Diamond Education

Diamond Cut

Cut describes the symmetry, balance, proportion and polish created by the diamond cutter, not the stone’s actual geometric shape. A diamond’s inherent beauty is determined directly by the expertise of its cut.

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Diamond Essentials and the 4 C's

This interactive walk-through will guide you through key facts and information about diamonds, and specifically how the 4 C's of any diamond will contribute to it sparkle and shine. Each section offers indepth reading, or a snippet of learning across each of these interactive sections. Use the arrows to guide your way through the DX Diamond Education pages.

Diamond Education

What is Diamond Shape?

Choosing a diamond shape is crucial. While round diamonds remain popular, fancy shapes like oval, cushion, radiant, pear, heart and princess are gaining traction. At DX, we offer a wide range of shapes because we believe each ring should be as perfect as the love it symbolizes.

Discover the shape that reflects your individuality and union.

Explore Shape - The 4C's

Your Selection

Round Diamond Shape

Your Selection

Oval Diamond Shape

Your Selection

Cushion Diamond Shape

Your Selection

Pear Diamond Shape

Your Selection

Emerald Diamond Shape

Your Selection

Princess Diamond Shape

Your Selection

Radiant Diamond Shape

Your Selection

Heart Diamond Shape

Your Selection

Marquise Diamond Shape

Your Selection

Asscher Diamond Shape

Diamond Education

What is Carat Weight?

Carat refers to the unit of measurement which is used to weigh diamonds. Often, this is the most obvious visual element when we compare diamonds.

Carat is sometimes confused with the visual size of stones but it refers to weight only. The size does impact different stones’ measurements though.

Shapes and types of gemstones can also show slightly different readings due to variable densities.

Explore Carat - The 4C's

0.50 CT0.75 CT1.00 CT1.25 CT1.50 CT2.00 CT2.50 CT3.00 CT

0.50 Carat

Shown with 0.50CT round brilliant cut diamond

0.75 Carat

Shown with 0.75CT round brilliant cut diamond

1.00 Carat

Shown with 1.00CT round brilliant cut diamond

1.25 Carat

Shown with 1.25CT round brilliant cut diamond

1.50 Carat

Shown with 1.50CT round brilliant cut diamond

2.00 Carat

Shown with 2.00CT round brilliant cut diamond

2.50 Carat

Shown with 2.50CT round brilliant cut diamond

3.00 Carat

Shown with 3.00CT round brilliant cut diamond

Diamond Education

What is Diamond Cut?

Cut describes the symmetry, balance, proportion and polish created by the diamond cutter, not the stone’s actual geometric shape. A diamond’s inherent beauty is determined directly by the expertise of its cut.

Stones cut the most skilfully will refract and reflect the most amount of light. Diamond cutters have a special understanding of the ways in which light penetrates and radiates through diamonds.

Cutters follow a special set of exact angles and proportions to maximise each diamond’s intrinsic brilliance and showcase its sparkle.

Explore Cut - The 4C's

PoorFairGoodVery GoodExcellentSuper Ideal

Poor

Diamonds which reflect only a little of the light entering them. Not carried by Diamond Exchange.

Fair

Diamonds which reflect some of the light entering them. Not carried by Diamond Exchange.

Good

Diamonds which reflect most of the light entering them. Not carried by Diamond Exchange.

Very Good

Reflecting almost as much light as the ideal cut, these diamonds are excellent quality at a cost significantly lower.

Excellent

Diamonds which radiate almost all the light entering them.Finished with precision for maximum sparkle, they fall within the top 3% of quality determined by cut.

Super Ideal

Diamonds which have perfect dimensions and proportions and emit optimal light. The cut to which the most rigorous standards are applied.

Diamond Education

What is Diamond Clarity?

The term ‘clarity’ is used in reference to a diamond’s purity and rarity. Minuscule characteristics can be trapped on or within a diamond when it is formed.

Gemmologists will examine these surface and internal characteristics under 10x magnification when assigning a grading to each stone. Diamonds with little or no inclusions are especially rare and valuable.

Explore Clarity - The 4C's

SI2SI1VS2VS1VVS2VVS1IFFL

SI2 - Slightly Included

Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification and may be visible to the naked eye. More inclusions than SI1.

SI1 - Slightly Included

Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, but are generally not visible to the naked eye.

VS2 - Very Slightly Included

Slightly more inclusions than VS1, difficult to see under 10x magnification and typically cannot be seen with the naked eye.

VS1 - Very Slightly Included

Inclusions cannot be seen with the naked eye and are difficult to see under 10x magnification.

VVS2 - Very Very Slightly Included

Slightly more inclusions than VVS1, but still very difficult to see under 10x magnification even for expert gemologists.

VVS1 - Very Very Slightly Included

Miniscule inclusions are very difficult to see under 10x magnification, even for expert gemologists.

IF - Internally Flawless

Extremely rare and valuable, these diamonds have no internal flaws but may have minute surface blemishes visible under 10x magnification.

FL - Flawless

Extremely rare and valuable, flawless diamonds have no internal or external flaws. Less than 1% of all diamonds are FL clarity.

Diamond Education

What is Diamond Colour?

Colour, graded by GIA standards, indicates the natural hue or lack thereof in a diamond. DX exclusively offers colourless and near-colourless diamonds for their rarity. While colour variations don't necessarily affect value or quality, those with minimal colour are highly sought after. 

Traces of elements during formation result in hues like yellow, grey, or brown. Gemstone colour is assessed by hue, tone, and saturation: hue is the primary colour impression, tone is its lightness or darkness, and saturation is its purity and intensity.

Explore Colour - The 4C's

JIHGFED

J COLOUR - Near Colourless

Colour can be detected, but offers good value.

I COLOUR - Near Colourless

Colour can be slightly detected, but offers good value.

H COLOUR - Near Colourless

Colour is only slightly noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades, but offers excellent value.

G COLOUR - Near Colourless

Colour is only slightly noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades, but offers excellent value.

F COLOUR - Colourless

Slight colour can be detected by an expert gemmologist, but still considered “colourless”. A high-quality diamond.

E COLOUR - Colourless

Only minute traces of colour can be detected by an expert gemmologist. A rare, high quality diamond.

D COLOUR - Absolutely Colourless

The highest colour grade which is extremely rare and the most valuable.

WHAT IS DIAMOND CUT?

A diamond’s inherent beauty is determined directly by the expertise of its cut. Stones cut the most skilfully will refract and reflect the most amount of light. Diamond cutters have a special understanding of the ways in which light penetrates and radiates through diamonds. Cutters follow a special set of exact angles and proportions to maximise each diamond’s intrinsic brilliance and showcase its sparkle.

Brilliance

Brilliance is the dazzling result of light entering a diamond, bouncing off its mirrored facets, and exiting in a stunning display of white light.

Scintillation

The play of light you see when a diamond moves is called 'scintillation'. This is the gemstone’s surface sparkling. Its ability to reflect and refract light in all directions determines diamond’s beauty and value.

Dispersion

Dispersion is the rainbow spectrum reflected by diamonds. Light entering the diamond's top breaks into colours, bouncing around inside off facets. Exiting from the crown, these colours remain separated, creating flashes of colour.

A DIAMOND'S COMPONENTS

Table

A diamond's flat, top surface

Crown

A diamond's upper portion, from
the table to the girdle.

Girdle

The girdle is a diamond's widest part, separating the pavilion
from the crown. Also known as the setting edge. it‘s where the
stone is held in jewelry settings.

Pavilion

A diamond's lower portion. from the culet to the girdle.

Cutlet

A point or facet of a diamond's pavilion, on the bottom.

Depth

A diamond's height, from the table to the cutlet. Calculated as a
percentage of the gemstone‘s total diameter.

A DIAMOND'S COMPONENTS

For further guidance, refer to our diamond cut chart. As the quality of a diamond's cut directly affects its sparkle and beauty, Diamond Exchange offers only the finest cut gradings - Very Good, Excellent and Super Ideal.

WHAT DIAMOND CUT GRADING DO WE RECOMMEND?

To maximise brilliance, we recommend a cut grading of Excellent or Super Ideal for round diamonds, and Very Good, Excellent or Super Ideal for fancy shapes (non-rounds)

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 'EXCELLENT' & 'SUPER IDEAL' CUT?

'Excellent' and 'Super Ideal' are top diamond cut grades, ensuring maximum brilliance. Super Ideal diamonds, a step above, have stricter standards for exceptional beauty. Despite a slight premium, DX sees them as offering fantastic value.

BROWSE BY SHAPE

Cut describes the symmetry, balance, proportion and polish created by the diamond cutter, not the stone’s actual geometric shape. Discover a range of shapes available right here.