The way light interacts with the stone; the higher the quality of the stone, the more it will shine.
In the early 1990s, miners found a lode of diamonds on the Arctic tundra in Canada's northwest. Since then it has grown into a $2 billion annual business.
A unit of measure used to weigh stones.
The clearness and cleanness of the stone when viewed with a loupe.
A color scale that runs from D (colorless) to Z (very light yellow).
Diamonds whose mining did not fund terrorist activities or civil atrocities.
The top portion of a diamond extending from the girdle to the table.
The facet at the tip of a gemstone. The best culet is invisible to the naked eye.
Synthetic diamonds "grown" in labs, resulting in stones whose properties are very similar to mined diamonds but for much less money.
The angle and number of facets on the stone. The cut is the greatest factor in a diamond's brilliance.
The height of a gemstone measured from the culet to the table.
The width of the diamond as measured through the girdle.
Small black or dull places seen in most diamonds; can be microscopic fractures or feathers. Also known as an inclusion.
Cut, color, clarity and carat, all of which are used to evaluate a diamond's value.
The intersection of the crown and pavilion that defines the perimeter of the diamond.
A naturally occurring "flaw" inside a rough precut diamond. Like a handprint, each diamond has its own inclusions, which can affect a diamond’s clarity and strength.
The bottom portion of a diamond, extending from the girdle to the culet.
A temporary ring a groom gives his betrothed when proposing. It can be a family heirloom, costume jewelry or a ring provided by a jeweler, for which the groom preselects the center stone.
The mounting that attaches the diamond to the ring’s band. Settings are usually made out of platinum because of its strength and durability.
The geometry or silhouette of the stone.
A simple band with a single center stone mounted in a three-to-six-claw prong and set precisely to capture the light. It's the most classic and popular style.
The flat part of the diamond. The largest facet of a cut diamond.
A design that consists of either three identically sized stones or one larger center stone flanked with two smaller ones. It’s among the most popular styles.