Congratulations! You’ve begun shopping for a diamond engagement ring, or at least you’re starting to do your research. As you go through the process, you’re going to come across diamond terms and concepts, some that you never knew before. We want to make the diamond buying process easier for you. So, here’s a list of frequently used diamond engagement ring terms and their explanations, in one simple, handy cheat sheet.
The cushion cut diamond has a long history – it is one of the oldest diamond shapes and cutting styles – and is once again popular. In fact, it was the third most popular diamond shape in 2013 according to a survey conducted by The Knot.
As you’re shopping for a diamond, you’ve already heard about the importance of the 4Cs of diamond quality (color, clarity, cut, and carat weight) and the role they play in determining a diamond’s value. You may have also come across our post on diamond color charts, and are now looking for a diamond clarity chart to help you better understand and remember the clarity grade terms used by jewelers. (more…)
As you’re shopping for diamonds, a diamond color chart comes in handy if you’re trying to understand the subtle color differences of D-to-Z diamonds. A simple online search for “diamond color chart” delivers a host of different graphics showing the relationship between diamond color and the respective color grade. The one thing nearly all these diamond charts have in common is that they’re derived from one standard – the GIA Color Scale.
Finding diamonds in Canada was a decades-long treasure hunt filled with twists and turns worthy of a detective novel.
“Shine bright like a diamond,” is a phrase that can be understood in a variety of ways, depending on the diamond light source. In fact, there’s often a noticeable change in how a diamond appears in sunlight, in candlelight, and under artificial light. This change proves the importance of understanding how light affects a diamond’s appearance.
You probably already know about the importance of a diamond’s 4Cs (color, clarity, cut, carat weight) in defining diamond quality and ultimately determining its value. You may also know that a diamond grading report from an independent grading laboratory like GIA is your best way to be sure that your getting an unbiased assessment of your diamond’s quality. But in addition to the 4Cs, a diamond grading report also contains a wealth of information that tells a deeper story about your diamond. (more…)
Ready for a diamond adventure?
We’re heading off to Lesotho – a landlocked Kingdom about the size of Maryland. Surrounded on all sides by South Africa, this mountainous land is the home of the Letseng diamond mine, one of five major diamond mines in the country, and the source of some of the world’s largest and finest diamonds discovered in the last decade. (more…)
If you’re searching for a diamond that has a lot of brightness and is somewhat less conventional than the standard round brilliant, a princess cut diamond might be perfect for you. (more…)
A diamond engagement ring is probably the most important piece of jewelry a woman will wear. Dressing up this symbol of love is something that speaks to the newly engaged and the long-time married alike. (more…)
A diamond’s shape is often the very first consideration when selecting a piece of diamond jewelry. It’s quite clear why: each shape has its own attributes and offers a different aesthetic. Because of the wide variety of diamond shapes available, it’s important to zero in on the shape that works best for you. Today’s installment of GIA’s holiday buying guide series offer a few tips to help you pick the perfect diamond shape. (more…)
We all love the timeless, classic appeal of colorless diamonds. But there’s nothing wrong with spicing up a jewelry collection with punches of color. There’s no better time than the holidays to indulge in a jewelry gift (for her, for him, for yourself) that not only celebrates the season with color, but is also an everlasting treasure to be worn and admired year round. If you’re looking for an ultimate diamond gift with a big “swoon factor” – think fancy color diamonds during this holiday shopping season. (more…)
Use of this site signifies your agreement to its terms of use.
© 2002 – 2025 Gemological Institute of America Inc. GIA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
All rights reserved.