Diamond Education
Purchasing a diamond is truly an investment and one we take very seriously. With decades of top-notch expertise, our gemologists will walk you through the 4 c’s of diamond purchasing, and answer any questions you may have. Our promise is a transparent process so that you feel confident and comfortable making the purchase.
Clarity
Clarity refers to how flawless a gem appears to the naked eye, and under a 10x magnification loupe. Blemishes are flaws found on the outside of the diamond. Inclusions are internal flaws. These flaws will affect a diamond’s brilliance by interrupting the path of light through the gem. Both play a significant role in determining its value.
Polish Lines - Fine parallel grooves and ridges left by polishing, can occur on any facet but do not cross facet junctions; transparent or white.
Pinpoint - A very small crystal trapped inside the diamond during growth that looks like a tiny speck at 10x magnification.
Crystal - Mineral trapped inside of the diamond during growth.
Crystal - Mineral trapped inside of the diamond during growth.
Crystal - Mineral trapped inside of the diamond during growth.
Flawless
Flawless diamonds (F) have no inclusions or blemishes that are visible to a skilled grader using 10x magnification.
INTERNALLY FLAWLESS
Internally Flawless diamonds (IF) have no inclusions but rather only blemishes visible to a skilled grader using 10x magnification.
VERY VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED
Very Very Slightly Included diamonds (VVS1 or VVS2) have inclusions that are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification.
VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED
Very Slightly Included diamonds (VS1 or VS2) have inclusions that are clearly visible under 10x magnification but can be characterized as minor.
SLIGHTLY INCLUDED
Slightly Included diamonds (SI1 or SI2) have inclusions that are noticeable to a skilled grader under 10x magnification.
INCLUDED
Imperfect diamonds (I1, I2, or I3) have inclusions that are obvious under 10x magnification and may affect transparency and brilliance. These inclusions and blemishes can be seen with the naked eye.
Cut
The cut of a diamond does not refer to the shape of the diamond but refers to the stone’s finished proportions, symmetry, and polish. The beauty of a diamond is fully realized by its cut, and it is a significant factor in determining a stone’s value. Even if you have a beautiful rough stone that is a perfectly colorless diamond of the highest grade, if it isn’t cut properly, it won’t be considered desirable or exhibit its maximum potential.
Shallow Cut
If a diamond is cut too shallow, light enters the diamond but is not reflected back through the table. Rather, it “leaks” out of the bottom of the stone resulting in a dull or glassy stone. Some areas where the light is escaping may be seen as dark spots.
Correct Cut
When a diamond is cut correctly, light enters the diamond through the table (the top of the diamond), reflected off of the perfectly angled surfaces of the diamond, and returned back through the table of the diamond.
Deep Cut
If a diamond is cut too deep, light enters but is reflected poorly and escapes out of the side. Factors like brilliance can only be fully realized in person. Not only does purchasing a diamond online take the magic out of the experience, but you can also only really determine the quality diamond’s cut by looking at the diamond firsthand and experiencing how light moves through it.
Color
The difference in color grade can dramatically affect the value of a diamond. The value of a same-sized diamond with a different color grade can widely vary. Generally speaking, the less color, the more valuable the diamond.
One method that you can use to check a diamond’s color on your own is to take a pure white business card and fold it in half. Place the diamond in the crease of the card, and view the reflection of color it gives off. If there is any yellow, the diamond will be lower than grade level K.
COLORLESS
NEAR COLORLESS
SLIGHTLY YELLOW
LIGHT YELLOW
YELLOW
Carat
Carat is the weight of a stone and is a significant factor in determining the price of a diamond. As a general rule of thumb, as carat weight increases, so does the value of the diamond. A carat is divided into 100 points.
1 Carat = 100 Points || 0.5 Carat = 50 Points CT = Carat || CTW = Total Carat Weight
A common misconception: Carat does not refer to the size.
* Diamond images are for reference only and may vary based on screen size.
CUT: Fancy Shapes
The relationship of a cut diamond’s proportions is known as the length to width ratio which you obtain by dividing the length of the diamond with its width. This is especially relevant for fancy cuts such as asscher, pear, radiant, princess, marquise, emerald, cushion, oval, and heart-shaped diamonds.
The 65/68 Rule
The optimal proportions for square and rectangular-shaped stones occur when its table percentage doesn’t exceed 65% and the total depth percentage doesn’t exceed 68%.
Bow Tie Effect
A bow tie effect can be seen in all stones except for round stones due to the round stone’s perfect symmetry. The bow tie will appear as a slight shadow even in excellent cut fancy stones. The shadow will appear darker with poor proportions.
Choosing the Perfect Carat
Here are a few things you might want to consider when determining the perfect carat weight:
Hand and Finger Size
The appearance of a diamond can be affected by the size of a person’s hand and/or fingers
Setting
The right setting can really enhance the overall presentation of a diamond
Budget
This is an important factor to establish early on in the diamond selection process
CUSTOM ENGAGEMENT RING
At Uptown Diamond we help bring your vision to life with the help of 3D technology. Our in-house graphic design team and several 3D printers aid us in this process and our in-house seasoned bench jewelers provide the finishing touches. Learn more about this process and even get started building your custom engagement ring with our Custom Engagement Ring Creator.