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Diamond Cuts

• Diamond cuts include round brilliant, radiant, princess, cushion, Asscher, heart, marquise, oval, emerald, baguette, pear, and trilliant.

Round Cut Diamonds

• The round diamond is considered the standard for all diamond shapes
• A round diamond has 58 facets
• A round diamond is divided into three parts:
  • The crown is the uppermost part and the largest flat surface
  • The girdle is the middle and widest part
  • The base (pavilion) is the stone's bottom, calibrated to allow the most sparkle

Radiant Cut Diamonds

• The radiant cut is a symmetrical, non-traditional cut that combines the brilliance of a round cut with the purity of an emerald cut
• Trimmed corners give the radiant cut versatility, especially in engagement rings
• Radiant cuts have a fiery look compared to princess cuts, while having softer corners

Princess Cut Diamonds

• The princess cut is a newer style that is square in shape with many facets
• Princess cut diamonds are stunning when flanked by triangular stones
• Princess cuts flatter hands with long, tapered fingers because their square shape can make fingers look shorter and thicker
• Princess cuts have more depth, as opposed to extensive surface area

Cushion Cut Diamonds

• Cushion cut diamonds derive their name from their pillow-like shape
• Cushion cut diamonds are referred to as mine cut or old mine cut
• These loose diamonds are square or rectangular with rounded corners
• Cushion cuts generally have more fire, but less brilliance than round brilliant diamonds

Asscher Cut Diamonds

• The Asscher cut was developed in Holland by two brothers named Asscher in 1902
• Like the emerald cut, the Asscher cut has a step design
• It is described as a square emerald cut, offering the same theatrical flashes of light as an emerald cut
• The Asscher cut has gained popularity in recent years

Heart Cut Diamonds

• A heart-shaped diamond is the definitive expression of love
• The heart cut is actually a pear cut diamond with an addition of a small cleft on the rounded bottom
• Heart cut diamonds are hard to craft, so the skill of the cutter is crucial
• For the best sparkle, heart cut diamonds should be close to one carat or larger

Marquise Cut Diamonds

• The marquise cut was commissioned by Louis XIV of France to represent the Marquise de Pompadour's smile
• The elongated marquise shape, with each end cut to a fine point, has been popular for centuries
• The marquise cut is well-loved for its elegance as a solitaire and ability to enhance other gemstones.

Oval Cut Diamonds

• An oval cut diamond is geometrically symmetrical with a drawn out, spherical shape
• The oval cut is flattering and makes fingers appear longer and thinner when in a ring setting
• The oval brilliant cut is a wonderful alternative for those who love the round cut look

Emerald Cut Diamonds

• Emerald cut diamonds are rectangular with trimmed corners
• The flat planes of the corners look similar to stair steps; this is why an emerald cut is considered a step cut
• Emerald cut diamonds tend to be less fiery than round diamonds due to their elongated shape
• There are more wide, flat surfaces on emerald cuts compared to round cuts, so flashes of light tend to be more vivid

Baguette Cut Diamonds

• A baguette diamond is a step-cut typically used as a side or accent stone
• Baguette diamonds are long and rectangular or tapered, with 14 facets
• Baguette diamonds became modern and functional in the 20th century
• Baguette diamonds have become a popular choice for three-stone engagement rings due to their shape and average carat size

Pear Shaped Diamonds

• A pear-shaped diamonds is a stunning blend of a marquise and either an oval or round cut.
• It gets its name from its resemblance to a teardrop or the fruit
• Pear cut diamonds require a special setting that supports the heavier round base while protecting the pointed end

Trilliant Cut Diamonds

• Trilliant cut diamonds are triangular and are cut with a minimum of 43 facets
• The trilliant cut is also referred to as trillion or trillian
• Trilliant cut gems are brilliant like round-cut stones and are used for those who want something more modern.
• Diamonds with a trilliant cut have an equilateral shape, which gives off considerable reflection and color, most stones have 43 facets

Diamond Hue

• Hue refers to the dominant color of the diamond, which can be affected by modifiers or tints (additional hues)
• Diamonds can be a single color like pink, or have a secondary color
• A single color can have multiple modifiers listed ahead of the primary color in its description

Diamond Saturation

• Saturation refers to the strength or intensity of the main color
• Lighter tones range from light to intense to vivid; darker, dark to deep

Diamond Tone

• Tone refers to how light or dark the diamond appears
• This depends on how much brown, black, gray, or white is present

White Diamonds

• "White" is applied to colorless diamonds in the GIA D-to-Z color scale
• Diamonds in the D-to-Z range are not white at all and their hues range from colorless to light yellow, light brown, or gray
• Rarity and value depends on how closely diamonds approach colorless
• The more colorless, the more rare and expensive

Pink Diamonds

• Color variations include pink, purplish-pink, pink champagne, and brownish-pink
• The exact reason for their pink color is unknown
• Geologists speculate that it came from a deformation in the atomic structure of the Kimberley region in Australia
• They are known to represent creativity, femininity, love, and romance

Yellow Diamonds

• Color variations include canary yellow, brownish-yellow, greenish-yellow, orange-yellow
• Yellow color is from nitrogen in the stone's crystal structure, when nitrogen atoms are replaced with carbon atoms which react with light
• The yellow stone increases self-confidence and boosts creativity, as well as promoting joy, happiness, and prosperity

Blue Diamonds

• Color variations include blue, grayish-blue, greenish-blue, turquoise, and aquamarine
• Blue color is caused by the presence of boron atoms.
• The higher the concentration of boron, the higher the intensity of color
• Only one in 200,000 diamonds are blue
• Blue diamonds promote calmness and serenity, truth and purpose, and are associated with elegance and sophistication

Brown Diamonds

• Color variations include champagne, lightly tinted brown, cognac, chocolate, hazel, honey, and clove
• The internal parallel grain lines causes the color
• Its hue can be modified by distortions in the diamond lattice
• They connect to the earth, harmony and tradition, and express subtle elegance, while harmonizing within a relationship

Green Diamonds

• Color variations include grayish-green, yellowish-green, blueish-green, and brownish-green
• The green color comes from millions of years of exposure to radiation, though the green hue may be a result of hydrogen
• Green diamonds embody life, youth, vitality, balance, faith, and truth in loving and healthy relationships.

Orange Diamonds

• Color variations include reddish-orange, yellowish-orange, and brownish-orange
• The orange color is a combination of nitrogen and structural deformities
• Orange evokes boldness, creativity, and productivity and is linked to energy, self-respect, and success within relationships

Purple Diamonds

• Color variations include violet, pinkish-purple, and grayish-purple
• The purple color within diamonds is caused by internal grain formation and the presence of hydrogen
• It is a regal color representing nobility and luxury, so they are thought to bring their owner universal connections.

Red Diamonds

• Color variations include brownish-red, pinkish-red, and purplish-red
• The red color is caused by "plastic deformation" when there is a slipping/distortion of the atomic lattice
• They symbolize passion and inspire a lasting magic, as well as channel power, energy, and self-awareness

Black Diamonds

• Black diamonds do not have color variations
• White or gray inclusions make them very unique.
• Black color is caused many different graphite inclusions, though some stones have traces of nitrogen and hydrogen which can affect their color.
• They symbolize strength, inner power, and the ability to face any adversities.

Emerald Gemstones

• Emeralds are most highly valued gemstones behind diamonds and the rarest gemstones available.
• They are considered royalty and romance.
• Emeralds have a distinctive deep green color with natural inclusions
• It is May's birthstone and gifted on the 55th milestone anniversary
• The scientific name for emerald is natural beryl, with the green color attributed to chromium and vanadium.

Ruby Gemstones

• Ruby is the second most popular gemstone for colored stones with a deep red color
• Rubies are known scientifically as corundum, and derive their color from natural elements like chromium
• Rubies are typically mined from Madagascar, Nepal, Thailand, and Australia
• Rubies are most commonly used in jewelry, most commonly in right hand rings & earrings, and are popular as a 40th milestone anniversary

Sapphire Gemstones

• Sapphire, a hard crystallized substance known as corundum, comes in blue, pink, yellow, and white, although best known for their rich, deep royal blue color
• Sapphires are found in several regions around the world, and have become the most popular precious gemstone, behind diamonds
• Traces of titanium gives sapphires their blue color.
• Sapphires are mined from Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Kashmir, Thailand & Australia, which each produce a variety of colors

Alexandrite Gemstones

• Alexandrite is a rare gemstone that appears green or red depending on the light, also known as the "Alexandrite effect"

Ammolite Gemstones

• Ammolite is a rare gemstone unique to the Bearpaw Formation's geological deposit
• Gem-quality ammolite in commercial quantities is primarily found around the St. Mary River in southern Alberta
• Estimates suggest that there are only six to eight years of mining left

Tourmaline Gemstones

• Color is the defining characteristic of tourmaline
• Tourmaline's color is unique as it can occur in single or multiple colors in the same stone

Tanzanite Gemstones

• Tanzanite is a trichroic stone with different colors, ranging from light blues or lilacs to deep indigos and violets
• It was discovered in the 1960s and named after Tanzania by Tiffany & Co
• Tanzanite is rare because it can only be only be found and mined in a small region, four by two kilometers, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in the Manyara region of northern Tanzania

Opal Gemstones

• Opal is a popular gemstone and October's birthstone
• A precious opal can reflect every color of the spectrum with surpassing quality and intensity
• The best opals rival expensive diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds in price per carat

Garnet Gemstones

• Garnet's name originates from Latin granatus (seed) because it often resembles small round seeds in matrix rock
• Garnets occur in every color except blue, and are named for their varieties
• Pyrope garnets are purplish red, orangey red, crimson, or dark red
• Garnets form when temperatures and/or pressure is high and found in United States, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Myanmar, Scotland, Switzerland and Tanzania

Amethyst Gemstones

• Amethyst, a colorful quartz, has been one of the most prized gemstones for centuries
• The stone varies in color from no distinguishable color to light lavender, to a rich deep purple.
• According to ancient Greek mythology, this gemstone was said to have been dyed by the tears of the god Dionysus
• Purple in royal jewelry symbolizes royalty

Aquamarine Gemstones

• Aquamarine (sometimes with a green hue) is composed of the mineral beryl
• It is an extremely prized gem that can be used in jewelry
• Aquamarine has a clear ocean-like blue color
• Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and used traditionally for the 19th wedding anniversary

Pearl Gemstones

• Pearl is among the oldest, most desired and most spectacular gemstones
• Pearl forms organically in sea mollusks as part of the defense mechanism
• Available in different shapes, sizes and colors, pearls versatile design and fascinating history

Peridot Gemstones

• Peridot is a gem-quality magnesium-rich mineral with the the formula (MgFe)2 SiO4
• The yellow-green gemstone is found in the most unlikely places, often found in basalts due to its iron and magnesium
• This gemstone has been designated as August's birthstone and as the gemstone of a 15th wedding anniversary

Topaz Gemstones

• Topaz comes in many unique colors, including colorless, red, yellow, orange, blue, and green
• London blue topaz is known for its rich, sky-blue hue
• It is the birthstone for December, symbolizing peace, communication, and understanding

Citrine Gemstones

• Citrine, a yellow quartz, gets its name from the old French word for lemon.
• Its warm color is related with the sun and brightening up an autumnal month.
• Citrine has a history as a decorative gemstone.

Russalite Gemstones

• Russalite discovered in 1988 in the Siberian Mountains and mined only 3 months per year
• It is an all-natural, untreated gem that is vibrant and translucent
• Russalite gems require special cutting expertise, because only ~10% of the rough turns ends up polished
• Russalite's color comes from chromium, as with emeralds.

Gold Metals

• The higher the proportion of gold, the more valuable and expensive
  • 10KT gold contains 41.7% pure gold, (417 parts per thousand)
  • 14KT gold contains 58.5% pure gold, (585 parts per thousand)
  • 18KT gold contains 75% pure gold, (750 parts per thousand)

Sterling Silver Metals

• Sterling silver is a white-gray metal that's less expensive than gold, platinum, and titanium
• Silver is a softer metal that lacks the hardness of gold, titanium, and platinum
  • Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and is typically stamped as 925

Platinum Metals

• Platinum is 30 times rarer than gold, found mainly in South Africa and Russia, in addition to Zimbabwe, Canada and South America.
  • 950 platinum is usually stamped as either 950 or platinum, PT or plat.
  • 900 platinum is usually stamped as 900.

Titanium Metals

• Titanium is a strong, low-density, highly corrosion-resistant, and lustrous white element, and the hardest natural metal.
• Titanium is durable, used to alloy aircraft metals, and hypoallergenic
• Titanium is lightweight and shatterproof

Tungsten Metals

• Tungsten is a steel-gray metal with high strength and a high melting point
• Metallic tungsten is harder than alloys of gold and is hypoallergenic
• Particularly used for rings, where scratching is a concern, especially in brushed designs.

Stainless Steel Metals

• Contempary stainless steel contains chromium and/or nickel, and resists tarnish and rust
• It is an alternative to base metals for wearers of jewelry with sensitivity to copper or brass

Prongs

• Prongs can be single, double, triple, V-Prong/Chevron, and double decorative

Prong Quantity

• Quantities can be four (standard or diagonal), six, eight, or two (vertical or horizonal)

Jewelry Settings

• Several include French V-Split, channel, surface prong, pave, bar set, shared prong, bead bright, and bezel
• Also scallop, fishtail, and flush settings

Birthstones

• January: Garnet
• February: Amethyst
• March: Aquamarine
• April: Diamond
• May: Emerald
• June: Alexandrite
• July: Ruby
• August: Peridot
• September: Sapphire
• October: Tourmaline
• November: Topaz
• December: Tanzanite