Something you may not yet know: it takes years of diamond education to become formally certified in the field. It's important that those in charge of running the show are able to communicate the qualities of the product they wish to sell or provide information about - at the end of the day, our job is to guide the customer to what they need.
Diamonds are more than just something beautiful to look at. With them comes a whole lot to learn. Included in this article are many of the most commonly encountered terms you should know a bit about before you choose an engagement ring or wedding band.
Diamond Weight: Carat
This is probably one you're already all to familiar with: carats are the unit of weight used to measure diamonds. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams and can be broken up into hundredths, each termed a point. The weight ratio of a diamond compares the carat weight with the size of the diamond's "footprint".
While most of us will generally agree that more carats are better, this is not always the case when there are budget constraints to keep in mind. A smaller diamond will yield a more perfect selection given a fixed price. This brings us to our next area of terminology: quality.
Diamond Quality: Making Sense of the Different Factors at Play
For the amateur diamond-o-phile, navigating the different ways of describing a diamond can make one's head spin. Once you learn how it all breaks down with a bit of diamond education, however, understanding everything becomes much simpler.
Brightness and contrast refer to the interplay of unrefracted light and dark reflected internally through the diamond - the combination of both is called brilliance, a measure of the drama a diamond exudes. Light glancing off of the surface of the diamond is called luster. Light performance is an overarching term combining these concepts.
A diamond's clarity score is a major factor when it comes to price - this term describes the level of imperfection to be found in the specimen. A blemish is imperfection on the diamond's surface, while cloudiness will indicate inclusions within.
Diamond Make: Becoming Your Favorite Cut
The make of the diamond describes the proportions between each area. The top of the diamond is called the crown, the uppermost surface being the table; below is the girdle, generally the widest part of the composition. The pavilion tapers downward and culminates into the cutlet. The structures conveying light through the diamond are facets - a round brilliant cut features 58, including the cutlet. The symmetry, or quality of evenness in the diamond's design, will also confer value to the final product.
Diamond shape is not a synonym for the cut or make - this is the label describing a stone as a marquise- or pear-shaped diamond.
As an authorized retailer of Forevermark, we cannot recommend their offerings highly enough for those seeking quality that endures for a lifetime. Each diamond is hand-crafted and ethical, completely eliminating the need to compromise moral value for impeccable taste.
Pay Us a Visit for Some First-Hand Diamond Education
So: you're officially an expert when it comes to diamonds. We suggest you put your newly-earned diamond education to use by stopping by our shop and checking out our exclusive selection of loose diamonds. Hopefully, the information contained within this post will have you seeing each one in a completely different light, no pun intended.
