Cut refers to the proportions, polish and symmetry that determine how well a diamond’s facets interact with light. It is not the stone's shape (like round or pear) which refers to shape. The cut is evaluated on a scale from Excellent to Poor based on seven components including brightness, fire (flashes of color), and scintillation (sparkle).

A well-cut diamond reflects light internally from one facet to another and then disperses it through the top. If cut too deep or shallow, light leaks through the bottom, making the stone appear "dead" or dull.

In white diamonds, "Color" actually measures the absence of color. Diamonds are graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (noticeably yellow or brown). Most shoppers choose between D and J.

D–F (Colorless): The rarest and most icy-white

G–J (Near Colorless): Appear colorless to the naked eye but are more affordable

K–Z (Faint to Light): Show increasing yellow or brown tints

Clarity measures the internal "natural inclusions" and surface "blemishes" created during a diamond’s natural formation under extreme heat and pressure. This 11-grade scale used by diamond grading labs range from Flawless (FL) to Included (I3).

FL/IF: No inclusions visible under 10x magnification.

VVS/VS: "Eye-clean" diamonds where imperfections are microscopic.

SI/I: Inclusions may be visible to the unaided eye.

Carat is the metric unit of weight for diamonds, not their physical dimensions. Each carat is divided into 100 "points" (e.g., a 0.50ct diamond is a 50-pointer).

Larger diamonds are significantly rarer, so the price of a diamond increases exponentially (not linearly) as it moves into higher carat weights.