Glossary
Carat Weight
The size, or weight, of a diamond is measured in carats.
To learn more about carat weight, refer to our diamond education articles.
Cut
The cut of a diamond directly influences the diamond's ability to reflect light and create the dazzling sparkle diamonds are known for. A diamond's cut is graded as follows:
| Grade | Description |
|
Ideal |
The rarest and most expensive diamond cut. Reflects nearly all light for a superb sparkle. |
|
Very Good |
Reflects almost as much light as the Ideal cut but costs less. |
|
Good |
Reflects most light and is less expensive than Very Good. |
|
Fair |
Not as brilliant as a Good, but still of acceptable quality. |
|
To learn more about cut, refer to our diamond education articles.
Color
Diamonds may appear perfectly white or can contain visible yellowish or brownish color. A diamond's color is graded as follows:
| Color Grade | Description |
D |
Completely colorless and extremely rare. |
E |
Rare. Colorless to the naked eye. Only trace amounts of color visible via gemologist's viewing tools. |
F |
Colorless to the naked eye and of high quality. Only trace amounts of color visible via gemologist's viewing tools. |
G-H |
Nearly colorless. Slight color visible when compared side-by-side to a diamond of a higher grade. Excellent value. |
I-J |
Nearly colorless. Slight color visible but excellent value. |
K-M |
Visible color. Not carried by Eternity by Yoni. |
N-Z |
Visible color. Not carried by Eternity by Yoni. |
To learn more about color, refer to our diamond education articles.
Clarity
A diamond's clarity refers to any inclusions or imperfections the diamond may contain. For maximum choice and value, we offer diamonds that contain no inclusions at all or virtually invisible inclusions. Diamond clarity is rated as follows:
| Clarity Grade | Description |
FL-IF |
Flawless/Internally Flawless. Very rare and expensive. |
VVS1-VVS2 |
Very, Very Slightly Included. Inclusions are difficult to see even under high magnification. Excellent quality. |
VS1-VS2 |
Very Slightly Included. Inclusions usually not visible to naked eye. Lower prices compared to VVS1 and VVS2. |
SI1-SI2 |
Slightly Included. Inclusions visible under magnification and possibly to the naked eye. Value-priced diamonds. |
I1 – I3 |
Included. Not carried by Eternity by Yoni. |
To learn more about clarity, refer to our diamond education articles.
Price per Carat
Price per carat refers to the cost of the diamond divided by the total number of carats. Large, quality diamonds are hard to come by, which means that a larger single diamond would have a higher price per carat that multiple diamonds whose combined carat weight equals the weight of the larger diamond.
Depth Percentage
Depth percentage is calculated by dividing the height of a gem (measured from the culet to the table) by the width of the gem. A perfectly balanced depth percentage, neither too low nor too high, creates a diamond's brilliance and fire. Any variation from the ideal depth percentage will cause a diamond to look dull and flat.
Table Percentage
Table percentage is calculated by dividing the width of the table by the gem's diameter. An ideal table percentage results in a diamond with a spectacular sparkle. Too low or too high a percentage diminishes a diamond's sparkle significantly.
Symmetry
A diamond's symmetry refers to how evenly its facets balance with one another. Even slightly skewed symmetry robs a diamond of its ability to reflect light, which is crucial for maintaining brilliance and fire.
Polish
When a diamond is cut and prepared for retail, the diamond cutter must carefully polish the diamond's facets for a smooth, clear edge. Any marks left by the polishing process can detract slightly from the diamond's brilliance.
Girdle
A diamond's girdle is found at the intersection the diamond's crown and pavilion, forming the perimeter of the diamond.
Culet
The lowest point of the diamond's pavilion is known as its culet. This point is sometimes considered a facet and is included in the total number of facets within a diamond. Look for diamonds with little to no culet for maximum light reflection.
Fluorescence
A diamond's fluorescence refers to its ability to emit a softly colored glow under ultraviolet light. As the amount of fluorescence increases, a diamond tends to take on a slightly hazy appearance, which is typically only visible when compared to a non-fluorescing diamond side-by-side.
To learn more about fluorescence, refer to our diamond education articles.
Table
A diamond's table is the largest facet found at the top of the stone. This is the entry point for all light to permeate and reflect from the diamond.
Alloy
An alloy is a blend of two or more metals. The properties of both metals combine to produce a unique piece of jewelry. For example, white gold is an alloy of gold and rhodium.
Appraisal
An appraisal is a visual assessment of a piece of jewelry performed by a professional gemologist. A written appraisal will include a brief description of the piece of jewelry followed by details about the cut, color, clarity, and carat weight of the diamond. Customers usually seek appraisals to submit to their insurance company for coverage against theft or loss.
Asscher-Cut Diamond
The Asscher-Cut features the facets of an emerald-cut diamond but set in a square shape. This cut is only created by a world-renowned Dutch diamond cutter.
Baguette
Baguette diamonds are rectangular shaped diamonds typically used to accent a larger diamond. Baguettes may be rectangles with symmetrical sides or tapered sides for a highly stylized look.
Bar Channel Setting
In a bar channel setting, a gemstone is housed between two metal bars, which extend above the gem for a secure fit. This setting is slightly different from a channel setting in that each gemstone is separated by individual metal bars fused to the band.
Bezel Setting
In a bezel setting, the gemstone is entirely enclosed within the metal setting, from the stone's girdle down. This setting offers a safe, secure hold while allowing the stone to capture and reflect light.
Brilliance
Brilliance is created by light reflecting up through a diamond, and is greatly enhanced by a high-quality cut. A poor quality cut will diminish a diamond's brilliance and make it appear dull.
Brilliant Cut
A brilliant cut gemstone can come in many shapes, such as round, square, or pear, but always has 57 or 58 facets.
Carat (ct.)
A carat is a unit of measure for determining a diamond's weight. It is equal to 200 milligrams.
Certification
A diamond certificate is a professional analysis of a diamond performed by an unbiased gemologist in a specialized lab. This certificate includes all relevant details about the diamond, including grade of cut, color, clarity, symmetry, and many other facts. Always request a diamond certificate before purchasing a diamond to be sure that its sales description matches the unbiased description of a gemologist.
Channel Setting
In a channel setting, a row of diamonds rests side by side, held firmly in place by ridges of metal.
Fair Cut
A diamond with a Fair cut grade presents a good value for diamond shoppers. This cut will not have the brilliance of a higher grade of cut, but is still attractive and widely used in jewelry.
Good Cut
A diamond with a Good cut grade is designed to reflect most of the light that enters it. This cut is considerably less expensive than a Very Good cut, making it an excellent choice for cost-conscious shoppers.
Very Good Cut
A diamond with a Very Good cut grade is designed to reflect nearly all of the light that enters it, resulting in maximum brilliance and fire. This is a high-quality cut, second only to Ideal, and makes for a truly spectacular diamond.
Ideal Cut
A diamond with an Ideal cut grade reflects virtually all light that enters it, resulting in superior brilliance and fire. This cut has been deemed the highest-quality grade by the AGSL and is applied much less frequently than other diamond cut grades. The rarity of this cut is reflected in the diamond's price.
Depth
A diamond's depth is the measure of its height from the culet to the table.
Cloud
A cloud is an inclusion in a diamond caused by a small cluster of tiny crystals. Many clouds are invisible to the naked eye, so this inclusion is not considered to be too serious.
Cavity
A cavity is a tiny hole in a diamond which may or may not be visible to the naked eye.
Crystal
Sometimes, a diamond contains bits of other minerals, such as crystal. When crystal is found within a diamond, its size, shape, and color impact the diamond's clarity grade.
Extra Facet
An extra facet in a diamond is just that; a facet that exists in addition to the prescribed number of facets found in a specific cut. For example, a Brilliant cut diamond should contain 58 facets. If it has 59 facets instead, it is considered to have an extra facet.
Feather
A feather is a tiny, feather-shaped fracture inside a diamond. It may or may not be visible to the naked eye depending upon clarity grade. It may even be difficult to find under magnification if the clarity grade is high enough.
Indented Natural
This term is used to describe a small indentation that was present in the rough diamond and was left unpolished (natural) in the final polished diamond.
Trillion, Trilliant
A trillion cut diamond is a brilliant cut diamond shaped like a triangle. It contains 44 facets and is often used as a side stone in diamond jewelry.
Yellow Gold
Naturally yellow gold is universally recognized and prized for its warm glow and durability. Gold has the remarkable ability to resist rust, tarnish, and corrosion; making it a perfect choice for jewelry making when fused with metal alloys to enhance its strength. The amount of gold in a piece of jewelry is measured in karats, with 24 karats representing 100% pure gold. 10 karat gold is the legal minimum to be sold in the US.
Wedding Band
Wedding bands are rings of precious metal exchanged during a wedding ceremony. Traditionally, wedding bands were solid bands of gold with little or no decoration, but modern bands often include diamonds and other ornamentation.
White Gold
White gold is made from 18k or 14k yellow gold plated with rhodium to enhance the whiteness. Over time, the rhodium plating can wear down and reveal the original yellow color underneath; however, re-plating is a simple process that can restore the jewelry's whiteness to its original splendor.
Scintillation
Scintillation refers to the eye-catching flashes of light that appear when a diamond moves. This term can also be applied to the patterns of light and dark present in a diamond.
Solitaire
A solitaire is a ring with a single diamond or gemstone in its center. The setting for a diamond solitaire can vary.
Rose Gold
Rose gold is created when a higher amount of copper is included in the alloy, creating a lovely pinkish hue.
Platinum
Platinum is an extremely rare precious metal and very popular for use in jewelry. It possesses superb durability and resists tarnish. Platinum is sold in either 95% pure or 90% pure (in Europe) and is marked 950 or 900 Plat respectively.
Inclusion
An inclusion is a small imperfection in a diamond, such as a mineral or fracture that manifests while a natural diamond forms within the Earth. Diamonds completely devoid of inclusions are quite rare and receive a higher clarity grade.
Hearts & Arrows
The Hearts & Arrows effect describes a visual effect created by a round cut diamond with perfect symmetry and angles. Under magnification, you can actually see symmetrical hearts when viewing the diamond from below and arrows when viewing the diamond from above. This effect is only present in the Ideal cut grade.
Fire
When talking about diamonds, fire refers to the brilliant flashes of colored light that reflect from within a diamond. The amount of fire generally increases as the diamond's grades increase.
Color, D
This color grade is reserved for the rare diamond completely devoid of color. The diamond appears pure white to the naked eye and under magnification; when compared side-by-side with another diamond, the purity of the D color grade is immediately obvious.
Color, E
This color grade is applied to diamonds that appear perfectly white to the naked eye, but may contain trace amounts of color under high magnification. Diamonds at this end of the color spectrum are very rare and highly prized for their lack of color.
Color, F
This color grade applies to diamonds that appear white to the naked eye but present very faint color when viewed through a gemologist's viewing tools. The F grade contains slightly more color than the E grade yet is still of extremely high quality.
Color, G-H
Diamonds of in this color grade range are nearly colorless, but are noticeably more tinted than higher color grades when compared side-by-side. Diamonds in this range present an excellent value for consumers as they cost significantly less than the higher color grades yet present an acceptable level of whiteness.
Color, I-J
Diamonds in this color grade range are nearly colorless, but do display slight traces of yellowish color when viewed with the naked eye. These grades offer an excellent value to consumers, allowing you to focus more of your budget on cut or clarity.
Clarity, FL-IF
Diamonds that fall in this clarity grade range (flawless or internally flawless) are extremely rare and highly sought after as they are considered to be completely devoid of flaws or inclusions. No trace elements or fractures can be found anywhere within these diamonds. Prices reflect the rarity of such pieces.
Clarity, VVS1-VVS2
Diamonds in this clarity grade range (very very slightly included) may contain the tiniest of inclusions that are hard to find even under high magnification. These diamonds are considered to be of an excellent quality and are highly sought after.
Clarity, VS1-VS2
Diamonds in this clarity grade range (very slightly included) contain inclusions that most people cannot see with the naked eye, but would require magnification to find. These diamonds are priced lower than VVS graded diamonds, offering consumers a reasonable value for a high-quality diamond.
Clarity, SI1-SI2
Diamonds in this clarity grade range (slightly included) contain inclusions which can be seen under magnification and possibly with the naked eye. These diamonds are the lowest clarity grades we carry and are value-priced, allowing you to dedicate more of your budget to a higher cut or color grade.
