Sold Secure Diamond vs TS007: Which Lock Rating Matters?

Sold Secure Diamond and TS007 are both recognised UK security routes for euro-profile lock cylinders, and one is not automatically "better" simply because the names are different. For a homeowner choosing a replacement cylinder, the practical target is a product with independently tested high-security performance that is correctly sized and correctly fitted to the door.

At Swift Locksmiths, we regularly see customers compare an "SS312 Diamond" cylinder with a "TS007 three-star" cylinder as if they belong on a simple league table. The standards are different schemes, but current police guidance recognises both. Sold Secure's own domestic-security guide states that its SS312 Diamond cylinder grade is equivalent to a TS007 three-star solution for the purpose described in that guide.

That does not mean the markings are identical or that every product certified under one scheme is literally the same design as every product certified under the other. It means they are both credible, independently tested high-security routes and should be compared alongside correct fit, door hardware, key control, warranty and suitability for the actual doorset.

Published: 10th November 2026

What Is Sold Secure?

Sold Secure is an independent security-product testing and certification organisation associated with the Master Locksmiths Association. It tests a wide range of security products, including lock cylinders, and publishes approved-product listings. For cylinders, the familiar high-security designation is SS312 Diamond.

The current Sold Secure database includes products graded "Lock Cylinders DIAMOND 2024". Its domestic-security material explains that Diamond is intended as a high-security standalone cylinder level and can be used without needing an additional security handle or escutcheon solely to reach the equivalent three-star security level described in that guide.

What Is TS007?

TS007 is a UK technical specification covering enhanced security performance for replacement cylinders and associated hardware. Current BSI product-certification records use TS007-1:2024. Under the star system, cylinders can be certified at one star or three stars, while protective handles or escutcheons can achieve two stars.

That system allows different combinations. A three-star cylinder can provide the three-star cylinder solution by itself, while a one-star cylinder can be paired with two-star protective hardware to create a three-star overall arrangement. Current police advice still describes the three-star cylinder as the preferred straightforward upgrade route.

Are SS312 Diamond and TS007 Three-Star the Same?

They are not the same certification scheme, but they aim at a comparable high-security outcome for euro cylinders. Sold Secure's own consumer guide explicitly describes SS312 Diamond as equivalent to TS007 three-star. West Yorkshire Police also lists the two standards side by side as nationally recognised routes for improving euro-cylinder protection.

That is a useful answer for homeowners: if you are looking at two reputable cylinders, one carrying current SS312 Diamond approval and another carrying current TS007 three-star certification, you are comparing two serious security products rather than a secure product and a basic one.

Why Do Some Cylinders Carry Both Ratings?

Manufacturers may choose to have the same product independently assessed under more than one scheme. Current Sold Secure listings include cylinders that are also advertised as TS007 three-star certified. That can be useful because installers, specifiers, insurers or customers may recognise different marks.

Multiple certifications do not make a poorly fitted cylinder secure, however. A high-security cylinder left protruding outside weak handles can still be a poor installation. The rating and the fitting quality have to work together.

What Does the Three-Star TS007 Rating Mean in Practice?

For household decision-making, three stars means the cylinder has been tested to the higher cylinder level in the TS007 system. It is intended to provide enhanced resistance to common cylinder attacks without relying on a separate two-star handle to reach the three-star threshold.

Police guidance names lock snapping, drilling and bumping among the attacks that enhanced cylinders are designed to address. We avoid translating that into promises such as "snap-proof" or "unbreakable" because security standards demonstrate tested resistance, not invulnerability.

What Does Sold Secure Diamond Mean in Practice?

Sold Secure Diamond is the high-security cylinder grade within Sold Secure's domestic-building framework. The current approved-product catalogue explains that SS312 Diamond cylinders can achieve the relevant high-security cylinder requirement as a standalone cylinder, while lower Gold-level cylinders may need compatible protective hardware to form the intended security arrangement.

For the homeowner, the key point is that "Diamond" refers to a defined independent test grade. It is much more meaningful than an unsupported label such as "anti-snap" printed on packaging with no recognised certification behind it.

What About a TS007 One-Star Cylinder?

A one-star cylinder is not the same as an untested basic cylinder. It has achieved a defined level under the TS007 scheme. The issue is that current police advice recommends a minimum three-star solution when upgrading euro-cylinder security.

That can be achieved by using a one-star cylinder together with two-star protective hardware. If the door already has certified two-star handles in good condition, retaining them with a compatible one-star cylinder may be a legitimate arrangement. If the handles are basic or unknown, a three-star cylinder is usually the clearer route.

Can a Three-Star Cylinder Be Used With Two-Star Handles?

Yes. West Yorkshire Police notes that a three-star cylinder can be combined with two-star handles, giving a five-star total within that star-counting framework. But the purpose is not to chase the largest number for marketing reasons. A good installation should balance cylinder strength, protective furniture, door construction and lock condition.

We would rather see a correctly fitted three-star cylinder in a sound door than an impressive collection of badges on a misaligned mechanism that is being forced every day.

Which Rating Matters More for Insurance?

There is no universal insurer rule saying "Sold Secure Diamond always wins" or "TS007 is mandatory on every policy". Insurance requirements vary by insurer, policy and property. Some policy wordings focus on BS3621 for timber-door locks or multipoint-locking requirements, while security guidance increasingly references TS007 or SS312 for euro cylinders.

If an insurer has imposed a specific minimum-security endorsement, follow the wording on your own policy schedule and confirm ambiguity with the insurer. Do not assume that a high-security cylinder automatically satisfies every unrelated door-lock requirement.

What If My Door Is PAS 24?

PAS 24 applies to the complete doorset configuration, while SS312 and TS007 relate to cylinder/hardware security. A PAS 24 door can use a suitable high-security cylinder as part of its system, but the markings answer different questions.

If you later replace the cylinder in a PAS 24 door, we recommend preserving or improving the original security level with a suitable tested component rather than downgrading to an unknown basic cylinder simply because it physically fits.

How Do I Verify a Rating?

• Look for the actual star or certification marking on the cylinder face or product documentation.
• Check the manufacturer and exact model, not only the family name.
• Use the BSI certification directory for Kitemarked TS007 products where applicable.
• Use Sold Secure's approved-product database for SS312 products.
• Be cautious if a retailer claims "equivalent to three star" but cannot identify an independent certification.
• Make sure the certificate applies to the exact version, size or configuration you are purchasing.

Does the Latest 2024 Version Matter?

Standards evolve as test methods and criminal techniques change. Current BSI records show TS007-1:2024, and Sold Secure's current database uses Diamond 2024 for many newly approved lock cylinders. Where you are buying a new cylinder now, choosing a product certified to the current scheme gives clearer evidence than relying on an old undated badge or obsolete brochure.

That does not mean every previously certified high-security cylinder suddenly became insecure when a revision was published. It means new purchasing decisions should use current evidence wherever practical.

Security Ratings Do Not Fix Door Alignment

A high-security cylinder controls access to the multipoint mechanism, but it does not lift a dropped door or repair a damaged gearbox. If the key turns only while you pull the door toward you, the main fault may be alignment rather than cylinder security.

Our uPVC, composite and lock repair services begin with diagnosis. We test the cylinder, handle, gearbox, locking strip and keeps so the customer does not pay for a security upgrade that leaves the mechanical fault untouched.

What About Key Control?

Two cylinders can have similar attack-resistance ratings but different key-control systems. Some high-security products use patent-protected keyways, registration cards or restricted duplication channels. That can matter for landlords, businesses and households where controlling spare keys is as important as resisting physical attack.

When comparing products, ask whether replacement keys can be copied anywhere, whether proof or a security card is required, whether keyed-alike options exist and whether the key patent has a known expiry. Those are separate considerations from the cylinder's physical attack rating.

Correct Sizing Still Matters

Police guidance repeatedly warns that euro cylinders should be measured correctly and should not protrude unnecessarily from the door unit or handle. A Diamond or three-star cylinder can be undermined by poor sizing that leaves excessive material exposed outside the protective furniture.

We measure the internal and external halves separately from the centre fixing point and choose the correct split. On some cylinders, the external side also has to be oriented correctly because specific protective features are designed for the attack side.

What We Recommend for Most Homeowners

Does Burglary Data Change Which Rating You Need?

National data provides context, not a personalised specification. ONS recorded 223,456 police-recorded burglary offences in England and Wales in the year ending March 2026, down 9% from the previous year. That does not mean every household needs the most expensive cylinder available, but it supports using recognised tested security rather than unverified claims when a replacement is already needed.

Good security is layered: sound door, strong frame, correct cylinder, protective furniture, full locking, sensible key control and appropriate lighting/occupancy measures all contribute.

How We Compare Two High-Security Cylinders in Practice

Once both products have credible certification, the decision becomes more practical. We compare the exact size range, whether the external side is clearly marked, the quality of the keys, duplicate-key control, thumbturn availability, manufacturer support and compatibility with the handles already fitted. A cylinder that cannot be obtained in the correct split for your door is not the right product merely because its certification looks impressive.

We also consider how future keys will be managed. A household may value easy spare-key availability, while a landlord, office or shared property may prefer restricted duplication or a registration card. Those choices are not measured by the star or Diamond badge, but they have a major effect on real-world access control.

Example Decision: Basic Handles on an External Composite Door

If the handles are ordinary and have no verified two-star protection, we would normally favour a current three-star cylinder or current SS312 Diamond cylinder rather than relying on a one-star cylinder. That creates a clear high-security cylinder route without depending on unverified furniture to make up the required protection.

If the existing handles are damaged or loose, however, fitting the best cylinder in the catalogue is not enough. The handles should be repaired or replaced as part of the job because the security assembly is only as strong as the surrounding hardware and fixings.

Example Decision: Existing Certified Two-Star Handles

Where a door already has genuine two-star security handles in excellent condition, a compatible one-star cylinder can form the recognised three-star solution described in police guidance. In that case, replacing the cylinder with another suitable one-star model may be proportionate if the objective is simply lost-key control or a worn cylinder.

We would still discuss a three-star or Diamond cylinder if the customer wants a simpler standalone high-security product, particularly where the price difference is modest. The point is to make the choice deliberately, not because a retailer has labelled one product "premium" and another "standard".

What We Would Not Use as a Buying Shortcut

• The number of pins without independent certification.
• A security guarantee or cashback promise without checking the terms and actual test rating.
• The phrase "police approved" unless the exact accreditation can be verified.
• Claims that a cylinder is "unbreakable" or "snap-proof".
• A very long warranty as a substitute for security testing.
• A high star count created by adding unrelated or uncertified components.

For a new installation, our euro-cylinder fitting and door-security service checks the certification, correct split, external orientation and complete multipoint operation together.

One Final Check Before You Buy

Before ordering, confirm the exact cylinder split, whether a thumbturn is required, which side is external, whether the existing handles are secure and whether the product certificate covers the exact model being sold. A genuine high-security rating is valuable only when the correct product reaches the correct door in the correct configuration.

We also recommend keeping the packaging or certification details after installation. If you later move, change insurer, order extra keys or replace the handles, having the exact model information avoids guessing about what is already fitted.

Our Recommendation

If you are choosing between a reputable current SS312 Diamond cylinder and a reputable current TS007 three-star cylinder, you are already comparing strong options. The better choice may come down to fit, key control, manufacturer support, price and compatibility rather than one logo being universally superior.

You can read about our independent locksmith approach or contact Swift Locksmiths with a photo of your cylinder and handles. We can identify the existing setup and recommend a proportionate upgrade without replacing sound parts unnecessarily.