s to mums. They show up, day after day, tirelessly looking after their families, putting everyone else’s needs first.

It’s time to celebrate them. This year, Mother’s Day in the UK is on Sunday 27th March. It’s a chance for us to show our mothers how much we value them...

Not all jewellery is made equal.

You have your high street costume jewellery, your demi-fine mid range jewellery, and of course your high end fine jewellery.

So, what’s the difference? We take a look at the different options when it comes to choosing jewellery, explaining what makes jewellery ‘fine’, ‘demi-fine’ or ‘costume’...

If you’re looking for ethical diamonds, you may have heard the term ‘blood diamond’, brought into mainstream consciousness thanks to the 2006 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. So, what is a blood diamond? A blood diamond or ‘conflict diamond’ is a diamond that has been illegally traded and used to fund conflict and civil wars. Behind those gorgeous stones sadly lurks an extremely dark, violent history...

Christmas is over for another year. The crazy rush has given way to that awkward limbo between the Christmas festivities and the end of the year. It’s not been an easy year for many of us, but there’s also plenty to be thankful for. This year marked the start of illi, a long held dream for our founders - one we can hardly believe has come true! We’ve loved launching this business and we can’t wait to see what 2022 has in store. So, while we’re still wrapping our heads around the fact that 2022 is here...

It’s the busiest shopping day of the year in the US. And a trend that has, more recently, taken the UK by storm. But while many retailers will be ‘slashing’ their prices over the coming days, you won’t find us doing the same. And here’s why. While other holidays espouse values such as togetherness, generosity and love, Black Friday is about one thing and one thing only...overconsumption. Specifically, Black Friday is an opportunity for brands to try to convince people to spend more than they can afford...