An Insider’s Guide to Diamonds
Today, the process of buying a diamond can be nerve-wracking. At Corinne Jewelers the process is far more relaxed. Since you are on our website, we assume you want to know a little more about diamonds. Here’s an overview of the diamond terminology, highlights, and key facts you should be acquainted with. Then stop in, and let’s get started!
Beyond the Four C’s
Understanding the first four Cs is helpful when selecting a diamond, but it doesn’t make you an expert, and it won’t help you distinguish the difference between two diamonds of similar quality. That takes formal training. Many of us are graduates of the Gemological Institute of America. We are an accredited Master Independent Jeweler and a member of the American Gem Society - one of the most prestigious organizations in the industry based on trust, education, and integrity. No wonder we’re the first place to consider when you’re looking for that important fifth C…Confidence.
Cut - where the brilliance happens
Cut is what makes a diamond catch light and sparkle. It is the only aspect of a diamond controlled by man and the art of the cutter! It’s the man-made cut that has the biggest impact on your diamond’s appearance and quality. Invest in a quality cut grade first and foremost. It’s not that the other C’s aren’t important, but sacrificing sparkle for a larger diamond in our opinion isn’t the best choice.
As important as cut is, no standardized criteria for cut grading existed before the mid-20th century. When criteria were finally standardized, they included brightness, fire, scintillation, weight ratio, durability, polish, and symmetry. A cutter working with a rough diamond tries to maximize each of these to make the diamond rare and valuable. Needless to say, it takes a master level of craftsmanship to achieve maximum sparkle.
What is the best cut? A diamond with the ideal proportions for its shape. Think of it like this: The bottom of the diamond has facets, and those facets act like mirrors. When the facets are cut at the proper angles, light enters through the top of the diamond, bounces off the mirrors, and returns to your eye in a full spectrum of color. The effect is simply beautiful!
If you have a poorly cut diamond with incongruous proportions, it will allow light to escape out of the bottom and sides, resulting in a dull and dark appearance. For a really brilliant diamond, with excellent polish and symmetry, you should choose a cut grade of Very Good or Excellent. Perfection in cut will also increase your diamond’s value, making it truly stunning.
Shape
The shape of your center diamond is a personal choice and most certainly reflects something about you! Each shape has unique properties to consider when you’re choosing a diamond.
Round Brilliant
The most popular cut, designed for maximum brilliance and sparkle.
Princess Cut
A square-shaped cut with exceptional lustre.
Oval
A modified brilliant cut with similar fire, its elongated shape creates the illusion of a larger stone.
Cushion
A square or rectangular cut with rounded corners, offering a soft look and exceptional brilliance.
Asscher Cut
A sophisticated square cut with clipped corners, creating an octagonal shape and vintage appeal.
Emerald
Rectangular with step-cut facets and clipped corners, known for its elegant “hall-of-mirrors” effect.
Marquise
An elongated cut with pointed ends, flattering to the finger and appearing larger for its carat weight.
Pear
Teardrop-shaped and brilliant-cut, offering a unique sparkle and elegant silhouette.
Radiant Cut
Combines the sparkle of a round with the shape of an emerald, usually featuring clipped corners.
Heart
A romantic heart shape that is less common and prized for its sentiment.
Vintage
Old European cuts that are more geometric and offer a glimpse into history.
Color - where less is more
Just because a diamond looks white doesn’t mean it’s colorless. Truthfully, the white diamond spectrum ranges from totally colorless to light yellow. The amount of color in a diamond is signified by a special lettering system that ranges from D to Z. The letter D is given only to rare, totally colorless diamonds. In other words, the more colorless a white diamond is, the greater its beauty and value.
A colorless diamond can be graded D, E or F. Less than ¼ of 1% of all the diamonds in the world fall into this category. A near colorless diamond can be graded G, H, I or J. The majority of diamonds sold in the diamond industry are represented by one of these grades.
Colored diamonds, such as pink, blue, chocolate or bright yellow, are also available, but they are rated on a different scale than white diamonds.
(Photo courtesy of Gemological Institute of America)
Clarity
Part of a diamond’s mystique is the fact that they are created by incredible natural forces, formed by tremendous heat and pressure deep within the earth. Understandably, the powerful process can result in internal “inclusions” and external “blemishes.” These are fancy words in the diamond industry for a diamond’s birthmarks, which also give each diamond distinct characteristics.
The number, size, nature and position of its inclusions and blemishes determine a diamond’s clarity. No diamond is perfect, but the closer it comes to perfection, the higher its value. A “flawless” diamond is very rare, and inclusions affect a diamond’s beauty, and price.
Internally Flawless
Very Very
Slight Inclusions
Very Slight Inclusions
Slight Inclusions
Imperfect
Carat Weight
This one may seem fairly self-explanatory, but there are a few things you need to know. Carat weight is a measure of a diamond’s weight, and a reflection of its size. So two diamonds of slightly different sizes may have the same carat weight. Size also depends on how evenly weight is distributed and the quality of the cut. So two diamonds with the same carat weight can vary greatly in value, depending on the color, clarity and most importantly, the cut. It’s really a matter of deciding what matters most to you, size or quality, and then finding the best combination of size, color and clarity for your budget.
