Diamond Education

All about diamonds.

Buying a diamond is an important decision, and we’re certainly here to help you all the way. We know it can be a confusing and daunting task, so we want to provide all you need to know. Finding the perfect diamond brought you here. We’re glad it did, because we want you to find the perfect diamond, too! Here’s a fun fact: diamonds are like snowflakes, no two diamonds are alike. A natural diamond's journey begins billions of years before it arrives in our showcase. Your journey with us will be considerably shorter. It’s important to work with an accredited professional who can explain all of the differences. It starts with the basics: The 4Cs.

Cut

When a diamond is cut with the ideal proportions, it reflects more light out of the top, producing incredible fire and brilliance. Cut is probably the most important C of them all. A poorly cut diamond with uneven proportions looks dull and dark because it allows light to escape out the bottom and sides. A well-cut diamond sparkles a lot because it reflects and refracts light better than one not cut as well. Achieving the best cut for a diamond comes down to hands of a skilled diamond cutter and ultimately reflects the diamond's final beauty, value and price.

Color

When looking at a diamond's color, the spectrum ranges from light yellow to totally colorless. A lettering system is used to identify the amount of color present in each diamond and goes all the way up to Z with D awarded only to rare, totally colorless diamonds. A diamond can be graded D - F which are the rarest and highest in quality. G, H, I, and J are near colorless and typically a great value, or K (faintly colored) and more budget-friendly. L to Z color grades have a warm, yellow hue, and we tend to stay away from selling those diamonds. A white diamond’s beauty and value increases the more colorless it is. Many of these diamond color distinctions are so slight that they are invisible to the untrained eye. However, these distinctions make a very big difference in diamond quality and price.

Clarity

Natural diamonds are formed by tremendous heat and pressure deep within the earth. This process can result in “inclusions” and “blemishes.” These are simply fancy words for imperfections. No diamond is perfect, but the closer it comes, the higher its value. Inclusions seldom affect a diamond’s beauty, although they do affect price.

Carat Weight

Carat weight refers to size and weight. Larger diamonds are more rare and more valuable. Two diamonds with the same carat weight can vary greatly in price, depending on the color, clarity and most importantly, the cut. A half-carat diamond with high color and clarity ratings may cost more than a three-quarter carat diamond with lower color and clarity ratings, but identical cut. It’s simply a matter of deciding what matters most to you, size or quality, then finding the best combination of size, color and clarity to suit your budget.

The Shape

The shape you choose for a center diamond can have an impact on how a ring looks and feels. Most center diamonds come in one of these shapes:

Round Brilliant

The most popular; cut for maximum brilliance.

Princess Cut

A fancy-cut diamond that has a great deal of sparkle.

Oval

Becoming one of the most popular fancy cuts and are a modified brilliant-cut with similar fire; elongated shape creating the illusion of greater size.