YOUR GUIDE TO SELECTING THE PERFECT DIAMOND affinitydiamonds.com.au
YOUR GUIDE TO SELECTING THE PERFECT DIAMOND
affinitydiamonds.com.au
ROUNDThe most traditional and
popular of all the diamondshapes. 58 facets for the mostbrilliance and sparkle of any
shape.
EMERALDRectangular shaped diamond
also known as the Step cut.Fewer facets highlights the
clarity of the diamond.
OVALA beautiful shape providinggreat brilliance and fire. Cut
well, it can be almost as brightas a Round Brilliant shaped
diamond.
MARQUISEOval shape with elongated
ends at both edges. Cancreate the illusion that thediamond is larger than it
actually is.
PEARTeardrop shaped with a
rounded bottom and pointedtop. This shape is popular forits uniqueness and brilliance.
ASSCHERSimilar to the Emerald cut but
more square. Developed atthe turn of the century.
RADIANTA rectangular or square stone
with cut corners. Offers theelegance of the Emerald cut
with the brilliance of thePrincess cut.
CUSHIONAlso known as the 'pillow cut'.Rounded corners and larger
facets that highlight thediamonds clarity.
DIAMOND CUTS
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PRINCESSSquare or rectangle shape
with pointed corners.
THE FOUR C'S OFDIAMONDS
CUTRather than describing the shape of a stone, cut refers to the proportion, symmetry
brilliance and polish of a diamond. This means that the diamond cutter has taken
into account the inherent characteristics of each individual stone and chose the best
way to shape it to accentuate its beauty.
A diamond gets its brilliance and scintillation by the cutting and polishing of its
facets, allowing the maximum amount of light that enters through its top to be
reflected and dispersed back through the top.
TOO DEEP PERFECT CUT TOO SHALLOW
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THE FOUR C'S OFDIAMONDS
CLARITYClarity is a judgment of the internal presence of inclusions (birthmarks) and the
external visibility of blemishes. These make each diamond individual and unique.
The regularity, size, nature, and position of these characteristics is considered and
graded on a scale of F (Flawless/no inclusions) to I3 (inclusions apparent to the
naked eye). These are graded according to GIA, the worldwide standard for
grading gems.
DIAMOND CUT BY DEPTH
With proper cutting (diagram 2 above) the light passes through the top, bounces off
the sides, and then travels back out the top, giving the diamond optimum brilliance.
If the diamond is cut too deep (diagram 1), light passes through the side of the
diamond. If the diamond is cut too shallow (diagram 3), light passes through the
bottom of the diamond, also inhibiting maximum brilliance.
A poorly cut diamond will lack the lustre and glow of its premium-cut counterparts,
and for this reason, master diamond cutters will often sacrifice carat weight to
improve the cut of a stone.
DIAMOND POLISH AND SYMMETRY
Polish and symmetry are two important aspects of the cutting process. The
diamond polish expresses the smoothness of the diamond’s facets where as the
symmetry refers to alignment of the facets. A poor diamond polish, or rough facets,
can diminish a diamond’s brilliance, as well as its value.
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THE FOUR C'S OFDIAMONDS
CARATCarat is the weight of the diamond and the metric that denotes its size. Although
size is an important factor in determining the value of a diamond (the greater the
carat weight, the rarer and more valuable the diamond becomes), the cut, colour,
and clarity are equally important.
COLOURColour is the hue of the diamond or the lack thereof. While white or colourless
stones are traditionally used in diamond engagement rings, diamonds are found in
a wide spectrum of colours. Engagement ring diamonds are graded from D to Z,
with D being the prized colourless diamond. The hue of D, E and F coloured
diamonds is difficult to differentiate to the untrained eye, but the amount of colour
becomes more apparent as the alphabet progresses. Z graded diamonds are a
pale yellow or brown colour, and anything falling outside of this range is
considered a fancy coloured diamond. The colour of the metal in a mounting can
either mask or enhance the diamond colour. Yellow gold makes slightly yellow or
brown diamonds appear more colourless. If a diamond is mounted in white gold or
platinum, the colour becomes more apparent.
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DIAMONDCERTIFICATION GUIDE
Acquisition of a diamond or diamond jewellery is an important expression of love
or accomplishment but at the same time it also represents a major investment of
money.
It is essential for you to know the credentials of the diamond and obtain
confidence in the integrity of what you have acquired.
A diamond certificate or diamond grading report is a statement, issued by an
independent Gemological Laboratory, that at the time of evaluation, the diamond
in question has been examined, measured, and scrutinised by experienced
diamond graders, using various gemological instruments, and determined to
contain the characteristics as stated in the certificate or report.
In other words, a diamond certificate can be accurately described as the blueprint
of a diamond.
This certificate or report includes an analysis of the diamond’s characteristics in an
easy to understand format. This certificate doesn’t state monetary value of a
diamond.
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ENGAGEMENT RINGMETAL GUIDE
While the diamond is the star of your engagement ring, it is important to choose
the right precious metal to set it in. The colour and tone of the metal can enhance
the diamond, making it appear bigger, brighter and more scintillating.
As a rule, white metals; platinum and white gold, are best for diamonds that are
colourless or near colourless – D, E, F, G. Diamonds with a yellowish tint become
more obvious when set in white metals, and for this reason, you will often see
diamonds lower on the colour scale set in yellow gold.
WHITE GOLD Probably the most popular choice for contemporary
engagement rings, white gold is classic and suits almost
every skin tone. It starts life as yellow gold, and is alloyed
with a white metal – usually palladium or manganese – to
give it a soft, white glow. This is then coated with rhodium to
make it appear more “white” and this will slowly wear off over
time. Some people prefer the look of un-plated white gold,
but if you like yours bright and shiny, don’t forget to bring it
back to Affinity Diamonds each year and we will re-plate it for
you as part of our complimentary care service.
PLATINUMConsidered the most precious of the metals, platinum has a
grey-white hue which perfectly compliments diamonds in the
colourless to near-colourless spectrum. Darker in colour than
white gold, platinum is the perfect setting for quality
diamonds. Over time and wear, the metal acquires a distinct
and desirable patina which will add to the beauty of your ring.
The heavy weight of platinum means your ring will feel
substantial and solid on your finger – it’s definitely the choice
for those with a discerning eye.
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ENGAGEMENT RINGMETAL GUIDE
ROSE GOLD Everything old is new again, as rose gold makes a comeback!
No longer associated with vintage jewellery, rose gold is now
adorning the ring-fingers of fashion conscious ladies around
the globe. An alloy of yellow gold and copper, one of the
advantages of rose gold is that it complements almost any
coloured stone and skin tone. It also matches readily with
either white or yellow gold, and is often used as an accent
colour in a halo, or band or prongs. It works especially well
with rare and beautiful pink diamonds, and brown and
cognac diamonds look modern and chic when set in rose
gold.
YELLOW GOLDYellow Gold is an extraordinary and rare precious metal, with
an unmatched combination of chemical and physical
properties. It is the only yellow metal and the most non-
reactive of all metals and it does not oxidize under ordinary
conditions, meaning that it will never rust and never tarnish.
Yellow gold is the traditional choice for engagement rings, and
while its popularity began to decline towards the end of the
last century, it remains a popular choice for women who value
tradition, heritage and classic styling. It is a popular metal for
stones with more of a yellow tint, and is becoming increasingly
popular as a setting for fancy colour diamonds, and other
precious gemstones.
Perhaps the most important factor when choosing a precious metal, is personal
preference. Some women prefer white metals while others are yellow gold girls.
If you are surprising your beloved with a ring, take note of the colour of the
jewellery she wears and use that as your guide.
Page 8Affinity Diamonds: Your Guide to Selecting the Perfect Diamond
BOOK A VISIT
Book an appointment to visit us at our Affinity Diamonds Sydney
Boutique and receive your complimentary diamond education
consultation.
How to book:
Visit www.affinitydiamonds.com.au and request an
online booking.
Email us at [email protected]
Contact our boutique on (02) 9221 0717.
Page 9Affinity Diamonds: Your Guide to Selecting the Perfect Diamond