• Saturation

    Intensity and purity of colour in a diamond. Both cape series diamonds and fancy shape diamonds are graded on a scale of increasing saturation, in addition to hue and tone.

  • Scintillation

    Sparkle of a diamond as light reflects off of its surface when it is moving, seen as quickly shifting flashes of light. The amount and intensity of sparkle depends on the quality of polish, as well as the size, shape, and symmetrical arrangement of facets.

  • Seal

    Plastic covering that provides a safeguard against loose diamonds being lost or damaged. Laboratory sealing has a number of security features including electrostatic security bars, pressure-sensitive transparent adhesive and cryptoprint text which only becomes visible after opening the seal.

  • Shape

    Name for the basic outline of a polished diamond. Examples of shapes are round, emerald , and pear.

  • Simulant

    Any material that is meant to look like or imitate a diamond, but is not a natural or synthetic diamond. Examples of diamond simulants: cubic zirconia, moissanite, and glass.

  • Single-Cut

    Diamond cut or shaped in an old-style cut with only 16 facets– 8 on the crown and 8 on the pavilion. This simple diamond cut is still used at times today for extremely small diamonds. Also known as an eight cut.

  • Star Facets

    Triangle shaped facets on a round brilliant cut diamond surrounding the table facet. When viewed as a whole, they resemble an 8-point star.

  • Step Cut

    A style of diamond cutting creating rows or steps of elongated facets, running parallel to the girdle on both the crown and the pavilion.

  • Symmetry

    Degree and regularity in shape and placement of facets, how well they align and relate to each other. Symmetry is very important to the life in a diamond, especially the brilliance; it affects how light is reflected and refracted in a diamond. Symmetrical round brilliant cut diamonds often display hearts & arrows.

  • Synthetic Diamond

    Man-made versions of the diamonds found in the earth. Synthetic diamonds have the same chemical structure and properties as natural diamonds, but are created in a laboratory in only a few days, instead of in the earth over billions of years – they sell at a much lower price. Click here to learn more about synthetic diamonds.