Upper part, or ‘top half’ of the diamond, above the girdle.
Crown
Conflict Diamonds
Diamonds that originate from areas controlled by rebel forces that are opposed to the governments in power, and are used to finance wars against these governments. Along with the other resources like oil and timber The Kimberley Process has been put in place to combat trade these diamonds, also known as’blood diamonds‘. Click here to learn more about conflict diamonds and the Kimberley Process.
Coloured Diamond
Any diamond with a noticeable body colour other than white. Colour in diamonds is caused by either various impurities trapped in the diamond crystal as it was forming in the earth, or by irregularities in the crystal structure itself. Some coloured diamonds fall into the valuable fancy colour category of diamonds.
Colour
Term used to describe the relative presence or absence of body colour in a diamond. Diamonds are either cape series diamonds or coloured diamonds.
Cold Laser Inscription
The use of a very fine, precise laser beam to write a grading report number or customised personal message on the girdle of a diamond, generally for identification purposes. Cold laser inscription is 100% safe for diamonds, compared to hot laser inscription. The laser inscription is invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen with a magnifying loupe. Click here to learn more about diamond laser inscription.
Cognac
Refers to a coloured diamond that is dark brown in colour.
Coated Diamond or Coating
Cloud
Cluster of pinpoint inclusions creating a hazy or milky area in a diamond. A diamond cloud can range from extremely sparse and faint, to dense and heavy. Clouds may also be small and localised, or spread throughout an entire diamond and affect the transparency.
Closed Table
Trade term for a diamond that has a relatively small table in relation to the size of the diamond. A small table reduces the amount of brilliance, but may increase the amount of fire.
Cleavage
Type of inclusion that appears as a fairly smooth split or crack in a diamond, found along a plane of weakness. Cleavage is due to the directional hardness of diamonds.