Diamond Guide

Choosing the right Diamond

At Diamond Shop, we understand that purchasing a diamond is an important decision, and we encourage our clients to learn at least the basics of how diamonds are graded before making a selection. This guide simplifies the four Cs of diamonds — Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat weight, as well as Diamond Shapes and Certifications. After reading this guide, you will be better prepared to choose the diamond that is right for you.

The Four Cs

CUT

The Cut of a diamond determines its brilliance, dimensions, and finish.

A diamond's Cut influences its fire and brilliance, as well as its perceived size and even, to some degree its apparent colour. Different cuts reflect light in different angles. A diamond must be cut in a geometrically precise manner to maximize its brilliance. Most gemmologists consider cut the most important diamond characteristic because even if a diamond has perfect colour and clarity, a diamond with a poor cut will have dulled brilliance. Diamonds can carry cut grades of Excellent, Ideal, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor.
Note: Cut should not be confused with Shape, which, although related to cut, refers to the overall outline of a diamond (round, princess, oval, etc.).
 

COLOUR

Colour refers to the degree to which a diamond is colourless.

Diamonds are graded on a colour scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) which ranges from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow). The less colour in a diamond, the more the light is reflected as colourful 'fire', and the better the colour grade. Beyond Z, a diamond is considered to be a 'Fancy' colour. Since colour differences can be so subtle, they are impossible to determine by the untrained eye. Therefore, colours are graded under controlled lighting conditions and are compared to a master set for accuracy. If all other factors are equal, the less colour in a diamond or the higher colour rating, the more valuable a diamond becomes. Likewise, as the amount of colour increases, the price of a diamond decreases.

D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K-M	N-Z

 

CLARITY

Clarity refers to how Clear or Pure the diamond is.

Diamonds that are absolutely clear are the most sought-after and therefore the most expensive. But many diamonds have inclusions — scratches, trace minerals or other tiny characteristics that can detract from the pure beauty of the diamond. Clarity is graded based on the number, location, size, and type of inclusions:

FL (Flawless) - IF (Internally Flawless)
Flawless Diamonds reveal no flaws on the surface or internally are the rarest and most beautiful diamonds.
Internally Flawless Diamonds reveal no inclusions and only insignificant blemishes on the surface under 10x magnification.

VVS1 - VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included)
Very difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. These are excellent quality diamonds.

VS1 - VS2 (Very Slightly Included)
Inclusions are not typically visible to the unaided eye. Less expensive than the VVS1 or VVS2 grades.

SI1 - SI2 (Slightly Included) Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, and may be visible with the unaided eye. The diamonds in this category maintain their integrity, depending on the location of the inclusions. A good diamond value.

I1 - I3 (Imperfect) Eye visible inclusions. The flaws on the stones in this category will have some effect on the brilliance of the diamond. Diamond Shop does not carry diamonds of I-grade quality.
 

F	IF	VVS1	VVS2	VS1	VS2	SI1	SI2	I1	I2	I3

CARAT WEIGHT

Carat refers to the weight of the diamond.

Carat is often confused with size even though it is a measure of weight. The cut of a diamond can make it appear larger or smaller than its actual weight. One carat is the equivalent of 200 milligrams. One carat can be divided into 100 'points'. A 0.75 carat diamond is the same as 75 points or a 3/4 carat diamond. Since larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds, the value rises exponentially with carat weight.

0.25	0.33	0.40	0.50	0.65	0.75	1.00	1.25	1.50	2.00	2.50	3.00+

 

Shape 

Shape refers to the overall outline of the diamond when viewed from the top.

Round Brilliant		The Round Brilliant-cut Diamond is polished to fifty-eight facets giving maximum shine and brilliance. The round Brilliant-cut is the most traditional and popular for a solitaire engagement ring.
Princess		A square or rectangular cut Diamond with similar refractive properties to a Round Brilliant-cut.
Pear		A shining teardrop, lovely when used either side of a central stone.
Marquise		A traditional Shape which seems to elongate the fingers.
Emerald		A traditional shape, with old world elegance.
Radiant		With cut in corners similar to an emerald cut.
Heart		The ultimate romantic symbol, very sentimental shape.
Oval		A cut designed 200 years ago, a popular choice for three stone anniversary rings, with two matching Diamonds each side.
Asscher		A very unique look, developed by world renowned Diamond cutter Joseph Asscher. This Diamond has eight sides.
Cushion		This unique shape has been popular for more than a century. Cushion-cut diamonds (also known as 'pillow-cut' diamonds) have rounded corners and larger facets to increase their brilliance.

 

Certification

Unbiased diamond grading reports are offered with all Diamondshop diamonds. Every diamond sold by Diamond Shop has been analysed and graded by the most widely regarded and recognised diamond-grading laboratories in the world, including GIA, HRD, and IGI.