Diamond weight is measured in Carats (cts.) Every carat is divided into 100 points. A fifty-point (0.50) diamond equals half a carat.
Carat weight has not always been standard. In earlier times, each country defined its own carat weight. Then in the beginning of the 20th century, many countries agreed to accept the International Standards Metric Carat. Today, one carat equals 1/5 of a gram.
IS BIGGER DIAMOND BETTER ? 
Generally speaking, the larger the stone, the rarer and the more expensive is the diamond. But there is no common equation for determining price.
For example, a one-carat diamond does not cost twice as much as a 1/2 carat diamond. The fact is, a one-carat diamond may cost four or five times as much as a 1/2 carat stone of equal quality.
But if you buy a diamond just for its size and weight, you may be sacrificing cut. A poor cut may leave on extra material to save weight, but the diamond has lost its ability to maximize the reflection and refraction of light.
Although size may be the obvious variable to many of you, it may be the least important in determining value.
Diamond Shapes
Round
A Round or (Brilliant) Cut is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have especial brilliancy. The shape resembles that of a cone and is meant to maximize light return through the top of the diamond. The beauty of this cut is why many high profile celebrities, including Barbara Streisand, Christina Aguilera, Scarlett Johansson and Pamela Anderson, have all opted for round engagement rings.
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Even with modern techniques, the cutting and polishing of a diamond crystal always results in a dramatic loss of weight; rarely is it less than 50%. The round brilliant cut is preferred when the crystal is an octahedron, as often two stones may be cut from one such crystal. Oddly shaped crystals such as macles are more likely to be cut in a fancy cut —that is, a cut other than the round brilliant — which the particular crystal shape lends itself to.
The modern round brilliant consists of 58 facets (or 57 if the culet is excluded), ordinarily today cut in two pyramids placed base to base: 33 on the crown (the top half above the middle or girdle of the stone), truncated comparatively near its base by the table, and 25 on the pavilion (the lower half below the girdle), which has only the apex cut off to form the culet, around which 8 extra facets are sometimes added. In recent decades, most girdles are faceted. Many girdles have 32, 64, 80, or 96 facets; these facets are not counted in the total. While the facet count is standard, the actual proportions (crown height and angle, pavilion depth, etc.) are not universally agreed upon. One may speak of the American cut or the Scandinavian standard (Scan. D.N.), to give but two examples.
Pear
Since the cut was created in the 1400s, Pear shaped engagement rings have been capturing hearts and bringing pleasure to those who wear them. Today pear shaped diamond engagement rings have adorned the fingers of many of the most beautiful young celebrities including Anna Kournikova and Jessica Simpson.
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First established in 1458 by Flemish polisher Lodewyk van Berquem, the pear shaped diamond was the culmination of two of his great inventions: the introduction of perfect symmetry into facet arrangement and the scaif, a specialised wheel to polish diamonds.
The placement of the facets, or cut edges, allowed the maximum amount of reflection and refraction to be admitted from the stone. Jewellers at the time were not impressed because it wasted a significant portion of the rough diamond, but customers were drawn to its brilliance and sparkle, as well its' uniquely feminine and pretty tear-shape. Still, it is able to yield up to 50 percent more than the brilliant round cut which is the most popular of modern cuts.
Undeniably the most famous pear cut diamond given in the name of love though was the 69.42 carat stone presented to Elizabeth Taylor by beau Richard Burton. It was never made into a pear cut diamond engagement ring, just kept as the stone. The incredible Taylor-Burton diamond was sold by Taylor after Burton's death for $2.8 million to raise money for charity.
Emerald
The Emerald Cut is rectangular with cut corners. It is a step cut as opposed to a brilliant cut. The facets are broad with flat planes resembling the steps of a stair. That's why it is refered to as a "step" cut. Unlike the Marquise brilliant, there is no bow-tie effect on an Emerald cut.
It is better to go for higher quality Emeralds, because both inclusions and lower color are more noticeable in Emeralds than in other cuts. we recommend selecting a clarity level of SI1 or higher when choosing an emerald diamond.
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Celebrities who have received Emerald Diamonds:
- Melania Trump
- Nicole Richie
- Paris Hilton
- Camilla Bowles
Marquise
If you are looking for a diamond cut that will stand out in the crowd and be easily noticed, consider the Marquise cut diamond. The marquise cut diamond is considered a fancy shape by most standards and buyers. The marquise cut diamond can be characterized as a boat shaped brilliant stone.
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A marquise is a French noblewoman ranking above a countess and below a duchess, and is usually the wife of a marquis. The British equivalent is a marchioness and the Spanish equivalent is a marques (marquesa if female).
The name "Marquise" came from a legend of the Marquise of Pompadour that Louis the 14th (the "Sun King") wanted a Diamond to be polished into the shape of the mouth of the Marquise! The typical Marquise Brilliant contains 56 facets.
Oval
The Oval Diamond has beautiful brilliance that's similar to a round diamond. Oval diamonds are also very popular as their length can accentuate long, slender fingers. The history of the brilliant-cut oval diamond is relatively easy to track because it is a relatively young shape. Created by Lazare Kaplan in the late 1950s -early 1960s, the oval brilliant cut is an elipitical variation of the more common round brilliant.
The modern oval cut is a fiery diamond that reflects light brilliantly. It's a wonderful selection for someone who loves the sparkle of the round brilliant, but desires a less common shape.
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Celebrities who have received Oval Diamonds:
- Gwen Stefani
- Heidi Klum
- Katie Holmes
- Victoria Beckham
Princess
The Princess Cut is the second most popular cut shape for diamonds, next to a round brilliant. The top of the diamond is cut in a square or rectangular shape and the overall shape is similar to that of an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides. The princess cut is a relatively new diamond cut, having been created in the 1960s. A princess cut with the same width as the diameter of a round brilliant will weigh more as it would have four corners which would have been cut off and rounded to form a round brilliant. Sometimes referred to as a square modified brilliant, the Princess Cut finds Trisha Yearwood among celebrities who selected this shape for their engagement ring. It combines the brilliance of a round cut with an overall square or rectangular appearance.
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The square princess cut diamond is usually slightly cheaper than round brilliant cut diamonds of the same carat weight because it retains about 80% of the rough diamond, as opposed to the round brilliant which retains only about 50% of the rough. The ability to retain more crystal weight makes this shape popular amongst diamond cutters.
The Princess Cut was originally created by Arpad Nagy a London cutter in 1961, later became more popular by Ygal Perlman, Betzalel Ambar, and Israel Itzkowitz in Israel in 1979. Three years of optical research yielded a square stone with faceting similar to that of a round brilliant cut diamond.
Heart
The Heart Shaped Brilliant bears some similarity to the Pear Shape, except that there is a cleft at the top. In fact, often the reason cutters may choose a Heart shape over a Pear may be that the Rough Diamond contained an inclusion located in the cleft. The skill of the cutter can make a great difference in the beauty of this cut. The "Shape Appeal" is especially important with Hearts.
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Living up to its name, the heart-cut diamond has become synonymous with love and affection, making it an excellent choice for an anniversary or engagement ring.
Cushion
The "Cushion cut" diamond style is a diamond shape that had been the most popular cut of diamond in the days prior to modern electric lighting. First created in the 19th century, around 1830, the cushion cut diamond shape was cut and polished in a time when such techniques had to be preformed by hand. With its rounded corners, squared shape, and large faceted culet, the cushion cut lost popularity around the beginning of the 20th century. Nevertheless, under candlelight, its old world and antique charm, brought out by its look of great depth, still make it a cut of high and desirable quality. Today this type of diamond is seeing resurgence in popularity due to the use of modern techniques to cut and polish for such a romantic shape.
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It is called "cushion cut" due to having the culet, or the bottom of the diamond, being cut as another facet. The large size of the culet in cushion cut diamonds is due to the fact that cushion cuts were cut and polished to give a great depth to the look of the diamond. Square or rectangular in shape, this type of faceting of the culet for such depth is designed for viewing by soft lighting such as candlelight. It is for this reason that the cushion cut is also known as the Candlelight diamond.
The cushion cut is a cross between the Old Miner Cut and the modern Oval cut of diamond. The square to rectangular shape of this deep cut of diamond should have a length to width ratio of typically 1.0 to 1.5. The modern cushion cut typically has 58 facets to help give a greater display of scintillation when seen under modern lighting. There are no set proportions for an ideal cut with the cushion cut. The cushion cut melds the traditional and the modern and attracts those with the same melding within their own personalities.
Celebrities who have received Emerald Diamonds:
Asscher
The Asscher Cut Diamond Company (Dutch: Koninklijke Asscher Diamant Maatschappij) was founded in 1854 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and still stands at Tolstraat 127.
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Royal Asscher is responsible for cutting some of the most famous diamonds in the world. The company is still owned by the Asscher family, a renowned diamond dynasty with a 155 year old legacy. In 1980 Royal Asscher were bestowed with the honour of a Royal Prefix from Queen Juliana of Holland in recognition of the company's stature in both Holland and across the world.
Royal Asscher has unrivalled gravitas and an exclusive clientele of international royalty and celebrities. The company keeps a Golden Book of visitors; which includes Japan’s Emperor Hirohito, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands. Celebrity interest in the brand has led to Royal Asscher Collections becoming increasingly popular on the red carpet; the Royal Asscher Cut was also featured in the popular US Television Series "Sex and the City"
Celebrities who have received Emerald Diamonds:
- Kate Hudson's
- Elizabeth Hurley
Diamond Certification
A Diamond Certificate, also called a diamond grading report, is a report created by a team of gemologists. The diamond is evaluated, measured, and scrutinized using trained eyes, a jeweler’s loupe, a microscope, and other industry tools. A completed certificate includes an analysis of the diamond’s dimensions, clarity, color, polish, symmetry, and other characteristics. Many round diamonds will also include a cut grade on the report.
Every loose diamond sold by Atlanta Diamond Broker are Certified.These four laboratories are among the most respected laboratories in the diamond industry. your Diamond comes with original Certificate In addition to being graded by either the GIA, EGL, AGS, HRD we will provide you an Appraisal. any qustion please call 888-90-Diamond.
GIA
http://www.gia.edu/
Contact the Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
5355 Armada Drive
Carlsbad, California 92008
Toll-Free: 800-421-7250
Phone: 760-603-4500
Fax: 760-603-1814
EGL USA
http://www.eglusa.com/
Contact the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL)
6 West 48th Street
New York, New York 10036
Phone: 212-730-7380
Fax: 212-842-5180
AGS
http://www.agslab.com/
Contact the American Gem Society (AGS)
8917 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada 89117
Phone: 702-233-6120
Fax: 702-233-6125
HRD
http://www.hrdantwerplink.be/
Contact the Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD)
Hoveniersstraat 22
BE-2018 Antwerp
Belgium
Phone: +32 (0)3 222 06 11
Fax: +32 (0)3 222 06 99
What is a Diamond?
A DIAMOND is pure carbon. As a result of tremendous heat and pressure, the carbon has been crystallized. Amazingly, the only difference between the lead in your pencil and a diamond is the arrangement of the atoms. So what make this transparent, crystallized stone so universally valued?
Diamonds consist of pure carbon compressed into a tight, isometric crystalline form. They are considered the hardest substance on the earth. Brilliant diamonds have a high index of refraction. Light entering a cleaved, or cut, diamond from the top may also eventually exit from the top. This gives a false notion of internal sparkle. Colored flashes of light occur in a “fiery” diamond when light is separated into colors.
DIAMONDS ARE RARE
Diamonds aren't the scarcest mineral on the gem quality, with the diamonds must meet strict standards for color and clarity.
Four reasons that diamonds are so highly' valued are:
- Diamonds are very rare,
- They are extremely hard,
- They are beautiful, and…
- They have become the universal symbol of love and commitment.
DIAMONDS ARE THE HARDEST SUBSTANCE KNOWN
On the scientific scale used to measure the physical properties of substances, diamonds are the hardest substance known. For diamond owners, this can be a significant feature.
The formation of diamonds began millions, maybe even billions of years ago, when carbon crystallized by the tremendous heat and pressure within the depths of the earth. Formed within the magma, which is the molten material within the earth's crust, diamonds were forced upward to the surface when volcanic eruptions occurred. As volcanic activity subsided and the magma cooled, diamonds remained, encased in the kimberlitic.
A HISTORY OF MAGIC
As long ago as 3000 years, a person observed that the stone we call diamond was uniquely different from all other stones. From the moment of that discovery, the diamond has inspired awe, worship and greed.
Both in our historical records and in our art masterpieces, we find substantial evidence that diamonds have been highly valued for centuries. They have been used in the crowns of royalty, as gifts to the parents of brides-to-be, and as captured riches when one king defeated another.
Throughout history, magical powers have been attributed to diamonds. People have believed that they cure diseases, avert calamity and ward off evil spirits.
The people of India were the first to recognize the value of diamonds in 800 B.C. Initially, they did not wear them as jewelry but as talismans, to avert evil or render the wearer invincible. In the first and second centuries A.D., Romans wore diamond crystals set in gold rings as protection rather than as jewelry.
HIGHLY VALUED
We find in the history of India the first reference to people placing value on diamonds. When diamond mines were discovered in Brazil during the 18th century, diamonds became available to more than the very wealthy.
THE ORIGINS OF CUTTING
Early diamonds were left uncut because the alteration of the stone was believed to destroy its magical properties. Although there was a ban on cutting them, diamond cutting originated in India around the 14th Century.
Learn more about diamonds and GIA Diamond Grading Reports
How to read a Diamond Report
