Diamond Education

Diamond Shape

Diamond shape is the outline and form of a diamond after it has been cut & polished. Some of the popular shapes are

Diamond Color

Diamonds come in a variety of colors, some of them highly prized (pinks, blues, even yellow). However in a white diamond, the presence of a yellow tint will lower the price of a diamond. The less body color in a white diamond, the more true color it will reflect, and thus the greater its value.

Diamonds come in a variety of colors, some of them highly prized (pinks, blues, even yellow). However in a white diamond, the presence of a yellow tint will lower the price of a diamond. The less body color in a white diamond, the more true color it will reflect, and thus the greater its value.

Diamond Carat

Diamonds are sold by the carat, which is actually a unit of weight, though most think of a carat in terms of size. The word "carat" comes from the "carob" seed, the original unit of measure for diamond traders. Today, a carat is equal to exactly 0.2 grams. Carat weight is unrelated to the similar sounding karat, which refers to gold's purity.
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Two diamonds of the same shape and carat weight may still appear different in size based on the cut proportions. A deeply cut diamond has a greater proportion of its total weight "hidden" in the depth, resulting in a smaller diameter than a well cut diamond. These differences are usually small, but noticable. A well cut diamond may even have a slightly lower carat weight than a deeply cut diamond, yet still have a larger diameter, making it appear larger in size.

Diamond Cut

Cut refers not to a diamond's shape ( round, oval, pear, etc.) but to a diamond's proportions, symmetry and polish. The beauty of a diamond depends more on cut than any other factor.

When a diamond is fashioned from a rough stone, the cutter must balance optimal cut against maximum yield Because many customers are willing to pay more for a larger, fair-cut cut diamond than for a slightly smaller, well-cut diamond, there is pressure on the cutter to sacrifice appearance for weight. This is why the Cut grade is so important; it allows the purchaser to identify those stones that were cut Fair to Poor in an effort to gain carat
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Diamond Clarity

Diamond clarity is the assessment of small imperfections on the surface and within the stone. Surface flaws are called blemishes, while internal defects are known as inclusions. In most cases, a diamond’s beauty is not affected by these in any way since most inclusions can’t be seen with the naked eye. When referring to inclusions, gemologists often use the term “internal characteristics” instead of flaws. Internal characteristics are what give a natural diamond its character. It’s also important to note that diamonds with the fewest and smallest inclusions receive the highest clarity grades—and higher price tags to reflect that.

Remember, all diamonds are unique, not perfect. They are made underground through enormous pressure and heat. Natural inclusions and blemishes are inevitable.
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Flawless (FL) Diamonds

No internal or external characteristics

Less than 1% of all diamonds are FL clarity

A flawless diamond is incredibly rare because it’s nearly impossible to find a diamond 100% free of inclusions
 

Internally Flawless (IF) Diamonds

Some small surface blemishes may be visible under a microscope on IF diamonds

IF diamonds have no inclusions within the stone, only surface characteristics set the grade

Visually eye clean
 

VVS1, VVS2 Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS) Diamonds

VS1, VS2 Very Slightly Included (VS) Diamonds

Minor inclusions ranging from difficult (VS1) to somewhat easy (VS2) to see at 10x magnification Great value; Blue Nile’s most popular diamond clarity
 

SI1, SI2 Slightly Included (SI) Diamonds

I1, I2, I3 Included Diamonds

I clarity diamonds have obvious inclusions that are likely to be visible and impact beauty
Blue Nile does not sell I clarity grade loose diamonds for engagement ring designs
Blue Nile does offer a limited selection of jewellery pre-set with I1 diamonds

Diamond Certification

A diamond certificate, also known as a diamond grading report, is an easily understood document prepared by an expert gemmologist that describes the key characteristics of a diamond. A certificate from a gemmological laboratory verifies the quality of a loose diamond and allows non-experts to make educated diamond buying decisions
Diamond Grading Report: Many consider this to be the blueprint of a diamond. Starting with the 4Cs – cut, clarity, color, and carat – the report includes precise measurements and shape, as well as a plot or map of the individual diamond’s characteristics. The diamond grading report will also note if the diamond has a girdle inscription, and will describe important characteristics beyond the clarity grade.