The 4 C's act as a universal scale to describe and determine the quality of diamonds.

CARAT
Diamonds are sold by the carat which is a unit of weight, not size. One carat weighs 200 milligrams, a world standard since 1914. A carat is divided into 100 points, with one point corresponding to .01 carat.

CLARITY
Clarity refers to the purity of the diamond and is based on the absence or presence of internal characteristics. Every diamond is unique. As they are formed by extreme heat and pressure deep underground they may develop internal characteristics which are known as inclusions. These inclusions or "birthmarks" can be visible to the naked eye or only noticeable under 10x magnification.

FL
Flawless

IF
Internally Flawless

VVSI, VVS2
Very, Very Slightly Included

VS1, VS2
Very Slightly Included

SI1, SI2
Slightly Included

I1, I2, I3
Included

COLOR
Refers to the depth of color or how noticeable it is. The normal color range goes from D for colorless all the way to Z for light yellow, light brown, or light gray with variations between each receiving a color grade. These grades are determined by comparing the color of each stone to an internationally recognized master color scale.

DEF
Colorless

GHIJ
Near Colorless

KLM
Faint

NOPQR
Very Light

STUVWXYZ
Light

CUT
Cut refers to the polish of a diamond coupled with balancing the proportions and symmetry to maximize light return. When you hear words like Scintillation, Fire and Brightness, they describe how masterfully a diamond is cut. The cut of a diamond is a question of craftsmanship by the diamond cutter.

Fair - Good - Very Good - Ideal - Super Ideal

DIAMOND SHAPES

Discover which shape speaks to your personal style.

ROUND
Traditionally the most popular diamond on the market.

OVAL
Their elongated style creates the illusion of greater size and makes the finger of the wearer appear longer.

EMERALD
These stones produce a hall of mirrors effect with the interplay of light and dark planes. An elegant choice, this shape was originally developed for the cutting of emeralds, thus the name.

ASSCHER
Is a square emerald cut.

PEAR
Can also be called "teardrop" This unique shape is a way to make a bit more of a statement.

EURO
Old European cut diamonds are an antique round most well known for their chunkier facets and understated brilliance.

OLD MINE
Old Mine cut diamonds are antique cushion-cut diamonds which were cut by hand and have a more natural, unprocessed look. These diamonds were cut to allow the stone to sparkle under the dimmest candlelight of the era.

RADIANT
These stones have straight edges and cut corners, just as in the Emerald Cut, but feature brilliant faceting.

CUSHION
These stones are known for their soft,m pillow-like shapes. While less brilliant than round cuts they often have better fire.

MARQUISE
These stones are long and narrow creating the illusion of greater size. Named for the Marquise of Pompadour, for whom King Louis XIV of France allegedly had a stone fashioned to resemble her perfectly shaped mouth.

PRINCESS
First created in 1980, this square cut comes the closest to achieving the fire and brilliance of a round diamond making it an ideal combination of unique shape, sparkling appearance and relative price price value.