Diamond Shape vs Diamond Cut

Many people confuse diamond shape with diamond cut. Although related, they are quite different. Shape describes the basic outline of the diamond. The most popular diamond shapes include round, cushion and oval. Cut or cutting style, on the other hand, refers to how a diamond’s facets are arranged. For example, most diamonds are brilliant cut. The quality of a diamond’s cut is based on its symmetry, polish and overall quality of craftsmanship. Learn more about diamond shape.

The 4C’s – Cut

Cut is one of the most important of the 4Cs. This trio of diamonds demonstrates why. From left to right, these diamonds have cut grades of Excellent, Good and Poor. Can you see the difference? Learn more about diamond cut.

The 4C’s – Carat

Carat is a unit of weight that equals 0.2 grams. That means a 5 carat diamond weighs 1 gram. Carat weight relates to the size of a diamond, which is one of the most visible things about a stone. How large a stone looks, though, also depends on how it is cut. Stones that are cut too deep may weigh more, but they will not look any bigger face-up. That is one of the reasons why it is important to buy a stone that is well cut. Learn more about carat.

The 4C’s – Colour

What many people call “white diamonds” are actually colorless diamonds. These diamonds are graded on GIA’s D-Z color grading scale, with D being completely colorless. The more colorless a diamond is, the rarer and more valuable it is. D-F diamonds are considered colorless while G-J diamonds are near-colorless. If you are looking for a diamond that doesn’t have noticeable color and would like to save money, consider diamonds in the near- colorless range. Learn more about diamond color.

The 4C’s – Clarity

Diamonds almost always contain inclusions, such as tiny crystals or feathers, and blemishes, such as nicks or scratches. Clarity considers the number, size, location, color or relief and type of these inclusions and blemishes (called clarity characteristics). The less noticeable they are, the rarer and more valuable the diamond is, if everything else is the same. Diamonds that are Flawless have no visible inclusions or blemishes at 10× magnification. Learn more about diamond clarity.