The shape of a diamond refers to the resemblance of the diamond to a specific geometric shape when viewed from the top.

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Shape

Round is the most popular diamond shape. The reason for its' popularity is the diamond appearance. A round shape provides the best conditions for a diamond to present its' brilliance and fire when looked at from the top. Diamond brilliance refers to the amount of light that is reflected and dispersed from the surface and interior of a diamond. Diamond fire refers to the visual phenomenon of the rainbow-like colors that are dispersed from a diamond when it is exposed to light. Current round brilliant-cut has been originally developed in year 1919. There were small updates since then and currently, a round brilliant-cut diamond has 58 facets (or 57 if the culet is excluded).

Round

Oval shape is a modified round brilliant-cut. Current oval diamond shape has been created in 1960's. This shape produces almost as much brilliance and fire as a round shape. It is popular due to its' similarity to the round shape, but with a extra touch of extravagance. It is usually saught after by customers, who already have a round shaped diamond or like the look of a round cut diamond, but want to try something different.

Oval

A cushion cut diamond is a type of diamond cut that features rounded corners and larger facets, giving the diamond a shape that resembles a cushion or a pillow. This cut style has been popular for over a century and is known for its soft, romantic appearance and its ability to display a good amount of fire. Cushion cut diamonds often have a square or rectangular shape, with rounded corners, and a small table and deep pavilion, which can give the stone a vintage or antique look.

Cushion

The pear shape is a combination of a round shape and a marquise shape. If it is worn on a hand, this diamond shape should be worn with the sharp end always pointing to the wearer's fingertips. This shape is also popular in earring designs or necklaces, where it is worn with the sharp end pointing upwards.

Pear

The emerald cut diamond is a rectangular shape with cut corners, and step-cut faceting on the pavilion and crown. This shape of diamonds has been previously used to cut emeralds, hence the name. It has a sleek, elongated appearance and is often used to highlight the clarity of the diamond. While it doesn't have the brillinace and fire of a round cut, the emerald shape produces a hall-of-mirrors effect meaning internal reflections of light that occur within the diamond. It is seen as a series of reflections, similar to mirrors placed opposite each other, creating an illusion of depth and enhancing the brightness and fire of the diamond.

Emerald

The Asscher cut diamond is a square shape with cut corners and a distinctive, stepped pattern of facets. It has a high crown, deep pavilion, and small table, which give it a unique, vintage appearance. The Asscher cut diamond was invented by the Asscher Brothers, Joseph and Abraham, who were diamond cutters and polishers based in Amsterdam, Netherlands in the early 20th century, who were also famous at the time for cutting the largest rough diamond - th Cullinan with its' 3,106.75 carats. The Asscher cut is often referred to as a "square emerald cut" and is known for its stunning optical symmetry, creating a mesmerizing effect of parallel lines and flashing facets. The Asscher cut diamond was invented by the Asscher Brothers, Joseph and Abraham, who were diamond cutters and polishers based in Amsterdam, Netherlands in the early 20th century. 

Asscher

The heart shaped diamond is a popular and romantic diamond cut, symbolizing love and affection. It is a combination of a round and pear shape, with a rounded bottom and a cleft at the top. The heart shape is created by carefully cutting and polishing the diamond to create a symmetrical and well-proportioned shape that resembles a heart. The heart shape diamond is often used for engagement rings, pendants, and other jewelry items, and is considered one of the most unique and sentimental diamond cuts.

Heart

The marquise diamond is a boat-shaped diamond cut with pointed ends. It is known for its elongated shape that can make fingers appear slimmer and longer. The marquise diamond shape is named after the French King Louis XV's mistress, Madame de Pompadour. Legend has it that the King commissioned a diamond cutter to create a diamond that would resemble the shape of her lips, which he considered to be the most beautiful in the world. The result was the marquise diamond, which has since become a popular choice for jewelry.

Marquise

The princess diamond is a square or rectangular diamond cut with pointed corners. It is one of the most popular diamond cuts for engagement rings and is known for its modern and elegant look. The princess cut has pointed corners and its sides are usually cut with a series of diagonal lines that give the diamond its signature sparkling appearance. It has a high level of brilliance and fire due to its many facets and can provide a larger surface area for light to reflect compared to other diamond shapes.

Princess

The radiant diamond is a rectangular diamond cut with cut-off corners, giving it a more rounded appearance than the princess cut. It has a combination of the brilliance of a round cut diamond and the angularity of an emerald cut diamond. The radiant diamond has 70 facets and its cut-off corners help to minimize the appearance of inclusions and enhance the overall sparkle of the diamond.

Radiant

A diamond carat weight (ct.) is a unit of measurement used in the diamond industry to determine the size and weight of a diamond. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams.

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Carat weight

Diamonds weighing up to 0.29 carats are considered small diamonds. A round cut diamond with the weight of 0.25 ct. has a diameter of approximately 4.1 mm.

Below 0.30 ct.

Diamonds weighing between 0.50 and 0.74 ct. are in the middle section of medium sized diamonds range. As the weight of 0.75 ct. is considered to be another "magic boundary" which carries a price premium, a diamond with the weight of 0.70 - 0.74 ct. can be a good example of "buying shy".

0.50 - 0.74 ct.

Diamonds weighing between 0.75 and 0.99 ct. are in the top section of medium sized diamonds range. As the weight of 1.00 ct. is considered to be another "magic boundary" which carries a price premium, a diamond with the weight of 0.90 - 0.99 ct. can be a good example of "buying shy".

0.75 - 0.99 ct.

Diamonds weighing between 1.00 and 1.49 ct. are considered to be large diamonds.   Diamonds weighing 1.00 carat or more make up less than 20% of all polished diamonds produced each year. This means that the majority of polished diamonds produced are smaller than 1.00 carat in size.  As the weight of 1.50 ct. is considered to be another "magic boundary" which carries a price premium, a diamond with the weight of 1.40 - 1.49 ct. can be a good example of "buying shy".

1.00-1.49 ct.

Diamonds weighing between 1.50 and 1.99 ct. are considered to be very large diamonds.  Diamonds weighing 1.50 carats or more make up less than 5% of all polished diamonds produced each year. This is because larger diamonds are much rarer than smaller diamonds and are more difficult and expensive to mine and produce.   As the weight of 2.00 ct. is considered to be another "magic boundary" which carries a price premium, a diamond with the weight of 1.90 - 1.99 ct. can be a good example of "buying shy".

1.50-1.99 ct.

Diamonds weighing 2.00 ct. and more are called 2 carat plus diamonds. Diamonds weighing 2.00 carats or more make up less than 1% of all polished diamonds produced each year. This is because larger diamonds are much rarer than smaller diamonds and are more difficult and expensive to mine and produce. Additionally, the demand for larger diamonds is often higher, which can further drive up their price. Other diamond weight boundaries are 2.50 ct., 3.00 ct. and so on.

2.00 ct. and higher

Diamonds weighing between 0.30 and 0.49 ct. are in the lower half of medium sized diamonds range. As the weight of 0.50 ct. is considered a "magic boundary" which carries a price premium, a diamond with the weight of 0.40 - 0.49 ct. can be a good example of "buying shy".

0.30 - 0.49 ct.

The cut of a diamond refers to how well the diamond has been cut and shaped to bring out its brilliance (the amount of light that is reflected from the surface and interior of a diamond), fire (the rainbow of colors that is seen within a diamond, produced by the dispersion of light into its spectral colors) and scintillation (the sparkle or flash of light that is produced when a diamond is moved or when light enters and exits the diamond's surface).

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"Excellent" is the top cut grade." A diamond with an "Excellent" cut grade fmeans that it has been cut to precise proportions and symmetry, with ideal angles and facet arrangements, resulting in exceptional light performance and brilliance. The "Excellent" cut grade is given to diamonds that exhibit the most fire, brightness, and scintillation, and are considered to have the highest level of cut quality.

Excellent cut

The grade "Very Good" being the second highest cut grade. A diamond with a "Very Good" cut grade means that it has been cut to very good proportions and symmetry, with angles and facet arrangements that result in excellent light performance and brightness. The "Very Good" cut grade is given to diamonds that exhibit very good fire and scintillation, and are considered to have a high level of cut quality, although not as high as those with an "Excellent" cut grade. Diamonds with a "Very Good" cut grade provide a good balance between beauty and value.

Very good cut

The grade "Good" is the third highest cut grade. A diamond with a "Good" cut grade means that it has been cut to acceptable proportions and symmetry, resulting in a good balance between light performance and brightness. The "Good" cut grade is given to diamonds that exhibit some fire and scintillation, although not as much as diamonds with higher cut grades. Diamonds with a "Good" cut grade are considered to have a satisfactory level of cut quality and provide a good balance between beauty and affordability.

Good cut

The grade "Fair" is the second lowest cut grade. A diamond with a "Fair" cut grade means that it has been cut with proportions that are below average, resulting in a lower level of light performance and brightness. The "Fair" cut grade is given to diamonds that exhibit limited fire and scintillation, and are considered to have a lower level of cut quality. Diamonds with a "Fair" cut grade may still appear attractive, but they are not as bright or sparkling as diamonds with higher cut grades.

Fair Cut

The grade "Poor" is the lowest cut grade. A diamond with a "Poor" cut grade means that it has been cut with proportions that are significantly below average, resulting in a very low level of light performance and brightness. The "Poor" cut grade is given to diamonds that exhibit little fire and scintillation, and are considered to have a very low level of cut quality. Diamonds with a "Poor" cut grade may appear dull or lackluster, and are not recommended for those seeking a bright and sparkling diamond.

Poor Cut

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) uses a grading system to evaluate the color of diamonds, with the grades ranging from "D" (colorless) to "Z" (light yellow or brown). The color grades are based on the absence of hue, with "D" being completely colorless and "Z" having a noticeable yellow or brown tint.

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Color

"D" is the highest color grade that can be given by the GIA, and it indicates that a diamond is completely colorless. A diamond with a "D" color grade is considered rare and valuable, as it is free of any noticeable hue or tint. Diamonds with a "D" color grade are highly sought after for their brilliance and fire.

Color D

"E" is a high color grade, indicating that a diamond is nearly colorless. A diamond with an "E" color grade will have very little hue or tint, and it will look similar to a "D" color diamond to the naked eye. However, a trained gemologist may be able to detect a subtle difference between the two grades under controlled lighting and viewing conditions.

Color E

"F" is a high color grade, indicating that a diamond is nearly colorless. A diamond with an "F" color grade will have very little hue or tint, but it may be slightly more noticeable than in a "D" or "E" color diamond. To the naked eye, a diamond with an "F" color grade may look similar to a "D" or "E" color diamond, but it will typically be of a lower value.

Color F

"G" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a slight yellow or brown hue. A diamond with a "G" color grade is STILL CONSIDERED NEAR COLORLESS, but the hue may be noticeable to the naked eye in certain lighting conditions. 

Color G

"H" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a yellow or brown hue, noticeable to the naked eye, but it is still considered a good value for the price.

Color H

"I" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a yellow or brown hue, noticeable to the naked eye even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with an "I" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color I

"J" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a yellow or brown hue, easily noticeable to the naked eye, even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with a "J" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color J

"K" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a strong yellow or brown hue that is noticeable to the naked eye even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with a "K" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color K

"L" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a strong yellow or brown hue that is easily noticeable to the naked eye even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with an "L" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color L

A diamond with an "M" color grade will have a hue that is noticeable to the naked eye even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with an "M" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color M

"N" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a noticeable yellow or brown hue. A diamond with an "N" color grade will have a hue that is noticeable to the naked eye, even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with an "N" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color N

"O" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a noticeable yellow or brown hue. A diamond with an "O" color grade will have a hue that is noticeable to the naked eye even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with an "O" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color O

"P" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a yellow or brown hue, noticeable to the naked eye, even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with a "P" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color P

"Q" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a yellow or brown hue that is easily noticeable to the naked eye, even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with a "Q" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color Q

"R" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a yellow or brown hue that is easily noticeable to the naked eye, even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with an "R" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color R

"S" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a yellow or brown hue that is easily noticeable to the naked eye, even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with an "S" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color S

"T" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a yellow or brown hue that is easily noticeable to the naked eye, even in ordinary lighting conditions. Diamonds with an "T" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color T

"U" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a noticeable yellow or brown hue that is visible to the naked eye in most lighting conditions. Diamonds with a "U" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality compared to diamonds with higher color grades, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color U

"V" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a noticeable yellow or brown hue that is visible to the naked eye in most lighting conditions. Diamonds with a "V" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality compared to diamonds with higher color grades, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color V

"W" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a noticeable yellow or brown hue that is visible to the naked eye in most lighting conditions. Diamonds with a "W" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality compared to diamonds with higher color grades, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color W

"Y" is a color grade that indicates that a diamond has a noticeable yellow or brown hue that is visible to the naked eye in most lighting conditions. Diamonds with a "Y" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality compared to diamonds with higher color grades, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color Y

"Z" is the lowest color grade and indicates that a diamond has a noticeable yellow or brown hue that is easily visible to the naked eye. Diamonds with a "Z" color grade are considered to have a lower color quality compared to diamonds with higher color grades, but they may still be a good value for the price, depending on the other factors that influence a diamond's value such as its cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color Z

Diamonds have different clarity because of the presence of internal imperfections (inclusions) and external imperfections (blemishes). The specific location, size, number, and type of inclusions and blemishes in a diamond can vary greatly from one diamond to another, resulting in differences in clarity.

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Clarity

Flawless (Fl): No inclusions or blemishes are visible under 10x magnification.

Flawless

Internally Flawless (IF): No inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, but some surface blemishes may be present.

Internally flawless clarity

Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2): Inclusions and blemishes are difficult to see even under 10x magnification. The difference between VVS1 and VVS2 is the visibility of inclusions and blemishes. A VVS1 diamond has inclusions and blemishes that are extremely difficult to see, even under close inspection, while a VVS2 diamond has inclusions and blemishes that are slightly more noticeable.

Very, very slightly included (1)

Very, very slightly included (2)

Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2): Inclusions and blemishes are visible under 10x magnification but are not noticeable to the naked eye. The difference between VS1 and VS2 is the visibility of inclusions and blemishes. A VS2 diamond has inclusions and blemishes that are slightly more noticeable under close inspection than a VS1 diamond, but both grades are considered to have similar levels of clarity.

Very slightly included (1)

Very slightly included (2)

Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2): Inclusions and blemishes are visible under 10x magnification and may be visible to the naked eye. The difference between SI1 and SI2 is the visibility of inclusions and blemishes. A SI1 diamond has inclusions and blemishes that are less noticeable to the naked eye compared to a SI2 diamond, but both grades have similar levels of clarity under close inspection.

Slightly included (1)

Slightly included (2)

Included (I1, I2, and I3): Inclusions and blemishes are visible to the naked eye and can affect the appearance and durability of the diamond. The difference between I1, I2, and I3 clarity grades is the visibility and number of inclusions and blemishes in the diamond. An I1 diamond has inclusions and blemishes that are noticeable to the naked eye, while an I2 diamond has inclusions and blemishes that are even more noticeable. An I3 diamond has inclusions and blemishes that are highly visible and affect the overall appearance of the diamond.

Included (1) clarity

Included (2) clarity

Included (3) clarity

Diamond polish refers to the quality of the surface finish of a diamond's facets.

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Polish

Excellent (EX): This is the highest polish grade and indicates that the diamond has an extremely high-quality surface finish with no visible blemishes or marks on its facets.

Excellent polish

Very Good (VG): This grade indicates that the diamond has a very good surface finish with only minor blemishes or marks visible on its facets under 10x magnification.

Very good polish

Good (G): This grade indicates that the diamond has a good surface finish, but some blemishes or marks may be visible on its facets under 10x magnification.

Good polish

Fair (F): This grade indicates that the diamond has a fair surface finish, with some visible blemishes or marks on its facets under 10x magnification.

Fair polish

Poor (P): This is the lowest polish grade and indicates that the diamond has a poor surface finish with many visible blemishes or marks on its facets under 10x magnification.

Poor polish

Diamond's symmetry encompasses a number of different factors, including the angles and proportions of the diamond's facets, the alignment of those facets, and the overall balance of the diamond's shape.

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Symmetry

Excellent: The diamond has very precise and symmetrical facets, with a high level of fire and brilliance.

Excellent symmetry

Very Good: The diamond has minor variations in symmetry that are only visible under magnification, but still has a high level of fire and brilliance.

Very good symmetry

Good: The diamond has some visible variations in symmetry, but still appears symmetrical to the naked eye, and has a good level of fire and brilliance.

Good symmetry

Fair: The diamond has visible variations in symmetry that may affect its appearance and light performance.

Fair symmetry

Poor: The diamond has significant variations in symmetry that result in a reduced level of fire and brilliance, and a less attractive appearance.

Poor Symmetry

Diamond fluorescence is the phenomenon where a diamond emits a visible glow when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.

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Fluorescence

None: No fluorescence is visible under UV light. This is considered the most desirable fluorescence grade, as it does not affect the diamond's appearance.

Fluorescence none

Faint: A very small amount of fluorescence is visible under UV light. It has no significant impact on the diamond's appearance.

Faint fluorescence

Medium: A moderate amount of fluorescence is visible under UV light, but it has little impact on the diamond's appearance.

Fluorescence medium

Strong: A significant amount of fluorescence is visible under UV light and can have a slightly hazy or oily appearance.

Fluorescence strong

Very Strong: A very intense fluorescence is visible under UV light and can have a noticeable impact on the diamond's appearance, making it appear hazy or cloudy.

Very strong

The length-to-width ratio of a diamond refers to the ratio between the length of the diamond and its width, which are two of the key proportions that affect a diamond's appearance and overall value.

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Length / width ratio

The diamond depth percentage is a measurement of the height of a diamond from the culet (the bottom point) to the table (the flat surface on the top) as a percentage of the diamond's total diameter (the girdle, which is the widest part of the diamond).

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Depth %

The girdle thickness of a diamond refers to the width of the diamond's girdle, which is the widest part of the diamond located at the circumference and separating the crown (the top portion of the diamond) from the pavilion (the bottom portion of the diamond). 

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Girdle

The diamond depth in millimeters is a measurement of the height of a diamond from the culet (the bottom point) to the table (the flat surface on the top).

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Depth

The diamond table % refers to the size of the flat facet on the top of a diamond, expressed as a percentage of the diameter of the diamond.

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Table %

A hearts and arrows pattern is a specific type of optical symmetry that can be observed in a round brilliant cut diamond. When viewed under a special scope, a diamond with excellent symmetry and proportions will display a pattern of eight hearts when viewed from the bottom and eight arrows when viewed from the top.

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Hearts & arrows

Excellent: This is the highest grade of hearts and arrows diamonds, indicating that the diamond exhibits a perfect pattern of eight hearts and eight arrows, with very high consistency in shape and size, as well as sharpness and symmetry of the facets.

Excellent H&A

Very Good: This grade indicates that the diamond has a mostly uniform pattern of hearts and arrows, with some slight variations in shape and size of the facets.

Very good H&A

Good: This grade indicates that the diamond has a discernible pattern of hearts and arrows, but with some visible irregularities in the symmetry of the pattern.

Good H&A

Fair: This grade indicates that the diamond has a weak or partial pattern of hearts and arrows, with significant irregularities in the shape and size of the facets.

Fair H&A

Poor: This grade indicates that the diamond has little or no discernible pattern of hearts and arrows, and its optical symmetry is significantly below average.

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