Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      Kick-start your day by making habits out of these mood-boosting tips. Read More
    • Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      It's one of your favorite fruits, but does it belong on the counter or in the refrigerator? Read More
    • This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      A few easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to create a powerful formula that squashes weeds. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    Show your love of country by displaying these varieties on America's birthday.
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    Make gathering with loved ones a priority.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We asked the experts to weigh in on this popular home design concept.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    Confused about when to do what to your favorite flowering shrubs? We have you covered.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Pillows

    How to Wash Pillows

    They're an essential element of a comfortable bed, so keep yours fresh and in their best shape ever with these expert-approved tips.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Get the traditional rules for who pays for the wedding details.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    Our easy melt-and-pour method saves the last bit of this home essential.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    This buzzy ingredient is a star player in many new-age hair care products.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Weddings
  3. Dresses & Style
  4. Wedding Jewelry
  5. Engagement Rings & Wedding Bands
  6. Diamond Ring Basics: Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat
Martha Stewart Weddings

Diamond Ring Basics: Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat

Skip gallery slides
Pin

1 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Cut of Your Diamond

mwd106075_fall10_diamonds3.jpg

In the 1940s, the Gemological Institute of America (otherwise known as the GIA) created a diamond-grading system based on the four Cs of diamonds: cut, color, clarity, and carat. Today it remains the standard by which diamonds are judged internationally. Cut refers to a finished stone's proportion, polish, and symmetry. During the cutting process, artisans sculpt tiny angles -- known as facets -- into a raw stone, ultimately creating its overall shape. Poorly placed facets result in dullness, while those with optimum measurements guarantee that distinctive glitz and glimmer. Diamonds are carved into a variety of silhouettes, but "80 percent are round brilliants," says Andrew Coxon, president of the Diamond Institute for De Beers Diamond Jewelers in London. "They have the most sparkle and are also the most popular among consumers." Rough diamonds provided by Rough Diamond World.

1 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Other Popular Cuts

msw_win10_harry_winston_oval.jpg
See Our Glossary of Ring Cuts

Other common silhouettes include pear (Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor one that weighed 69 carats), marquise, emerald (Prince Rainier proposed to Grace Kelly with this rectangular shape), Asscher, cushion (the world-renowned Regent diamond is a whopping 140-carat version), princess, and heart. In 2006 the GIA introduced a system for rating round brilliants -- ranging from "poor" to "excellent." Fancy shapes aren't held to the same standards, but you'll know a well-cut stone when you see it. Look for brilliance (it reflects light), fire (it flashes colors), and scintillation (it sparkles). And when shopping for an engagement ring, be sure to examine stones in a variety of different lighting environments, suggests Tom Moses, senior vice president for GIA Laboratory & Research in Carlsbad, California. On the next several slides see examples of all of the diamond cuts.

2 of 9

3 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Color of Your Diamond

msw_win10_erica_courtney.jpg

There are two categories: colorless and fancy. Colorless diamonds are graded on a universal scale from D (completely clear) to Z (traces of yellow, gray, and brown), with a letter grade for each shade. While D color is like looking into a piece of glass, "E and F are also in the colorless range, and G through J are near colorless," explains Moses. "After K or L, colors start to turn very light yellow." Completely colorless stones are typically the rarest and most expensive on this scale, but some consumers actually prefer the look of a slightly warmer (or even very warm) white. For that reason, most diamonds sold in jewelry stores lie in the D to L range, as variations can be indiscernible to the untrained eye, and choosing a stone often falls to personal reference.

Fancy diamonds (yellow, pink, blue, and other naturally colored stones) are rarer, often putting them at a higher price point than colorless ones. They are graded on their own scale; a more saturated shade is generally a more expensive stone.

3 of 9

Advertisement

4 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Clarity of Your Diamond

mw_0110_cartier1895.jpg

Most diamonds contain two types of naturally occurring imperfections: internal flaws (inclusions) and surface flaws (blemishes). Taking these traits into consideration, each diamond is given a clarity grade from the GIA's 11-step scale: Flawless (FL), Internally Flawless (IF), Very Very Slightly Included (VVS 1 and VVS 2), Very Slightly Included (VS 1 and VS 2), Slightly Included (SI 1 and SI 2), and Imperfect Included (I1, I2, and I3). Though flawless stones exist, they're incredibly rare -- most jewelers have never even seen one. As a result, many jewelry stores sell stones in the VS to SI range, which are considered "eye clean." The inclusions in this range are visible only under 10x magnification, says Moses. And though it may seem counterintuitive, a microscopic inclusion or two can actually be a good thing. "Like fingerprints, they make your stone unique and can help identify it," he says. Stones in the I range, however, should generally be avoided.

4 of 9

5 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Carat or Weight of Your Diamond

mwd106075_fall10_backgr_diamonds_4_2.jpg

Not to be confused wi th karat, which is a measure of gold purity, the term carat refers to a diamond's weight, not its size. Each metric carat weighs 200 milligrams, and each carat is further divided into hundredths, or points. Sound complicated? Jewelers often make this simple analogy to money: Just as a dollar contains 100 pennies, each carat comprises 100 points. A 75-point diamond weighs 0.75 carats, a 50-pointer is 0.50 carats, a 25-pointer is 0.25 carats, and so on.

5 of 9

6 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Does the Size of Your Diamond Matter?

doyle_doyle_r093839a_ring.jpg

Unlike the other three Cs, carat weight isn't always a direct reflection of cost. "If a diamond cutter chooses to leave in a flaw, the stone will be bigger but less brilliant and less expensive," says Moses. Along the same lines, a large stone with a low color grade can be less expensive than a smaller one with a high grade. It boils down to a matter of preference: If size matters but budget is a concern, you might opt to downgrade in quality. When shopping for a diamond, remember that stones weighing in at just under the full carat mark are much less expensive than stones right at the full carat mark. "A 95-point diamond costs less than one that weighs a full carat -- but when the stone is set, you won't be able to tell the difference in size," Moses says.

6 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Set a Budget

ws1607_sum08_piggybank.jpg

Set a budget before you start shopping. "Ask to see only rings you can afford, and make your decision from those," says Sally Morrison, director of the Diamond Information Center in New York City. To understand what goes into the price of a diamond, remember that cut, clarity, carat, and color are all factors of a diamond's grade, and therefore, price.

7 of 9

8 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Clean and Care for Your Diamond Ring

Asscher Cut Diamond Engagement Rings
Get More Information About Caring for Your Ring

Dirt, lotion, and even skin's natural oils can coat and cloud your ring, but with a little TLC, it will continue to dazzle. Once a year, take your ring to the jeweler for a thorough cleaning and a prong checkup. To spruce it up at home once a month, soak it in a mixture of warm water and mild dish washing liquid before scrubbing the stone gently with a soft toothbrush.

Also, make sure to get your ring appraised by someone certified by a recognized association such as the Gemological Institute of America, and insure it.

8 of 9

9 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Conflict-Free Stones

mw_0110_tiffany_roundweb.jpg

If you saw the movie Blood Diamond, the mere mention of the diamond industry may evoke images of violence and greed. Ten years ago, the trade of conflict diamonds -- stones sold to fund armed conflict in war-torn African countries -- was a major concern. And while a percentage of these stones are still traded, especially in areas such as Zimbabwe, steps are being taken to help eradicate the problem. In 2003 government representatives, the diamond industry, and civil-rights workers in Kimberley, South Africa, created the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), a regulatory system. Its mission is to prevent conflict diamonds from being traded. Before KPCS went into effect, about four percent of diamonds on the market were "blood diamonds." Now, thanks to new regulations (KPCS requires that all diamonds be transported with conflict-free documentation), that figure is less than one percent. M ost major design houses and boutiques abide by the KPCS regulations, though not all diamonds come with conflict-free certificates. Always ask the seller for assurance.

9 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    `
    Martha Stewart Weddings
    View All
    • Prince William Didn't Watch Kate Middleton Walk Down the Aisle at Their Wedding—Here's Why He Missed This Moment
    • These Brides Brought Their Romantic, Secret Garden-Themed Wedding to Life at an Art Museum
    • 5 Ways You're Jeopardizing Your Relationship With Your Daughter- or Son-In-Law—and Your Child
    • In Addition to Duke and Duchess, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Will Hold Other Royal Titles for Life
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 9 The Cut of Your Diamond
    2 of 9 Other Popular Cuts
    3 of 9 The Color of Your Diamond
    4 of 9 The Clarity of Your Diamond
    5 of 9 The Carat or Weight of Your Diamond
    6 of 9 Does the Size of Your Diamond Matter?
    7 of 9 Set a Budget
    8 of 9 Clean and Care for Your Diamond Ring
    9 of 9 Conflict-Free Stones

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Diamond Ring Basics: Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.