Clarity refers to the amount of inclusions, or slight imperfections, within a diamond. Inclusions occur when tiny bits of minerals, gas, or fluids get trapped during the formation process.

These are naturally occurring and form in both Natural and Lab Grown diamonds, although it is usually easier to control inclusions within the lab growth process.The less inclusions a diamond has, the higher its clarity. This, however, does not always mean a higher clarity is preferable!

Diamonds with some inclusions are often completely clean to the naked eye and are undetectable just from looking at the stone.

While a certain level of clarity is often sought by buyers, clarity does not affect features like brilliance or sparkle. How a diamond is Cut can disperse and refract light differently, making imperfections virtually invisible to the eye. Read on to learn more about Cut and its impact on a stone.

While a certain level of clarity is often sought by buyers, clarity does not affect features like brilliance or sparkle. How a diamond is Cut can disperse and refract light differently, making imperfections virtually invisible to the eye. Read on to learn more about Cut and its impact on a stone.

Cut refers to the quality of how well a diamond has been cut. It is a measure of how well a diamond’s proportions, symmetry, and polish interact with light.

A well-cut stone is very important, and can maximize sparkle, obscure inclusions, and offer a stone as equally stunning as a lower-clarity stone. A poorly cut stone will ruin even a flawless diamond, and make it muddy and lifeless!

Different diamond shapes also disperse light differently, and allow you to choose the amount of brilliance and sparkle your diamond has. For example, a Radiant diamond has a high level of sparkle because of all the facets within the cut that reflect more light from many angles. It is a great choice for a lower Clarity stone, and helps obscure inclusions from the naked eye.

Many people are familiar with Carat weight – it is the mass of a diamond. While Carat refers to weight, it is often reflected in the stone’s size: higher Carat
weight = larger stone. However, this is not always the case, as the ratio (length, width, and depth) of a stone’s cut can affect how large it appears.

The style of setting can also affect how large a stone looks. For example, a 2 CT diamond can be set alone in a low-profile Solitaire setting, making it understated and versatile. On the other hand, set in a high-profile Pavé setting surrounded by round cut side stones will make it appear more dazzling and eye-catching.

Carat size comes down to personal preference, and people prefer different Carat weights for different reasons, from aesthetics, to lifestyle, to versatility.

Diamond Color is graded on a scale from “colorless” to “yellow”. The scale goes from D all the way to Z, with D being completely colorless.

Colorless and near-colorless stones (D-J) are what most people choose for engagement rings. It is entirely subjective whether you prefer a tint of warmth or a brighter, cooler tone.

As with Clarity, the difference in Color between D to I is often imperceptible to the average person’s eye. Even diamond experts may have trouble distinguishing between D, E, and F.

The tint of less colorless diamonds can actually be offset by the metal color you choose for the band. For example, an H or I level stone can be set on a White Gold band to offset the yellow tint and make it appear colorless. A J grade diamond may appear colorless, or colored, depending.

Just like the inclusions in Clarity, color variations can be masked by a good Cut that maximizes sparkle.