The 4Cs
DIAMOND FACTS
For many people, a diamond is a very big purchase. With that
consideration, Diamonds by Eyal recognizes the importance of understanding
exactly what you are buying. This guide simplifies the four Cs — cut, color,
clarity, and carat weight, as well as diamond shapes and certifications. After
reading this guide, you will be better prepared to choose the diamond that is
right for you.
At Diamonds by Eyal, we apply the same high quality standards to all of our certified and uncertified
diamond shapes. We have an exceptional collection of traditional round diamonds
and we also offer the finest non-round, or "fancy-shaped", diamonds available.
All of our certified diamonds are graded by the GIA or EGL to have FL-I1 clarity, D-L color, and Ideal, Excellent,Very Good,or Good, cut. Our Signature
Diamonds are the finest quality diamonds available, and we offer them in round,
princess-cut, Asscher-cut, Radient cut, Cushen cut, Oval cut, Marquise cut, Heart Shape cut, Pear Shape cut and Emerald-cut shapes.
Choose Your Diamond Shape
Since all diamond shapes are very different, unique characteristics determine
quality for each shape. Feel free to contact us so we can help you find the diamond that's perfect for you.
Round Cut Diamonds.
The round brilliant cut diamond is by far the most popular and most researched
diamond shape available today. For almost 100 years, diamond cutters have been
using advanced theories of light behavior and precise mathematical calculations
to optimize the fire and brilliance in a round diamond. In addition to being the
most popular and researched shape, a round diamond will typically give you more
flexibility in terms of balancing cut, color, and clarity grades while still
getting the fire and brilliance you want.
To maximize the brilliance of a traditional round diamond, select one in the two
highest cut grades, ideal or very good, and choose ideal, excellent, or very
good polish and symmetry grades. For the finest ideal round diamonds available,
call Diamonds by Eyal to speak with an educated diamond salesperson.
PRINCESS Cut Diamonds
This is our most popular non-round diamond. Its beautiful brilliance and unique
cut makes it a favorite for engagement rings. The princess has pointed corners
and is traditionally square in shape. When choosing a color grade, consider that
while the price of a J-color non-round diamond is exceptional, color may be
slightly visible in its corners. Also, princess-cut diamonds can vary greatly in
how square or rectangular they are. To find the dimension of princess you want,
we will find the best length-to-width ratio for you in our inventory. This will
determine what the diamond will look like when viewing it from above.
EMERALD Cut Diamonds
What makes this shape different is its pavilion, which is cut with rectangular
facets to create a unique optical appearance. Due to its larger, open table,
this shape highlights the clarity of a diamond. If you choose an emerald-cut
with a lower clarity grade, such as SI, be sure to review the clarity plot on
the diamond certificate. Also, emerald-cut diamonds can vary greatly in how
rectangular they are. If you'd prefer an emerald cut with a squared outline,
look for an Asscher-cut diamond. To find the shape of emerald you want, look for
the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each
diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's
outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.
For the classic emerald-cut shape, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1.20
and 1.40.
ASSCHER Cut Diamonds
This beautifully unique shape is nearly identical to the emerald-cut, except
that it is square. Also, this shape has a pavilion that is cut with rectangular
facets in the same style as the emerald-cut. If you choose SI-clarity be sure to
view the clarity plot on the diamond certificate, because this shape highlights
the clarity of the diamond. When choosing a color grade, consider that while the
price of a J-color non-round diamond is exceptional, color may be slightly
visible in its corners.
MARQUISE Cut Diamonds
The shape of a marquise diamond can maximize carat weight, giving you a much
larger-looking diamond. This brilliant-cut diamond looks beautiful set with
round or pear-shaped side stones, and the length of the marquise makes fingers
appear long and slender. To find the dimension of marquise you want, look for
the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each
diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's
outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.
For the most traditional marquise-cut diamonds, look for length-to-width ratios
of 1.50.
OVAL Cut Diamonds
An oval diamond has beautiful brilliance that's similar to a round diamond. Oval
diamonds are also very popular as their length can accentuate long, slender
fingers. To find the dimension of oval you want, look for the length-to-width
ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The
length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look
like when viewed from the top.
For the most traditional oval diamonds, look for length-to-width ratios between
1.33 and 1.66.
RADIANT Cut Diamonds
Trimmed corners are the signature of this diamond, and they help make the
radiant-cut a popular and versatile choice for jewelry. A radiant-cut looks
equally beautiful set with either baguette or round side-diamonds. Radiant-cut
diamonds can vary in their degree of rectangularity. The length-to-width ratio will
determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the
top.
For a radiant diamond shape that is square, look for length-to-width ratios
between 1 and 1.05. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, look for
length-to-width ratios greater than 1.10.
PEAR Cut Diamonds
This brilliant-cut diamond is also called a teardrop for its single point and
rounded end. The unique look of the pear shape helps make it a popular choice
for a variety of diamond jewelry. If you choose an elongated pear shape, the
length of the diamond creates a subtle slimming effect on the fingers.
For a cushion-cut diamond that is square, look for length-to-width ratios
between 1 and 1.05. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, look for
length-to-width ratios greater than 1.15.
HEART Cut Diamonds
The heart is the ultimate symbol of love. The unique look of the heart-shaped
diamond helps make it a distinctive choice for a variety of diamond jewelry.
When choosing a color grade, consider that while the price of a J-color heart
shaped diamond is exceptional, color may be slightly visible in its corners. To
find the dimension of heart-shape you want, look for the length-to-width ratio
in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The
length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look
like when viewed from the top.
For a more traditional heart-shaped diamond, look for length-to-width ratios
between .90 and 1.10.
CUSHION Cut Diamonds
This unique shape has been popular for more than a century. Cushion-cut diamonds
(also known as "pillow-cut" diamonds) have rounded corners and larger facets to
increase their brilliance. These larger facets highlight the diamond's clarity,
so if you choose an SI clarity grade, be sure to review the clarity plot on the
diamond certificate. Cushion-cut diamonds are available in shapes ranging from
square to rectangular. To find the dimension of cushion you want, look for the
length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's
detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or
what it will look like when viewed from the top.
For a cushion-cut diamond that is square, look for length-to-width ratios
between 1 and 1.05. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, look for
length-to-width ratios greater than 1.15.
CUT
The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance. There is no single measurement
of a diamond that defines its cut, but rather a collection of measurements and
observations that determine the relationship between a diamond's light
performance, dimensions and finish. Most gemologists consider cut the most
important diamond 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 can have an 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.
Cut Determines Brilliance
Determining a diamond's cut grade, however, goes beyond simple measurements of
width and depth. Using an optical measuring device, a three-dimensional model is
created to determine the diamond's proportions and angles. The interrelations
between these various dimensions will greatly affect how light reacts once it
enters and how it behaves once it exits; by using sophisticated computer
modeling, it is possible to trace light behavior and measure its levels of
brightness, fire and scintillation - the face-up appearance.
Diamond Anatomy
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 intersection of the crown and pavilion which defines the perimeter
of the 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 "none" or "small").
Depth: The height of a gemstone measured from the culet to the table
Polish & Symmetry Affect Sparkle
Polish and symmetry are two important aspects of the cutting process. The polish
grade describes the smoothness of the diamond's facets, and the symmetry grade
refers to alignment of the facets. With poor polish, the surface of a facet can
be dulled, and may create blurred or dulled sparkle. With poor symmetry, light
can be misdirected as it enters and exits the diamond. The polish and symmetry
grades are clearly listed in each diamond detail page and within the GIA or EGL
diamond grading report. For the most beautiful diamond, look for a symmetry
grade of ideal (ID), excellent (EX), very good (VG), or good (G). Avoid diamonds with symmetry grades of fair (F) or poor (P), as the
alignment of their facets may misdirect light so severely that it affects the
brilliance of the diamond.
Diamond measurements are calculated and applied to a cut grading scale that
makes it easy to understand how well each reflect light:
Ideal cut: Represents roughly the top 3% of diamond quality based on cut.
Reflects nearly all light that enters the diamond. An exquisite and rare cut.
Very good cut: Represents roughly the top 15% of diamond quality based on cut.
Reflects nearly as much light as the ideal cut, but for a lower price.
Fair cut: Represents roughly the top 35% of diamond quality based on cut. Still
a quality diamond, but a fair cut will not be as brilliant as a good cut.
Poor cut: This includes all diamonds that do not meet the performance standards
of a fair cut. These diamonds are generally deep and narrow or shallow and wide
and tend to lose most of the light out the sides and bottom. Blue Nile does not
carry diamonds with cut grades of poor.
Diamonds by Eyal carries the largest selection of certified ideal-cut diamonds.
We do not carry certified diamonds with cut grades lower than good, which are generally
either too shallow or too deep to present an acceptable amount of brilliance.
For the best value in a brilliant diamond, choose a diamond with a cut grade of
good or very good, and polish and symmetry grades of very good or good.
If your diamond has an ideal- or very-good cut with very good or good polish and
symmetry, you may want to consider less expensive grades of color and clarity.
COLOR
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.
At Diamonds by Eyal, you'll find only the finest diamonds with color graded D-K/L.
Diamonds graded J or better are colorless or near-colorless — their color is
typically undetectable to the unaided eye.
Diamond Color
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.
K-M Noticeable color.
N-Z Noticeable color.
Note that Diamonds by Eyal also carries fancy color diamonds. These diamonds are
graded on a different color scale than white diamonds. Since the scale above
ranges from the best to the worst quality in a white diamond, the colors found
in fancy color diamonds are not represented on this scale.
About Flourescent
Some people seek diamonds that produce this unique effect, while others avoid
it. The visible effects of fluorescence grades of faint, inert, negligible, and
medium, can only be detected by a trained gemologist with specific UV light. A
fluorescence grade of strong or very strong can make a diamond with a
near-colorless grade look even whiter. In some very rare instances a diamond
with very strong fluorescence can give the diamond a slight hazy or oily appearance.
For the purist, look for a colorless diamond with a grade of D-F and a
fluorescence rating of faint, inert, none, or negligible. If you'd rather not compromise on color but would like to stay on budget,
choose a diamond with a good cut, and good clarity, consider going with a
medium fluorescence. It will still be beautiful to the unaided eye and you may
prefer the unique effect of a medium fluorescence. It is imperative to come to our showroom and sit with our diamond experts in order to determine the effectiveness of fluorescence on any given diamond.
CLARITY
Diamonds that are absolutely clear are the most sought-after and therefore the
most expensive. But many diamonds have inclusions — scratches, trace minerals
or other tiny characteristics that can detract from the pure beauty of the
diamond. The GIA and EGL use a detailed system of rules and standards to
summarize the number, location, size, and type of inclusions present in a
diamond.
Diamond Clarity
FL, IF Flawless, Internally Flawless: No internal or external flaws. Internally
Flawless: No internal flaws. Very rare and beautiful diamonds.
VVS1, VVS2 Very, Very Slightly Included: Extremely difficult to see inclusions under
10x magnification. An excellent quality diamond.
VS1, VS2 Very Slightly Included: Inclusions are not typically visible to the
unaided eye. Less expensive than the VVS1 or VVS2 grades.
SI1, SI2 Slightly Included: Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification.
I1, I2, I3 Included: Will be visible to the unaided eye.
What Clarity is best?
We recommend that you select an "eye-clean" diamond — one that has no
inclusions visible to the unaided eye. An excellent value, diamonds of this
clarity are much less expensive than IF- or FL-grade diamonds and typically do
not contain visible inclusions that detract from the beauty of the diamond. If
you're considering an SI grade diamond, call Diamonds by Eyal to speak to a diamond and jewelry
expert who will review the diamond to ensure the quality and the inclusions. But, if you'd rather not compromise on clarity yet are
budget conscious, Diamonds by Eyal will find the diamond for you.
CARAT WEIGHT
Once you've determined what cut, color, and clarity grade you're looking for in
a diamond, it's easy to determine the carat weight of diamond that will fit
within your budget.
When diamonds are mined, large gems are discovered much less frequently than
small ones, which makes large diamonds much more valuable. In fact, diamond
prices rise exponentially with carat weight. So, 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 diamonds, consider her style, the size of her
finger, the size of your setting, and your budget.
If you have a set budget, explore all your options and at Diamonds by Eyal 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 doors and
counters.
Also keep in mind that the smaller the finger, the larger the diamond will
appear. A 1½-carat diamond solitaire looks much larger on a size 4 finger than
a size 8.
If you have already chosen a setting, make sure you choose a diamond to fit.
Look for the diamond size specifications of your ring or ask your Diamonds by Eyal
diamond and jewelry expert what size diamond you should look for.
Finally, if a large carat weight is important to you, yet you're working within
a budget, please call Diamonds by Eyal to find the perfect stone for you.
But the best way to determine what size is best is by getting an idea of what
she is expecting. If you plan carefully, you can get some answers without even
raising her suspicions.
CERTIFICATION
Before purchasing a diamond, you should expect to review a copy of its
certificate as proof that it has undergone an unbiased, professional
examination.
What is a certificate?
A diamond certificate, also called a diamond grading report, diamond dossier®,
or diamond quality document, is a report created by a team of gemologists. The
diamond is evaluated, measured, and scrutinized using trained eyes, a jeweler’s loupe, a microscope, and other industry tools. A completed certificate
includes an analysis of the diamond’s dimensions, clarity, color, polish,
symmetry, and other characteristics. Many round diamonds will also include a cut
grade on the report.
DIAMOND CARE
Diamonds are the hardest substance on earth. They are uniquely resistant to
damage by heat or scratching, and can be cut or polished only by another diamond but an extremely hard blow to the girdle can cause a diamond to chip. By
having your diamond set in a relatively protective setting, and remaining
conscious of it on your finger, you can keep your diamond intact for a lifetime.
Exposure during ordinary wear to perspiration and household chemicals, like
chlorine and hairspray, can cause buildup that dulls the surface of a diamond.
We suggest periodic cleanings to keep the diamond brilliant and refractive.
Cleaning your Diamond
When you purchase a diamond at Diamonds by Eyal, you will receive a lifetime of cleaning and maintenance of your stone. From time to time, it is a good idea
to have your diamond cleaned and have the security of the setting checked.
Storing your Diamond Jewelry
We recommend that all diamond jewelry is stored individually in soft cloth
pouches when not being worn to prevent the diamond or diamonds from scratching
or dulling other jewelry.
ENGAGEMENT RING GUIDE
The classic engagement ring is composed of two parts: a diamond and a setting.
For the best value, find the engagement ring setting she'll love then devote the
remainder of your budget to a beautiful, diamond.
How much Should I Spend?
This is an emotional event, and a purchase that will last a lifetime. The
two-months salary convention is a common starting point, regardless of the amount you budget, your most important considerations should
be quality and value.
This guide will help you choose an engagement ring setting she'll love, and
decide on the right combination of diamond size and quality, so you're sure to
choose the perfect ring. Diamonds by Eyal is the right place to do so.