Diamond terms

Brilliance

The way light interacts with the stone; the higher the quality of the stone, the more it will shine.

Canadian Diamonds

In the early 1990s, miners found a lode of diamonds on the Arctic tundra in Canada's northwest. Since then it has grown into a $2 billion annual business.

Carat

A unit of measure used to weigh stones.

Clarity

The clearness and cleanness of the stone when viewed with a loupe.

Color Classifications

A color scale that runs from D (colorless) to Z (very light yellow).

Conflict-free

Diamonds whose mining did not fund terrorist activities or civil atrocities.

Crown

The top portion of a diamond extending from the girdle to the table.

Culet

The facet at the tip of a gemstone. The best culet is invisible to the naked eye.

Cultured Diamonds

Synthetic diamonds "grown" in labs, resulting in stones whose properties are very similar to mined diamonds but for much less money.

Cut

The angle and number of facets on the stone. The cut is the greatest factor in a diamond's brilliance.

Depth

The height of a gemstone measured from the culet to the table.

Diameter

The width of the diamond as measured through the girdle.

Flaw

Small black or dull places seen in most diamonds; can be microscopic fractures or feathers. Also known as an inclusion.

Four C's

Cut, color, clarity and carat, all of which are used to evaluate a diamond's value.

Girdle

The intersection of the crown and pavilion that defines the perimeter of the diamond.

Inclusion

A naturally occurring "flaw" inside a rough precut diamond. Like a handprint, each diamond has its own inclusions, which can affect a diamond’s clarity and strength.

Pavilion

The bottom portion of a diamond, extending from the girdle to the culet.

Placeholder Ring

A temporary ring a groom gives his betrothed when proposing. It can be a family heirloom, costume jewelry or a ring provided by a jeweler, for which the groom preselects the center stone.

Setting

The mounting that attaches the diamond to the ring’s band. Settings are usually made out of platinum because of its strength and durability.

Shape

The geometry or silhouette of the stone.

Solitaire

A simple band with a single center stone mounted in a three-to-six-claw prong and set precisely to capture the light. It's the most classic and popular style.

Table

The flat part of the diamond. The largest facet of a cut diamond.

Three-stone

A design that consists of either three identically sized stones or one larger center stone flanked with two smaller ones. It’s among the most popular styles.

 Credit: Brides

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