Diamond Information
Before you start diamond shopping, you want to have an understanding of what you're buying. At Jackson Jewelers, we pride ourselves in educating our customers, so take some time exploring the links below to learn more about the four C's:
Cut | Color | Clarity | Carat Weight
You can select your diamond based on the same criteria jewelers use to grade them. After reading this information, you'll be ready to choose the diamond that's right for you.
Shapes
Round
All diamond shapes other than round are referred to as "fancy-shaped" diamonds. At Jackson Jewelers, we apply our high round diamond quality standards to our fancy-shaped diamonds as well.
Since fancy shapes are all very different, unique characteristics determine quality for each shape. Click each shape to learn more about them and how to recognize the most beautiful diamond.
Princess Cut
For a princess diamond shape that is square, look for length-to-width ratios between 1 and 1.10. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, look for length-to-width ratios greater than 1.11.
Emerald Cut
Emerald-cut diamonds can vary greatly in how rectangular they are. For the classic emerald-cut shape, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1.30 and 1.40.
Oval Cut
An oval diamond has beautiful brilliance that's similar to a round diamond. For oval diamonds that are pleasing to the eye, look for length-to-width ratios between 1.33 and 1.66.
Pear Cut
Many who like the look of the round but want a fancy shape alternative choose the pear-shaped diamond. For a pear-shaped diamond that is pleasing to the eye, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1.50 and 1.75.
Marquise Cut
The shape of a marquise diamond can maximize carat weight, giving you a much larger-looking diamond. Look for length-to-width ratios between 1.75 and 2.25 for marquise-cut diamonds that are pleasing to the eye.
Cushion Cut
This diamond was one of the most popular shapes a century ago. For cushion-cut diamonds that are pleasing to the eye, look for length-to-width ratios between 1.1 and 1.2.
Heart Shaped Cut
The heart is the ultimate symbol of love. Look for length-to-width ratios between .90 and 1.10 for heart-shaped diamonds that are plesing to the eye.
Cut
The cut of a diamond ~ roundness, depth & width, uniformity of the facets determine a diamond's brilliance. Cut is an important characteristic because even if a diamond has perfect color and clarity, a diamond with a poor cut will have dulled brilliance.
The width and depth have the greatest effect on how light travels within the diamond, and how it exits in the form of brilliance.
Too Shallow: Light is lost out the bottom causing the diamond to lose brilliance.
Too Deep: Light escapes out the sides causing the diamond to appear dark and dull.
Anatomy of a Diamond:
Diameter: The width of the diamond as measured through the girdle.
Table: The largest facet of a gemstone.
Crown: The top portion of a diamond extending from the girdle to the table.
Girdle: The narrow band around the widest part of a diamond.
Pavilion: The bottom portion of a diamond, extending from the girdle to the culet.
Culet: The facet at the tip of a gemstone. The preferred culet is not visible with the unaided eye (graded "small" or "none").
Depth: The height of a gemstone measured from the culet to the table.
Color
Diamonds with very little color are the most highly valued and are priced accordingly. To help you choose the most brilliant diamond, we offer diamonds with the highest grades of color. Learn how to choose a diamond with no color noticeable to the unaided eye.
Acting as a prism, a diamond can divide light into a spectrum of colors and reflect this light as colorful flashes called fire. Just as when looking through colored glass, color in a diamond will act as a filter, and will diminish the spectrum of color emitted. The less color in a diamond, the more colorful the fire, and the better the color grade.
D: Absolutely colorless. The highest color grade, which is extremely rare.
E: Colorless. Only minute traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist. A rare diamond.
F: Colorless. Slight color detected by an expert gemologist, but still considered a "colorless" grade. A high-quality diamond.
G-H: Near-colorless. Color noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades, but these grades offer excellent value.
I-J: Near-colorless. Color slightly detectable. An excellent value.
Clarity
Many diamonds have inclusions - scratches, trace minerals or other tiny characteristics that can detract from the pure beauty of the diamond. The GIA uses a detailed system of standards to summarize the number, location, size, and type of inclusions present in a diamond.
Diamonds that are absolutely clear are the most sought-after and therefore the most expensive.
FL, IF Diamonds: Flawless: No internal or external flaws. Internally Flawless: No internal flaws. Very rare and beautiful diamonds.
VVS1, VVS2 Diamonds: Very, Very Slightly Included: Very difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. An excellent quality diamond.
VS1, VS2 Diamonds: Very Slightly Included: Inclusions are not typically visible to the unaided eye. Less expensive than the VVS1 or VVS2 grades.
SI1, SI2 Diamonds: Slightly Included: Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, and may be visible with the unaided eye. A good diamond value.
I1, I2, I3 Diamonds: Included: These diamonds have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.
Carat Weight
After determining what cut, color, and clarity grade you're looking for, then decide on carat weight. Diamond prices rise exponentially with carat weight. A 2-carat diamond of a given quality is always worth more than two 1-carat diamonds of the same quality.
To choose the best carat weight of diamond, consider her style, the size of her finger, the size of your setting, and your budget.
- Explore all your options and you'll find that there is a wide range of diamond carat weights and qualities available in your price range.
- If your recipient is very active or not used to wearing jewelry, she may find herself bumping or nicking her new ring. Consider a smaller size diamond or a setting that protects a larger diamond from getting knocked against objects.
- Keep in mind that the smaller the finger, the larger the diamond will appear.
- If you have already chosen a setting, to make sure you choose a diamond to fit, look for the diamond size specifications of your ring.
- Finally, if a large carat weight is important to you, yet you're working within a budget, consider a diamond with a good cut, SI1-SI2 clarity, and an I or J color grade.