Cut: Many people confuse cut with the shape of the diamond. Diamonds are cut into a number of shapes, depending on the nature of the rough stone. The most popular are round, cushion, princess, oval and emerald. The choice is a matter of personal preference. Whatever the shape, however, a well-cut diamond is the work of a master diamond cutter. When cut excellent proportions the diamond is better able to handle light, create more scintillation, and more brilliance.

Color: Diamonds are found with a range of colors ranging from; yellow, and brown to very rare pink, blue, green and many other colors known as “fancies”. However, the best color for a diamond that allows white light to pass effortlessly through it and be dispersed as colors of the rainbow. The color scale starts at D, E, F colorless then goes all the way to Z+ which are considered fancy colors. The differences between one grade and another are very subtle, as can be seen by the number of grades within any one category.

Clarity: To determine a diamond’s clarity diamond graders use a 10 power magnification called a “loop”. Most diamonds contain very tiny natural birth marks known as inclusions. However, the fewer and smaller the inclusions are the less likely it is that they will interfere with the passage of light through the diamond and the more beautiful the diamond will be. A diamond that is free of inclusions and surface blemishes is very rare and therefor more valuable.