Dictionary

You might find the following definitions useful when doing your research into diamonds. Of course, if you still need some guidance or advice, please call us on 1-800-270-7434 (toll free).

AGS - The abbreviation for the American Gem Society, a diamond grading laboratory which is highly respected with the diamond industry.

APPRAISALS - This is often carried out on a diamond engagement ring or item of diamond jewelry following production and prior to shipping to the client. It is an assessment of the item, normally carried out by an independent body, with the objective of providing complete peace of mind to the client.

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

BAGUETTE CUT - Generally used as side diamonds on engagement rings or even across diamond eternity rings, baguette cut diamonds are small, rectangular diamonds which have the same step-cut facet arrangement as emerald cut diamonds.

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.

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 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.

CARAT - The unit measurement of diamond weight.

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 fewer inclusions in the diamond, generally speaking the more valuable the diamond.

CLARITY ENHANCED - This is the term given to diamonds which have had their clarity artifically treated. In other words, the inclusions in the diamond have been subject to human treatment to improve its appearance. As a general rule, as soon as a diamond is clarity enhanced, its value is seriously reduced, compared to real, natural, untreated diamonds.

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 more white it is.

COLORED DIAMONDS - The name given to natural diamonds which are not colorless - in other words, they are shade of green, purple, blue, yellow, red and pink. The more intense the color, the more valuable these fancy colored diamonds are. Large, natural fancy colored diamonds with vivid or intense colors are highly prized by collectors around the world and normally fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars at international auctions.

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.

CUT - The cut relates to either the shape of the diamond or the proportions of the diamond.

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.

DIAMONDS - Diamond is the hardest natural substance known to man.

EGL - The abbreviation for the European Gemological Laboratory.

EGL USA - The abbreviation for the European Gemological Laboratory USA which used to be, but is now no longer, affiliated to the EGL.

EMERALD CUT - Rectangular in shape, the emerald cut diamond has fewer facets than other cuts of diamond, with step cuts.

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.

FLUORESCENCE - A characteristic of a diamond. Florescence relates to the amount of blue the diamond displays when under ultra-violet light. Florescence is generally graded as None, Faint, Medium, Strong or Very Strong.

FOUR 4CS - The international system of grading diamonds uses the 4Cs of Cut, Carat, Color and Clarity to assess a diamonds characteristics.

GIA - The abbreviation for the Gemological Institute of America. This is perhaps the best known of all the diamond grading laboratories in the world, and is generally viewed to have the strictest grading standards when it comes to diamonds and gemstones. It was the GIA who founded the "4Cs" of diamonds - the international diamond grading mechanism - that is used across the world today.

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.

GRADING REPORT - Also known as a diamond certificate.

HALLMARK - This is a tiny stamp embossed onto a piece of precious metal jewelry to verify and guarantee the purity of the precious metal content. The process is carried out by the Assay Office in England, which has been doing so for over 700 years and represents one of the oldest forms of consumer protection in the world. Hallmarking is, uniquely, a legal requirement on all precious metal jewelry sold in England.

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 (or Excellent cut, depending upon the grading laboratory) is the best possible cut of all.

IGI - The abbreviation for the International Gemological Institute, a highly respected diamond grading laboratory with offices around the world.

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.

INTERNALLY FLAWLESS - The term relating to a diamond which has no inclusions. Diamonds of this quality are highly prized and command premium prices.

LENGTH TO WIDTH RATIO - This ratio helps to outline the physical shape of a diamond. Simply take the length of the diamond and divide it by the width. As an example, the classical rectangular emerald cut diamond will be around 1.50:1.00.

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

NON CONFLICT - The term given to diamonds which are known to have been mined in non-conflict areas of the world.

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.

PLATINUM - One of the rarest precious metals used in jewelry today. Platinum is hallmarked "950", meaning 95% pure.

POLISH - The term used to describe the finish of a diamond.

PRINCESS CUT - The term used for a square diamond.

PROPORTIONS - The way the diamond is proportioned affects the amount of sparkle or brilliance generated.

ROUND BRILLIANT CUT - The most traditional - and popular - shape of diamond.

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.

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.