Diamond Terms

When researching diamonds, diamond engagement rings, diamond rings and diamond jewelry, it will be beneficial for you to be familiar with some key phrases.

APPRAISAL - This is often carried out on a diamond engagement ring or item of diamond jewelry following production and prior to dispatch to the client. It is an assessment of the item, normally carried out by an independent authority, with the objective of providing complete peace of mind to the client. For more information, please visit our jewelry appraisals page.

ASSCHER CUT - A square emerald cut diamond with very canted corners, so that it often resembles an octagon.

BLEMISHES - Clarity grading systems grade the diamond according to the presence or absence of internal and external characteristics, generally referred to as flaws. They are called inclusions when internal, and blemishes when external. For more info, please visit our diamond info page.

BOW TIE EFFECT - Most commonly found in marquise cut diamonds, this is a black area within a diamond which takes the appearance of a bow tie. This effect is a result simply of the shape of the diamond and the facets within it and is found in the vast majority of these marquise cut diamonds.

BRILLIANCE - This relates to the amount of sparkle displayed by the diamond.

BRILLIANT CUT - This term relates to the shape of a round diamond - usually called a round brilliant cut diamond. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

CARAT - The unit measurement of diamond weight. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

CERTIFICATION - An independent assessment of the characteristics of a diamond, relating to the 4Cs of Cut, Carat, Color and Clarity. For more information, please visit our diamond grading reports page.

CHANNEL SET - A term used to describe a number of diamonds set between 2 rows of metal. This is most commonly found in diamond jewelry such as diamond eternity rings, for example.

CLARITY - Relates to the amount of inclusions in a diamond. The less inclusions in the diamond, the better. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

COLOR - The international diamond grading system grades color as being D (the whitest of all) down to Z (yellow). The closer the diamond to color D, the whiter it is. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

CROWN - The crown is also called the top of the stone. This is simply the upper portion of the stone ie the part above the girdle.

CULET - The culet is the lowest part or point of the stone. It may be missing in some stones, which can indicate damage. For more info, please visit our diamond info page.

CUT - The cut relates to either the shape of the diamond or the proportions of the diamond. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

DEPTH - The depth percentage represents the depth of the diamond - the distance from the table to the culet - as a percentage of the width of the diamond. This is particularly important in round brilliant cut diamonds to ensure maximum brilliance. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

DIAMONDS - Diamond is the hardest natural substance known to man. For more information, please visit our background to diamonds page.

DIAMOND BRACELETS - Diamond bracelets make a wonderful gift for any special occasion. Most popular styles nowadays are diamond tennis bracelets, diamond bangles and contemporary diamond bracelets.

DIAMOND EARRINGS - Diamond earrings make the perfect addition to any type of day or evening wear. Nowadays, most popular designs include diamond stud earrings, diamond hoop earrings, diamond drop earrings and contemporary diamond earrings.

DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RINGS - Diamond engagement rings are the classic symbol of love and romance between two people. Whilst the diamond shapes used in diamond engagement rings become ever more flamboyant, there is essentially two main types of diamond engagement rings - solitaire diamond engagement rings and multi-stone diamond engagement rings.

DIAMOND ETERNITY RINGS - Symbolising the never ending love and commitment between two people, diamond eternity rings come in two main forms - semi diamond eternity rings and full diamond eternity rings.

DIAMOND JEWELRY - Diamond jewelry is the all-encompassing term used for diamond rings, diamond pendants, diamond earrings, diamond bracelets and diamond necklaces.

DIAMOND NECKLACES - Diamond necklaces look fabulous when worn with evening wear. Most popular of diamond necklaces today include diamond solitaire pendants, diamond cross pendants, diamond heart pendants and contemporary diamond pendants and necklaces.

EMERALD CUT - Rectangular in shape, the emerald cut diamond has fewer facets than other cuts of diamond, with step cuts. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

FANCY COLOR - Diamonds exist in many colors apart from the traditional white. Yellow, pink, purple and red diamonds exist, all of which generally command premium prices as a result of their scarcity.

FEATHER - A type of inclusion that is present in certain diamonds.

FIRE - A term commonly used instead of brilliance to describe the amount of light and sparkle in a diamond.

FLAW - Another term used to describe a blemish or inclusion in a diamond. All diamonds have flaws, except for internally-flawless diamonds.

FLORESCENCE - A characteristic of a diamond. Florescence relates to the amount of blue the diamond displays when under ultra-violet light.

FOUR Cs - The international system of grading diamonds uses the 4Cs of Cut, Carat, Color and Clarity to assess a diamonds characteristics. For more info, please visit our diamond info page.

GIRDLE - The girdle is the edge or border of the stone that forms its perimeter. It is the edge formed where the top portion of the diamond meets the bottom portion. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

GRADING REPORT - Also known as a diamond certificate. For more information, please visit our diamond grading reports page.

IDEAL - Predominantly for round brilliant cut diamonds, there exists a set of parameters which will result in the maximum display of brilliance in a diamond. Ideal cut is the best possible. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

INCLUSIONS - These are the common name for the blemishes in a diamond and are also known as 'nature's birthmark' of the stone. They can take the form of a white feather, crystal or black pinpoints in the stone. The less inclusions in a diamond, the better. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

LOUPE - The industry term for a jeweler's magnifying glass. These are particularly useful for analyzing inclusions in a diamond.

PAVE SET - The term used to describe a multitude of small diamonds set into precious metal, set so close together in volume that it looks like the item is 'diamond encrusted', and no metal is showing.

PAVILION - The pavilion is the bottom portion of the stone, the part from the girdle to the "point" at the bottom.

POLISH - The term used to describe the finish of a diamond. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

PRINCESS CUT - The term used for a square diamond. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

PROPORTIONS - The way the diamond is proportioned affects the amount of sparkle or brilliance generated. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

ROUND BRILLIANT CUT - The most traditional - and popular - shape of diamond. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

SETTING - This term describes the precious metal that the diamonds are set into. It could be a ring, earrings, pendant, bracelet or necklace, amongst others.

SYMMETRY - A term often used to describe the way diamonds are proportioned. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.

TABLE - The table is the flat top of the stone and is the stone's largest facet, often called the face. The term table spread is used to describe the width of the table facet, often expressed as a percentage of the total width of the stone. For more information, please visit our diamond info page.