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Diamond Learning Guide
 Cut
Clarity
Color
Carat
Shape
Care
Certification
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Cut
Illustration of diamond cut
The cut of a diamond determines how it reflects light, which is
responsible for its sparkle or brilliance. A well-cut diamond is cut by
a skilled professional to the best proportions possible so that light
will be reflected from each of its mirrorlike facets and disperse
through its top. Too shallow a cut will let light escape through a
diamond's bottom, causing it to appear dull, while too deep a cut will
allow light to be lost through a diamond's sides, making it appear dark.
Because a diamond with perfect color and clarity could nevertheless
have poor brilliance if it is not well cut, many gemologists consider
this to be the most important property to note when choosing a diamond.
Diamonds can carry cut grades of Excellent, Ideal, Very Good, Good, or
Fair.
Clarity
Illustration of clarity
No two diamonds are alike. A diamond's most distinguishing
characteristics are its inclusions, marks that are often invisible to
the naked eye. However, under a jeweler's magnifying loupe or microscope
they can look like crystals, tiny rivers, or clouds. A diamond's clarity
is determined by the presence or absence of inclusions--fewer inclusions
mean better clarity--and how visible they are. The greater a diamond's
clarity, the greater its brilliance and value. A diamond categorized as
internally flawless will have no inclusions, but this is extremely rare.
Diamonds with very, very small inclusions are graded as VVS1 or VVS2.
Those with larger inclusions are considered lower-grade. Diamonds with
inclusions that are visible with the naked eye are graded I1 to I2.
Color
Though diamonds come in a wide range of colors, colorless diamonds have
traditionally been considered the most valuable. Most diamonds are
graded on a scale using the letters of the alphabet, from D (colorless),
the best grade, through Z (a light yellow). It is difficult for the
untrained eye to notice such variations in color unless stones are being
compared side by side. The comparatively rare colored diamonds are known
as fancy-colored and are also quite valuable. They range in hue from the
more common yellow (also graded Z+ on the alphabetic scale) to pink,
blue, green, red, and even black and white.
Illustration of color
Diamonds that are graded D, E, and F tend to be the most expensive
because of their rarity. However, any diamond you buy should have a good
balance of cut, color, and clarity, so as to impart the most brilliance
and dazzle possible.
Carat
Illustration of carat weight
A diamond's weight is measured in carats, with one carat being
equivalent to 100 points. You will often see a diamond referred to as a
3/4-carat stone or a 75-point diamond. Larger stones are often more
highly valued, but size should not be the only consideration--high
brilliance, which varies according to clarity, cut, and color grade, is
highly desirable in a diamond.
Shape
Illustration of diamond shapes
The traditional round cut provides a combination of the best
qualities a diamond can have. However, there are other shapes that can
emphasize a diamond's different features. The choice of a shape is best
based on personal taste and the design of the jewelry.
Care
Diamonds, as the hardest substance on earth, are resistant to damage.
However, diamond jewelry is set in different metals, and care will vary
from piece to piece. The girdle can be chipped by a hard blow, making a
protective setting extremely important. Diamonds should be cleaned in a
solution of one part ammonia to six parts water, using a gentle
scrubbing brush to remove any dirt. It is a good idea to have them
cleaned once a year by a professional jeweler, at which time the
security of the setting can be checked as well. Diamond jewelry should
be stored in a soft cloth pouch to ensure that the stone will not
scratch other jewelry.
Certification
A diamond certificate represents independent verification that the stone
purchased has all the qualities of cut, color, clarity, shape, and
weight expected. It is a further indication of the condition and value
of that diamond as represented on our site. Such certificates are issued
by several agencies employing highly trained gemologists and provide an
unbiased and accurate evaluation of the diamond. These gemologists
scrutinize each stone to analyze its dimensions, clarity, cut, color,
finish, symmetry, and other details. Diamonds purchased from the
http://www.epiphanyintl.com may
be certified by the American Gem Society Laboratories (www.agslab.com),
the Gemological Institute of America (www.gia.org), or the International
Gemological Institute (www.igiworldwide.com). The type of certificate
provided will be noted in the product specifications of your jewelry
purchase; if you do not see a certificate type noted, one will not be
provided.
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