Diamond Guide
Our Philosophy
Choosing a diamond should be an enjoyable and interesting process, and we are happy to guide you through each step to find the stone that is right for you. Although there are many factors to consider when choosing a diamond, we believe that the single most important criterion is that it is beautiful and meaningful to you.
Shape
Selecting a shape is one of the first and most important decisions to make when choosing a diamond, since it will have such a dramatic effect on the overall look of the piece. You can either choose a shape to suit a setting that attracts you or choose a setting to suit the shape of stone you want, or that you may already have.
Shape
Selecting a shape is one of the first and most important decisions to make when choosing a diamond, since it will have such a dramatic effect on the overall look of the piece. You can either choose a shape to suit a setting that attracts you or choose a setting to suit the shape of stone you want, or that you may already have.
Color
Diamonds are found in a wide range of colors. Most diamonds may appear white or colorless, but actually have shades of yellow, brown, pink and other tones. We work with traditional grades of white and colorless diamonds but also specialize in natural Fancy-Colored Diamonds, such as shades of yellow, champagne, chartreuse, gold, mahogany and pink. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Grading Scale for Color ranges from D-Z. Grades of D-F are considered Colorless, G-J are Near Colorless, K-M are considered Faint Yellow, and the scale continues to Z, which is Light Yellow. While diamonds on the colorless side are valued higher, you may find that the stone you like the best has some color to it. Fancy-Colored diamonds are beyond the scale and valued separately. We are happy to help you find the stone and gold color that will best complement each other.
Cut
The cut of a diamond directly determines its brilliance, sparkle and luster, since it affects how light travels in and out of the diamond. The light reflected up and out of the stone makes the stone sparkle and appear lively. This fiery quality is something we especially value when searching for stones. A common misconception is that bezel settings will affect the brilliance of a stone, but in a well cut diamond, light both enters and exits through the large facet at its top (the “table”), rather than through the sides that are protected by the bezel. The bezel setting is also the most secure and protective stone setting, preventing chips that can sometimes result from prong settings and the setting from catching on clothing and other objects.
Cut
The cut of a diamond directly determines its brilliance, sparkle and luster, since it affects how light travels in and out of the diamond. The light reflected up and out of the stone makes the stone sparkle and appear lively. This fiery quality is something we especially value when searching for stones. A common misconception is that bezel settings will affect the brilliance of a stone, but in a well cut diamond, light both enters and exits through the large facet at its top (the “table”), rather than through the sides that are protected by the bezel. The bezel setting is also the most secure and protective stone setting, preventing chips that can sometimes result from prong settings and the setting from catching on clothing and other objects.
Carat Weight
The weight of a diamond is measured in carats, with each carat divided into 100 points. Two diamonds of the same weight can vary in both appearance and price greatly depending on color, clarity and cut. While price increases almost exponentially with carat weight, stones can appear larger, smaller or more brilliant depending on the above combination of factors.
Clarity
Almost all diamonds contain naturally occurring characteristics called “inclusions.” The size, number and character of the inclusions is used to determine the stone’s official grade. Clarity is often misunderstood, as many inclusions that affect value are in fact not visible to the naked eye and may not affect the stone’s beauty and brilliance. Clarity Grades: FL - Flawless. No internal or external flaws. IF - Internally Flawless. No internal flaws. VVS1, VVS2 - Very Very Slight Inclusions. Inclusions that are very difficult to see under a 10x magnifying jeweler’s loupe. VS1, VS2 - Very Slight Inclusions. Inclusions that are difficult to see under a 10x magnifying jeweler’s loupe. SI1, SI2, SI3 - Slight Inclusions. Inclusions that are easy to see under a 10x magnifying jeweler’s loupe. I1, I2, I3 - Inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.
Clarity
Almost all diamonds contain naturally occurring characteristics called “inclusions.” The size, number and character of the inclusions is used to determine the stone’s official grade. Clarity is often misunderstood, as many inclusions that affect value are in fact not visible to the naked eye and may not affect the stone’s beauty and brilliance. Clarity Grades: FL - Flawless. No internal or external flaws. IF - Internally Flawless. No internal flaws. VVS1, VVS2 - Very Very Slight Inclusions. Inclusions that are very difficult to see under a 10x magnifying jeweler’s loupe. VS1, VS2 - Very Slight Inclusions. Inclusions that are difficult to see under a 10x magnifying jeweler’s loupe. SI1, SI2, SI3 - Slight Inclusions. Inclusions that are easy to see under a 10x magnifying jeweler’s loupe. I1, I2, I3 - Inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.