925 sterling silver jewelery 

Cut

A diamond’s cut is not only about its shape, but how effectively the stone can return light back to the viewer's eye.  A well-cut diamond will appear very brilliant and fiery; while more poorly cut stones can appear dark and lifeless, regardless of color or clarity.

Not only do well-cut diamonds appear more brilliant, they can also appear larger than other stones of the same carat weight.  An ideal stone has both increased brilliance as well as increased diameter relative to more deeply cut diamonds.

Diamond Anatomy

Each and every diamond will have its own unique set of properties and proportions.

Diameter: Width of a polished stone, measured from edge to edge

Table: Largest polished facet located on the top of the diamond

Crown: The top part of a diamond extending from the table to the girdle

Girdle: The very edge of the diamond where the crown and pavilion meet

Pavilion: The bottom part of a diamond extending from the girdle down to the culet 

Depth: The total height of a diamond measured from the table to the culet

Culet: The small or pointed facet at the very bottom of a polished stone

Understanding Brilliance, Dispersion & Scintillation

Well-proportioned diamonds exhibit three different properties: brilliance, dispersion and scintillation.
As light strikes a diamond’s surface, it will either reflect off the table of a polished stone or enter into the diamond. The light that reflects is considered a diamond’s brilliance. Brilliance is the flash of white light one will see when looking at a stone. As light travels into a stone, some of rays are divided into flashes of color, which is called dispersion. Fire is the result of dispersion, which is the separation of white light into its spectral colors. As an observer moves a diamond back and forth, the flashes of color are called scintillation.

Putting it all Together

Use this interactive tool to see how depth and table percentages can affect the brilliance in a round diamond. Note: this example is for a round diamond only - fancy shapes have their own set of unique preferred proportions

Clarity

Clarity refers to the presence (or absence) of impurities, blemishes or other identifying characteristics within a diamond.  Clarity characteristics are what make every diamond completely unique. There are no two diamonds that will have exactly the same inclusions in the same location. There are five factors that determine how a major laboratory like GIA or AGSL will assign a clarity grade to a specific diamond.
They include:

   Size: How large or small is an inclusion within a diamond?

GIA Clarity Grades

GIA has provided us with a universally understood method of describing clarity grades for diamond.  
There are five main clarity grades that can be found on your GIA or AGSL report.

GIA Clarity Grades:

FL/IF Diamonds: Flawless: No inclusions under 10x.  Internally Flawless: None or only insignificant surface blemishes and no inclusions when examined under 10x. Normally, most blemishes can be removed by minor polishing.  Very rare, beautiful and expensive diamonds.

VVS1/VVS2 Diamonds: Very Very Slightly Included: Contain minute inclusions that are extremely difficult for an experienced grader to locate under 10x magnification. VVS diamonds are very rare and beautiful.

VS1/VS2 Diamonds: Very Slightly Included: Contain minor inclusions that range from difficult to somewhat easy to see under 10x magnification. Typical VS inclusions are small crystals, feathers or distinct clouds. In some rare cases, a VS stone can contain an eye visible inclusion.  Excellent quality diamonds.

SI1/SI2 Diamonds: Slightly Included: Inclusions are easily visible under 10x magnification to an experienced gemologist and may be visible with the unaided eye. A great value.

I1/I2/I3 Diamonds: Diamonds with inclusions that are visible to the unaided eye. 

Carat Weight

Carat is a term that refers to the weight of a diamond.  Before the twentieth century, diamonds were measured by using the carob seed that is small and uniform and served as a perfect counter weight to the diamond.  It is those original carob seeds which are the origin of the word carat we use today.  The majority of diamonds used in jewelry and sold loose in the United States are one carat or less in weight.  The average engagement ring diamond sold in the US is less than 1/2ct in weight.

When rough diamonds are cut and polished into finished diamonds, as much as 2/3rd of the total carat weight is lost. Because larger gem quality rough is found less frequently than smaller rough, a two carat diamond will be far more expensive than two one carat diamonds of the same quality.

A diamond will increase in weight much faster than it increases in actual "face-up" diameter.  While an ideal cut one-carat diamond measures approximately 6.5mm in width, a diamond of twice its weight is only 8.2mm wide - less than a 30% increase.  The graphic to the left helps demonstrate:

Which Carat Weight is Right for you?

When deciding on which carat size is best for you, there are many things to consider.   First and foremost, however, are her expectations.  Which of the Four C’s does she value most?  Is her heart set on a full "one-carat", "vvs" clarity or perhaps "D" color?  If you’re not sure, ask a close friend or relative for advice.  When determining carat it's also helpful to consider things such as her own personal style, her finger size, and the limitations of the engagement ring.

When shopping for a diamond, it is generally preferred to have the least amount of color possible.  Diamond color is divided into five broad categories:

Colorless (D-F): Diamonds within the colorless range are the most rare and valuable of all the colors. D/E color stones display virtually no color, whereas F colored diamonds will display a nearly undetected amount of color when viewed face down by a gemologist.

Near Colorless (G-J): Diamonds within the near colorless range appear colorless in the face up position, but do display a slight amount of color when viewed face down against a perfectly white background. This trace amount of color will be undetectable to an untrained eye once the diamond has been mounted.  Near colorless diamonds offer a tremendous value for the money.

Understanding Fluorescence - How does it affect a diamond?
Some diamonds can display a visible light called fluorescence when exposed to an ultraviolet light source.  This fluorescence will be measured as inert, faint, medium or strong.  Blue fluorescence is most common, however diamonds can also fluoresce white, yellow, and orange (among other colors). Fluorescence usually has no effect on a diamond's appearance in regular light conditions.  Strong blue fluorescence can make a yellow colored diamond appear more white, but in rare cases can cause a stone to appear milky or oily.  This milky or oily effect is called an "over blue" and only applies to a small number of "strong" and "very strong" fluorescent stones.


Which Color should you Choose?
Most people find it very difficult (if not impossible) to tell the difference from one color grade to another.  The difference in price, however, can be significant.   The purists at heart will always demand diamonds in the D-F range.  By selecting diamonds in the G-I range, however, you can find a tremendous value while still achieving a "colorless" look. Shopping on a budget or trying to maximize the size of your stone?  If so then "J" diamonds are most affordable and still near colorless.  You may also want to consider choosing a diamond with medium or strong fluorescence. Since these diamonds are discounted slightly in price you can often afford a higher color stone without paying the premium.

ertificate

What’s in a Certificate?

A certificate is a blueprint of a loose diamond. Wholesalers, retailers, and consumers alike know a certificate as either a diamond grading report or diamond dossier. A certificate will tell a diamond’s exact measurements, weight, cut and overall quality. A certificate will precisely point out a diamond’s individual characteristics as well as be a useful tool when identifying a stone. When shopping for a loose diamond, considering stones that have a grading report will allow you to make an informed decision on which diamond will be ideal for you.
Your diamond grading report is supplied by one of the following organizations. Diamond grade definition may vary. Please click here to learn more 

G.I.A.

Any diamond submitted to G.I.A. is ensured to have reliable and consistent grading. Anywhere from 3-6 separate gemologists will individually grade each and every diamond for an accurate final grade. G.I.A. grading reports are considered a hallmark of integrity throughout the diamond world, issuing two separate types of reports. One of the more common reports is the full-issued G.I.A. document, which contains the full description of the diamond as well as a plotting of the grade-setting clarity characteristics of that stone. The G.I.A. Dossier will have the full individual details of each diamond graded, but the plotting is not included. Both reports reference a unique serial number that has been laser-inscribed on the diamond’s girdle, allowing for verification of the stone under 10x magnification. With “Gemscribe”, your diamond cannot possibly be mistaken for any other. The serial number on your diamond will always match the serial number on your certificate.
Two other independent institutions also certify Jared® diamonds: I.G.I (International Gemological Institute) and G.S.I. (Gemological Science International). Both follow G.I.A. standards. 

I.G.I.

The International Gemological Institute (I.G.I.) is the largest independent grading and appraisal organization in the world. Over 450 scientific technicians and gemologists examine hundreds of thousands of gemstones and jewelry items every year. I.G.I. has centers in Antwerp, New York, Bangkok, Mumbai, Tokyo, Dubai, Los Angeles and Toronto. It offers diamond and colored stone certificates, educational courses to the trade, and diamond laser inscription. The information contained in every I.G.I. Diamond Grading Report is also stored in the organization’s computer database, ensuring that you may, at any time, request and receive an update of your report if the need arises. 

G.S.I.

GSI is an independent gemological laboratory that provides professional gemstone identification, grading and appraisal services exclusively to the fine jewelry industry. It is headquartered in the heart of New York City’s Diamond District and has offices abroad in international diamond centers. The foundation of GSI is built on innovative thinking, new technology, traditional values, and shared industry research. The result is a gem lab equipped to meet the evolving needs of the industry. GSI’s gemologists have vast expertise in diamond grading, both theoretical and practical. They are up-to-date about any new developments in the gemological and jewelry fields. Each diamond is examined by a minimum of four gemologists: two gemologists for color grade and at least two gemologists for clarity grade. 

A.G.S.

A.G.S. is known throughout the diamond industry as grading top-notch Ideal-Cut round diamonds. Their high standards surpass those of any other grading laboratory when considering color and clarity as well as cut. If a diamond has been graded by A.G.S. Lab, it has met the standards of what is considered the perfect proportions, polish, and symmetry; and has been given a grade of “ideal” or a “000” rating. A.G.S. Ideal-Cut round diamonds are highly sought after in today’s market.

GemEx

GemEx Systems is an independent laboratory that provides certification on the light performance of a diamond, stating the measurement of fire, sparkle and brilliance for your Leo Diamond. This certification is known as the"Return of Light." The GemEx BrillianceScope® Analyzer, which uses patented spectrophotometer technology, measures a diamond’s white light (brilliance), color light (fire) and scintillation (sparkle). It then rates each of these three measures compared to other diamonds of the same shape. The scale for each shape was set by measuring thousands of diamonds to determine the highest and lowest amount of white light, color light and scintillation possible for each shape. The Light Performance Report includes the three bar graphs and also shows images of the diamond under five different light views used for measurement of Light Performance. It is important to know that superior performance in any of the three light categories yields a beautiful diamond.