Diamond

Front 1

Brilliance

Back 1

White light captured from all the surfaces of the diamond and reflected up through the top. A diamond with the correct proportions yields the highest brilliance.

Front 2

Brilliant Cut

Back 2

A brilliant cut has triangular facets that surround the stone that culminate on a flat top. A brilliant cut can be round, marquise, oval, pear-shaped, heart-shaped, princess (square), or radiant.

Front 3

Carat Weight

Back 3

A unit of weight for diamond equivalent to 200 milligrams.

Front 4

Clarity

Back 4

Describes the number and extent of flaws that a diamond may have. Clarity is graded on a scale that ranges from Flawless (FL) to Imperfect (I3).

Front 5

Cload

Back 5

Hazy areas within the diamond, actually made up of many small crystals that are impossible to see individually.

Front 6

Color

Back 6

Describes the "yellowness" of a stone. The color scale ranges from D (colorless) to Z (deep yellow)

Front 7

Crown

Back 7

The top portion of a diamond, from the girdle (the thickest part around the stone) to the table (the top surface facing the viewer).

Front 8

Crystal Growth

Back 8

A small crystalline growth within the diamond. Looks like a small diamond within the big diamond.

Front 9

Culet

Back 9

The bottom "tip" of the diamond, where the facets of the pavilion converge.

Front 10

Cut

Back 10

Perhaps one of the most misused of the 4 C's, it refers to the style of cut (brilliant, emerald), the shape of the stone (round, heart-shaped), and the geometric proportions to which the diamond is cut.

Front 11

Cut Style

Back 11

Refers to whether a stone is a "brilliant cut" or an "emerald cut," or a hybrid of the two.`

Front 12

Depth

Back 12

The height of a diamond, measured from the culet to the table.

Front 13

Depth Percentage (%):

Back 13

The height of a diamond divided by the width of the diamond. The depth percentage is one of the many metrics used to measure how well proportioned a diamond is cut, and consequently how much "sparkle" it will have.

Front 14

Emerald Cut

Back 14

An emerald cut is more "glassy" in appearance, since its facets usually span the length or width of the stone. Emerald cuts are different from step cuts in that their corners are rounded.

Front 15

Facet

Back 15

The flat polished surfaces on a diamond. Brilliant cuts have 58 triangular facets and therefore "sparkle" more than emerald cuts, which have far fewer facets and therefore have a more "glassy, elegant" look.

Front 16

Feathers

Back 16

Small cracks within the stone, similar in look to broken glass. Small internal feathers are harmless (other than lowering the clarity rating of the diamond), but large feathers can become a problem because the crack can grow as the diamond ages.

Front 17

Fire

Back 17

When light is refracted within the diamond, the result is that multi-colored light beams out of the table, and it somewhat looks like fire. For maximum fire, seek out a well-proportioned stone.

Front 18

Flaw

Back 18

A scratch or abrasion on the surface of a diamond, or a defect within the crystalline surface of the diamond. The most common flaws are: Pinpoints, Carbons, Feathers, Clouds, and Crystal Growths.

Front 19

Fluorescence

Back 19

A bluish glow within the diamond when exposed to ultraviolet light. Some people like fluorescence and some don't. In any case, strong fluorescence should be avoided.

Front 20

Girdle

Back 20

The narrow band around the width of the diamond, where the crown and pavilion meet.

Front 21

Pavilion

Back 21

The bottom portion of a diamond, from the girdle (the thickest part around the stone) to the culet (the tip at the bottom).

Front 22

Inclusion

Back 22

See Flaw

Front 23

PinPoint

Back 23

A very small white dot on the surface of the stone. By far, the most common flaw that can be found on a diamond.

Front 24

Point

Back 24

A weight measure equal to 1/100th of a carat. So for example, a 3/4 carat diamond is a "75 point diamond."

Front 25

Polish

Back 25

The final smoothness of the surfaces of a diamond. An excellent polish will result in a lower-weight stone, so most diamond cutters will make tradeoffs.

Front 26

Proportions

Back 26

The proportion of a stone will directly influence how much "brilliance" and "fire" it has. See "depth percentage" and refer to the tutorial for guidelines.

Front 27

Shape

Back 27

Refers to the way that the stone is cut. Common shapes are: Round, marquise, oval, pear-shaped, heart-shaped, princess (square), and radiant (also square).

Front 28

Sparkle

Back 28

The combination of brilliance and fire that emanates from the diamond.

Front 29

Step Cut

Back 29

An step cut diamond is "glassy" in appearance, since its facets usually span the length or width of the stone.

Front 30

Table

Back 30

The largest surface on a diamond, located on the top of the diamond facing the viewer. The table culminates the crown of the diamond.

Front 31

Table Percentage (%)

Back 31

The width of the table divided by the diameter of the diamond. The table percentage is one of the many metrics used to measure how well proportioned a diamond is cut, and consequently how much "sparkle" it will have.

Front 32

Workmanship

Back 32

Refers to the overall finish of the diamond, including the polish on the facets, the symmetry of facets with respect to each other, and the shape of the culet.