Blemishes - Blemishes - An abrasion or scratch on the surface of a diamond which are called blemishes. Also see inclusions - Inclusions

Black Diamonds - Black Diamonds - "Black" diamonds are not truly black, but rather contain numerous dark inclusions that give the gems their dark appearance.  - Black Diamonds

Blood Diamonds - Blood Diamonds, also known as Conflict Diamonds, are used in the illegal trading of diamonds to finance conflict, civil wars and human rights abuses in Africa - Blood Diamonds

Blue Diamonds - Blue Diamonds - Natural blue diamonds contain the element boron (B) which changes the conductivity of the diamonds. breakage from falls or impacts. A diamond will shatter if hit with an ordinary hammer. - Blue Diamonds

Brilliance - Brilliance - The amount of sparkle a stone gives off through the reflection and refraction of light. -

Brilliant Cut Diamond - Brilliant Cut Diamond - The modern round brilliant diamond consists of 56-58 facets including the culet. Between the table and the girdle are generally thirty-two facets, and below the girdle twenty-four. - Brilliant Cut Diamond

Bruiting - Bruiting - The term for shaping the girdle of diamonds - Diamond Cutting

Carat Weight - Carat Weight Definition: A Carat is a standard unit of weight for diamonds. Carat weights are also expressed as "points" with a one carat diamond equalling 100 points. 1 ct. = 100 points. A carat is abbreviated as "ct."1 ct. = 0.2 grams and 100 points = 1 carat - Carat Weight

Champagne Diamonds - Champagne diamonds - Champagne diamonds have a tint of brownish body color and the term champagne is an alternative way of describing brown diamonds. - Champagne Diamonds

Clarity - Clarity - The clarity of a diamond relates to exactly how clear a diamond is. The clarity of a diamond describes the presence, or absence, of Inclusions (flaws) within the diamond and any blemishes on its surface.  - Diamond Clarity

Cleaving - Cleaving - Taking a piece off a diamond where it is too long, or making it into small stones where it is badly flawed, thus taking away the impurities and defects - Diamond Cutting

Cognac Diamonds - Cognac diamonds - Cognac diamonds have a tint of brownish body color and the term Cognac is an alternative way of describing brown diamonds. - Cognac Diamonds

Color - Color - The shades of colors include yellow, blue, black, pink, red, orange, green and brown. Diamond Color is determined by the impurities or structural defects that cause the coloration. The color scale for white diamonds goes from 'D' (colorless) to 'Z' (dark yellow) - Color of Diamonds

Colored Diamonds - Colored diamonds - Colored diamonds contain impurities or structural defects that cause the coloration, while pure or nearly pure diamonds are transparent and colorless. Composition 'C') crystallised in a cubic (isometric) arrangement which has been highly compressed over millions of years. - Colored Diamonds

Conflict Diamonds - Conflict Diamonds, also known as Blood Diamonds, are used in the illegal trading of diamonds to finance conflict, civil wars and human rights abuses in Africa. - Conflict Diamonds

Crown - Crown - The top part of the diamond above the girdle. -

Culet - Culet - A tiny flat facet that cutters sometimes add at the bottom of a diamond's pavilion. -

Cushion Cut Diamond - Cushion Cut Diamond - A four sided deep square or rectangle cut with rounded edges and large facets - it has a cushioned shaped girdle. - Cushion Cut Diamond

Cut - Cut - The cut of a diamond refers to two separate elements - The way the rough diamond is cut to produce a polished diamond and the shape of the diamond, the different styles of cuts e.g. Pear, Round, Marquise, Heart shaped etc. - Diamond Cut Diamond Cuts

Cutting - Cutting - Every stone is examined minutely for flaws and imperfections, enabling the cutter to decide in which way the diamond will give the best possible results. - Diamond Cutting

Diamond - Diamond - Definition: A Diamond is a clear transparent precious gemstone completely made of Carbon atoms (Chemical Composition 'C') crystallised in a cubic (isometric) arrangement which has been highly compressed over millions of years. -

Diamond Powder - Diamond Powder - Diamonds can only be manipulated by means of powdered diamond. This powder is prepared generally from bort, or faulty diamonds, and from the refuse in cleaving and cutting, which, being put into a mortar of hardened steel, is pounded until it is fine enough for use. -

Dispersion - Dispersion - Dispersion refers to the prism of light refracted from within a cut and polished diamond and relates to the sparkling colors that are emitted from the stone as it is viewed from different angles -

Emerald Cut Diamond - Emerald Cut Diamond - A rectangular or square shaped cut with truncated corners and stepped facets, typically parallel to the girdle. The emerald cut diamond reflects less light than the standard brilliant cuts and needs to be of the highest quality as any inclusions can be visible. - Emerald Cut Diamond

Facets - Facets - Diamond facets are the smooth surface areas of a diamond which have been cut, polished and positioned at different angles which allow light to enter and reflect back from the stone. The depth and width and the uniformity of the facets control the brilliance and the durability of a diamond. - Diamond Facets

Fancy Colored Diamonds - Fancy color diamonds - Natural fancy color diamonds obtain their coloring from completely natural processes such as impurities or structural defects. Very rare and expensive - Fancy Colored Diamonds

Fancy Cut Diamonds - Fancy cut diamonds - Fancy cut diamonds and other stones include the Emerald, Marquise, Heart, Oval, Pear and Princess cuts. - Fancy Cut Diamonds

Fluorescence - Fluorescence - Definition: An inherent property possessed by diamonds resulting in glowing without an appreciable rise of temperature when exposed to ultra-violet rays, cathode rays etc. Fluorescence is not usually desirable in a white diamond as it gives a hazy effect but it can improve the appearance of diamonds that possess traces of some colors. - Diamond Fluorescence

Formation - Formation of a Diamond - Diamonds are formed when extreme heat (temperatures of 2200 degrees Fahrenheit) and extreme pressure cause carbon atoms to crystallize forming diamonds approximately ninety miles under the earth's surface. - Diamond Formation

Green Diamonds - Green Diamonds - Exposure to the natural radiation in the earth such as uranium ore cause the green color. - Green Diamonds

Hardness - Hardness - Denotes resistance to scratching On the Mohs scale a diamond has a hardness of 10 - a diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man. Not to be confused with Toughness which relates to the ability to resist -

Heart Cut Diamond - Heart Cut Diamond - Essentially a pear-shaped diamond with a cleft at the top containing 59 facets. - Heart Cut Diamond

Inclusions - Inclusions - Inclusions are flaws or imperfections in diamonds consisting of a defect within the crystalline surface of a diamond. An abrasion or scratch on the surface of a diamond which are called blemishes. Laser lines generated during diamond enhancement procedures are also considered as inclusions - Diamond Inclusions

Lapidary - Lapidary - Lapidary is the name given to the cutter and the art of cutting, shaping, polishing and creating jewelry from stones. -

Luster - Lustre / Luster - The term used to describe the brightness of an object that shines with reflected light rather than producing its own. -

Marquise Cut Diamond - Marquise Cut Diamond - The Marquise shape is like a long oval which has been stretched out to a point at each end. - Marquise Cut Diamond

Mohs scale - Mohs scale - On the Mohs scale diamond has a hardness of 10. A diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man - Mohs Hardness Scale

Oval Cut Diamond - Oval Cut Diamond - Most oval diamonds are like a squashed round brilliant - a modification of the round brilliant cut. Aspect ratio of an Oval cut: The ratio of the length to the width should be about 1.5:1. - Oval Cut Diamond

Pavilion - Pavilion - The lower portion of the diamond, below the girdle, ending in the culet. -

Pear Cut Diamond - Pear Cut Diamond - The description of an Pear Cut Diamond is best described as being one half oval, and the other half marquise - Pear Cut Diamond

Pink Diamonds - Pink Diamonds - Crystal lattice defects during the formation of diamond cause the pink color. - Pink Diamonds

Polishing - Polishing - Diamonds are polished according to the precise run of the grain and the way in which it will polish to the best advantage. -

Princess Cut Diamond - Princess Cut Diamond - A relatively new shape which is usually square but sometimes oblong. It has a brilliant cut arrangement of facets instead of a step cut - Princess Cut Diamond

Quality - Quality - The quality elements include Carat Weight, Size, symmetry and proportions, Clarity Grade, Color Grade and Fluorescence. - Diamond Quality

Red Diamonds - Red Diamonds - Crystal lattice defects during the formation of diamond causes the red color. Red diamonds are therefore extremely rare and valuable. - Red Diamonds

Scintillation - Scintillation - Occurs when light bounces among the facets creating a really sparkling display. -

Setting - Setting - A suitable setting for the diamond is selected and the mechanism used to hold the stones in place, such as the bezel, pave, channel and prong settings is chosen. -

Diamond Shapes - Diamond Shapes - The names of the most popular diamond shapes are Asscher, Brilliant, Cushion, Emerald, Heart, Ideal, Marquise, Oval, Pear, Princess, Radiant, Rose, Round and Trilliant or Trillion. - Diamond Shapes

Sparkle - Sparkle - A measure of the light reflected out by a diamond as it is viewed from different angles. -

Step cut - Step cut - 'Step cut' or 'Table cut' which the cutting style is often used in Marquise, Emerald and Oval cut diamonds. The facets on a 'Step cut' are cut in steps. -

Symmetry - Symmetry - Symmetry is a term that refers to the alignment of a diamond's facets, its flat and polished surfaces. The facets are cut to achieve the best play of light. -

Table - Table - The flat facet on the top of the diamond. It is the largest facet on a cut diamond -

Table cut - Table cut - 'Step cut' or 'Table cut' which the cutting style is often used in Marquise, Emerald and Oval cut diamonds. The facets on a 'Step cut' are cut in steps. -

Teardrop shaped diamond - Teardrop shaped diamond - The description of a Teardrop Cut Diamond is best described as being one half oval, and the other half marquise. - Teardrop shaped diamond

Toughness - Toughness - Toughness relates to the ability to resist breakage from falls or impacts. A diamond will shatter if hit with an ordinary hammer. Not to be confused with Hardness which denotes resistance to scratching. -

White Diamonds - White diamonds are categorised into Colorless, Nearly colorless, Faintly tinted (usually yellow), Lightly tinted (usually yellow) and Tinted (usually yellow but may progress to brownish). The scale and grades for colorless diamonds goes from 'D' (colorless) to 'Z' (dark yellow). The less color, the more expensive. - White Diamonds

Yellow Diamonds - Yellow Diamonds - Natural yellow diamonds contain the element nitrogen (N). - Yellow Diamonds

Diamond Glossary
This Glossary provides definitions and descriptions relating to the terminology of diamonds. Links are also provided to comprehensive details of various subjects.

Diamonds are Forever...
An Impartial Guide to Diamonds

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