The Diamond Guide

The cut is the most important factor in determining a diamond's brilliance, fire, and scintillation. It refers not to the shape (e.g., round, oval), but to how well the diamond's facets interact with light.

• Excellent/Ideal: Maximizes light return, offering spectacular brilliance.
• Very Good: Reflects most light, offering excellent sparkle at a slightly lower price point.
• Good & Fair: Light escapes from the bottom or sides, reducing sparkle.

Diamond color is actually graded on the absence of color. A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue, like a drop of pure water. The scale runs from D (Colorless) to Z (Light Yellow).

Clarity evaluates the presence of internal characteristics (inclusions) and external characteristics (blemishes). Diamonds without these characteristics are extremely rare.

• FL / IF (Flawless / Internally Flawless): No inclusions visible under 10x magnification.
• VVS1 / VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included): Minuscule inclusions that are difficult to see under 10x magnification.
• VS1 / VS2 (Very Slightly Included): Minor inclusions that are "eye-clean" (invisible to the naked eye).
• SI1 / SI2 (Slightly Included): Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification and may be visible to the naked eye.

Carat refers to the physical weight of the diamond, not its size. One carat equals 200 milligrams. While carat weight is the most objective of the 4Cs, a diamond's cut strongly dictates how large it appears. A well-cut diamond will appear larger than a poorly cut diamond of the same carat weight.

A diamond certificate is a formal document issued by an independent gemological laboratory (such as IGI or GIA) that details the diamond's unique characteristics and verifies its authenticity.