Diamond Education

An Insider's Guide to Diamonds

We love all things diamonds and want to share our expertise with you. Diamonds are fascinating and buying one should be exciting and fun.  So, let’s start at the beginning.

If you’ve found the love of your life, it’s just a matter of time before you will be ready to take the leap. Often this is your first diamond purchase.  And the first step to take is to figure out the perfect diamond shape.

SHAPE makes a difference.

Did you know that the shape you choose for your center diamond has an impact on how your ring looks and feels?  Any shape other than round is referred to as a fancy cut. Consider the benefits of each of these shapes when you’re choosing.

Round Brilliant — the most popular; cut for maximum brilliance.

Princess Cut — the most popular fancy-cut; has a great deal of sparkle.

Oval — a modified brilliant-cut with similar fire; elongated shape creates the illusion of greater size.

Cushion — a square cut with rounded corners, much like a pillow; arguably giving the most sparkle.

Asscher Cut — an elegant square shape with clipped corners that make diamonds appear octagonal.

Emerald — rectangular with parallel facets and clipped corners; produces a hall-of-mirrors effect.

Marquise — an elongated shape with tapering points at both ends; flatters the finger.

Pear — teardrop-shaped, with a great deal of sparkle.

Radiant Cut — a combination of the emerald cut and the round brilliant; typically with clipped corners.

Heart — a sentimental cut that is sometimes hard to find.

Beyond the Four Cs.

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. We are your diamond experts—and the first place to consider when you’re looking for that important fifth C…Confidence.

CUT - It's everything.

Ever wonder what gives a diamond its sparkle? Cut, the proportions of a diamond, is the only aspect of a diamond controlled by man and has the biggest impact on your diamond’s appearance and quality.  We suggest you invest in exceptional cut first and foremost.  We’re not saying the other 3 Cs are unimportant, but sacrificing sparkle for a larger diamond, or one that has glaring eye visible characterizes is not what we recommend. 

So what’s best? A diamond cut with the most exacting proportions for its shape.

For a really brilliant diamond, with excellent polish and symmetry, let us help you choose the best cut for the diamond shape of your choice. And finally, an exceptional cut will also increase your diamond’s value.  Check out our exclusive diamonds with exceptional cuts.

diamond-cut
COLOR - Less is Better

The white diamond spectrum ranges from totally colorless to light yellow.  The amount of color in a diamond is signified with a special lettering system that ranges from D to Z.

* A colorless diamond can be graded D, E or F.

* A near colorless diamond can be graded, G, H, I or J.

Colored diamonds, such as pink, blue, chocolate or bright yellow are also available, but they are rated on a different scale than white diamonds.

diamond color
CLARITY - Be clear about the differences.

Natural diamonds are formed by tremendous heat and pressure deep within the earth. Understandably, the powerful process can result in internal “inclusions” and external “blemishes.”

A diamond’s clarity is determined by the number, size, nature, and position of its inclusions and blemishes. Almost no diamond is perfect, but the closer it comes to perfection, the higher its value. A “flawless” diamond is rare. Inclusions may not affect a diamond’s beauty, although they do affect the price.

diamond clarity
CARAT WEIGHT - Beyond the size.

Carat weight is a measure of a diamond’s weight and a reflection of its size. Two diamonds of slightly different dimensions may have the same carat weight.  Size also depends on how evenly weight is distributed and the quality of the cut.  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.

diamond weight