Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight

Color quality is critical because usually the more colorless the diamond, the greater its rarity and value. A single increase in color grade can boost a diamond' value by thousands of dollars, depending on the stone' size. The common scale used is based on 10-power magnification (hand held loupe or microscope). This means that for all practical purposes, any imperfection that is too small to be seen with x10 magnification does not "exist" when grading a diamond.

D-E-F: Colorless. This is the colorless diamond group. They are common enough to be found in any store, but still command the highest prices. D and E show virtually no color. F starts to show the very slightest of color and is the transitional color to the next group.

G-H-I: Near colorless. This is the near colorless group. If you are looking for value when you shop, ask to see stones from this group. These diamonds begin to exhibit a very light shade of color, but it is hard to detect in mounted stones.

J-K-L-M: Faint yellow. This is the group that begins to show slight yellow color which may be noticeable from the top of the stone and even more from the sides.

The common scale used is based on 10-power magnification (hand held loupe or microscope). This means that for all practical purposes, any imperfection that is too small to be seen with x10 magnification does not "exist" when grading a diamond.

The purer a diamond, the greater its value.

The GIA defines the qualifications for each group in the scale as follows:

The highest clarity grade given. "The diamond in question will be without imperfections visible with x10 magnification. Some blemishes may be permitted externally bringing the stone to a clarity of "IF" or Internally Flawless".

The VVS group is divided into two, VVS1 and VVS2: "The VVS inclusion in question will be very hard to detect, even for an experienced examiner using x10 power magnification".

The definition of this group is as follows: "The VS inclusion in question will be hard to detect, even for an experienced examiner using x10 power magnification".

The majority of engagement diamonds bought today are of the SI range: "Inclusions and imperfections in this group may be visible easily with the aid of x10 magnification". SI3, a relatively new grade added by some laboratories to bridge the very wide gap between SI2 and I1 (imperfect).

SI1: Can be seen easily with x10 magnification. Cannot be viewed with the naked eye.

SI2: Can be seen easily with x10 magnification. Rarely can be viewed with the naked eye.

SI3: Can be seen very easily with x10 magnification. In most cases (stones above 3/4 of a carat) can be viewed with the naked eye.

A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance, its dispersion, its scintillation-in short, its life. And brilliance is what a diamond is all about, especially in the eyes of the consumer. Cut actually means two things: the shape of the diamond and the proportions of the stone. When a stone is well cut, light is reflected from facet to facet, then dispersed through the top. The better the cut, the greater the sparkle, brilliance, and fire. Diamond cut is typically graded as: Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor

The weight or size of a diamond is measured in carats. A one-carat stone is equal in weight to one hundred smaller units called points. Carat weight is the most obvious factor in determining a diamond's value, dependending on the quality of its cut, clarity and color. Be aware that the price of a stone may jump after certain weight thresholds (usually at quarter-carat marks, such as 25 or 75 points).

Approximate sizes as measured in milimeters: