Cut

A diamond’s cut plays a huge role in its overall appearance. The way a diamond is cut determines how effectively light reflects around it. Light should always exit out of the top facet of the diamond (the table) and have expertly cut facets along its sides for maximum reflection within the stone. All of this contributes to how sparkly the diamond appears.
When facets are cut incorrectly or a diamond is too shallow or too deep, these proportions impair the refraction of light. The result? A flat, dull diamond that has no life to it and barely sparkles. For this reason, always be wary of buying a diamond without seeing it in real life. When sold online clever lighting and promising paperwork can disguise issues with cut, leaving the buyer disappointed when it is received.

Colour

Diamonds are not always completely clear; they range from completely colourless through to shades of light yellow and light brown. This colour spectrum is known as the D to Z colour range, with D being colourless and continues all the way through to Z which will be distinctly yellow.

Letters D, E, F are colourless and G, H, I, are near colourless. Colourless diamonds, within the D to Z range, when all other factors are equal, are by far the most valuable. At Burgundy Bespoke Jewellers, we recommend choosing diamonds within the D to I range if a clear, clean diamond free of yellowing is desired.

Clarity

The clarity in a diamond refers to the diamond’s internal and external characteristics. These characteristics are a natural result of their formation and crystalline structure. On occasion, these characteristics may also be the result of damage to the stone introduced during its extraction and cutting. These characteristics are known as ‘inclusions and the most desirable diamonds are those with the least inclusions or blemishes.

Clarity is measured on a scale; this scale begins with F and IF (Flawless and Internally Flawless). Followed by VVS1 and VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included), then, VS1 and VS2 (Very Slightly Included) and SI1 and SI2 (Slightly Included).
I1, I2, I3 (Included) is the lowest grading and means there will be characteristics or blemishes visible to the naked eye. At Burgundy Bespoke we most often work with diamonds between VS to SI as these stones offer the most beautiful result, one you will be proud to wear.

Carat

The weight of your diamond is known as its carats. To measure the diamond both carats and points are used, think of this as similar to dollars and cents. In each carat there are 100 points, making a quarter of a carat equal to 25 points. This makes a ¾ carat diamond measurable to 80 points.
Generally, the most expensive diamonds are those with the bigger the diamond weight. They are considered rarer – statistically, only one in a million diamonds mined are found to be 1 carat or higher.