How to Buy Diamonds

Of all the 4 Cs, cut has the greatest effect on a diamond's beauty.  In grading, cut evaluates the cutters skill in the fashioning of the diamond.  Diamonds have a unique ability to manipulate light efficiently.  This unique ability can be released and maximized only by cutting and polishing the diamond to an extremely high level of accuracy.

Before choosing a ring, view our complete guide to the different grades of Diamond Cut

The clarity grade is a subjective determination of the visibility of a diamond's internal and external characteristics.  The fewer number of inclusions or blemishes a diamond has, the more desirable and the higher the grade.  A flawless diamond, one with no inclusions visible under ten-power magnification, is the most rare and therefore most costly.

Learn how Diamond Clarity influences the price of your diamond, and the right combination
to look for

Our diamonds are graded on a scale of D through Z following the grading system used by the Gemological Institute of America.  The highest grade, D, is the purest white color, with each subsequent letter corresponding to a slightly darker shade, down to Z, the lowest color grade on the scale.   Color in a diamond refers to the body tone of the diamond.

Learn more about how Diamond Color can affect the price of your ring

One of the first questions usually asked is: "How many carats is it?" Most think that carats represent the size of the diamond; however, this is only partially correct.  The carat refers to the weight of the diamond.  Historically, it represented the weight of a carob seed; thus, the term carat. In more exact measurements, 5 carats is equal to 1 gram.  Therefore, two diamonds of the same weight can appear quite different in appearance.

Learn more about Diamond Carat Weight and how it influences the price of your diamond