Cut

A diamond’s Cut refers not to a diamond’s shape (e.g. round, oval, pear, etc.) but to a diamond’s proportions, symmetry and polish. The beauty of a diamond depends more on cut than any other factor. Though extremely difficult to analyze and quantify, diamond cut has three primary effects on appearance: brilliance (the brightness created by the combination of all the white light reflections from the surface and the inside of a polished diamond), fire (the dispersion of light into the colors of the visible spectrum, seen as flashes of color), and scintillation (the flashes of light and dark, or sparkle, when a diamond or light source is moved).

Clarity

A diamond clarity chart refers to the inclusions, or flaws, within the stone. All Diamonds have natural imperfections called inclusions. These minerals or crystals trapped inside the stone determine the clarity of the stone. The GIA has established diamond clarity grades as viewed through a 10-power loupe or magnifying glass. When viewed with the naked eye, the flaws are not visible in any diamond with a clarity grade of SI2 or higher. Nearly all stones have characteristic inclusions (“birthmarks”), which make them unique and identifiable. These imperfections are graded accordingly and these also determine their value.

The following categories describe the clarity grades of a diamond:

• Flawless (FL) and Internally Flawless (IF)
• Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2)
• Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2)
• Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2)
• Included (I1, I2 and I3)

Colour

Diamond color is graded from D (colorless) to Z (tinted). Colored diamonds are those which have a strong, even color such as yellow, pink or blue. These are referred to as ‘fancy diamonds’ and are extremely rare. Because of their rarity, colored diamonds are highly desirable and may be quite valuable. Natural brown diamonds, also referred to as Champagne or Chocolate diamonds, are growing in popularity and are a quirky alternative to the classic white diamond.

Carat

A diamond’s Carat is a measure of its weight, not its size. Larger carat weights are rare and valuable. However, two diamonds with the same carat weight can have very different values depending on their color, clarity and cut.

One carat is equivalent to one fifth of a gram. It can also be divided into 100 ‘points.’ If someone refers to a half carat diamond, this is the same as a 50 point or a 0.50 carat diamond. Similarly, a quarter carat diamond is equivalent to 25 point, or 0.25 carat.

If a piece of jewelry contains more than one diamond, for example a diamond cluster ring or a diamond three stone pendant, the stated carat weight reflects the total weight of all the stones together, rather than each individual diamond.

The carat weight of a diamond does not reflect its size. One diamond may look bigger than another but weigh less. A good cut and certain mounts can make a diamond appear larger than its actual carat weight, so it’s worth taking your time to find the right setting that optimises its beauty and brilliance.

Certification

At Josephine’s you will have the peace of mind in the knowledge that all loose diamonds shown to you will be precertified by one of the following most reputable Gemmological laboratories.

• Gemological Institute Of America, G.I.A.
• European Gemologica Laboratory, E.G.L.
• International Gemological Institute, I.G.I.
• Gemscan International Inc.
• Hoge Raad Voor Diamant, H.R.D., Antwerp, Belgium.
• Mayhawk Gems International Inc.

The completed jewellery item is then sent to one of the above laboratories for a jewellery appraisal certificate. Laser inscription on the diamond can also be arranged at time of purchase to provide a permanent identifying mark on your diamond.