The term carat refers to the weight of a diamond. A metric carat is defined as 200 milligrams. Each carat is subdivided into 100 points. A jeweler may describe the weight of a diamond below one carat by its points alone.

For instance, the jeweler may refer to a diamond that weighs 0.25 carats as a twenty-five pointer.

Diamond clarity is the quality of diamonds that relates to the existence and visual appearance of internal characteristics of a diamond called inclusions, and surface defects, called blemishes.

Evaluating diamond clarity involves determining the number, size, relief, nature, and position of these characteristics, as well as how these affect the overall appearance of the stone. The closer it comes to purity, the better its clarity.

Diamond color is measured using color scale which goes from D (colorless) all the way to Z (light yellow or brown in color). Between D and Z (the normal color range), there are numerous diamond color grades, ranging from near colorless to slightly yellow.

Distinctly colored diamonds are available in colors such as blue, pink, red, orange and yellow. The more colorless a diamond is, generally the more radiant, valuable, and rare it is.

We often think of a diamond’s cut as shape (round, heart, oval, marquise, pear), but the diamond cut refers to the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond. It means how well a diamond’s facets interact with light.

The cut of a diamond greatly affects a diamond’s brilliance; this means if it is cut poorly, it will be less luminous.