Often confused for the shape of the stone, such as round or oval, the cut of a diamond actually refers to how the stone is faceted and proportioned to make the light flow through the gem. It’s what provides the diamond with sparkle. Cut is graded as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor by the Gemological Institute of America. An Excellent cut will shine brightly without any dark spots. However, a Poor cut will have big dark spaces that dull the shine.

Many people confuse carat with the overall size of the diamond. However, carat actually refers to the weight of the stone. In fact, the name comes from “carob” seed, which was the original unit of weight compared by diamond traders. 

Diamonds are naturally developed in a variety of colors. Yet, the rarest and highest quality diamonds are colorless. Diamond color is rated on a scale of D (colorless) to Z (light yellow/brown). Most diamonds in the world have a hint of color but the rarest ones are graded D, E and F.

Because diamonds are created naturally deep in the earth, it’s perfectly normal for one to have tiny imperfections. These are otherwise known as blemishes and inclusions. Blemishes can be seen on the outside of the diamond, while inclusions occur on the inside. Both impact clarity because they interfere with how the light passes through the diamond. Clarity is graded from “Flawless” to “Imperfect”.