The shape refers to the appearance of the stone. In other words which shape the diamond is cut in, in contrast to the quality of the specific cut.

Traditionally round brilliant diamonds are the most popular but First Diamonds offers a wide range of diamond shapes including a range of patented diamond cuts.

Diamonds are sold by the carat which is actually a unit of weight, though most think of a carat in terms of size. As the carat size of a diamond increases, the diamond’s price increases at an increasing rate. Why? Because the larger the diamond, the more increasingly rare it is. Fewer than one in one million mined rough stones are large enough to produce a finished 1 carat diamond.

Colour is a fundamental attribute of a diamond and colour grade is based on how colourless or “white” a stone appears. The colour scale goes from white to more yellow and finally brown. Then again, the untrained will detect little variation in the D – J range. For this reason, slightly lower grades provide better value for money as the difference is not as apparent.If a stone is graded K and below in colour it alters in colour. Any diamonds graded K and below are usually slightly tainted.

The Clarity of a Diamonds is determined by the size, number position, and nature of the inclusions, or internal characteristics of a stone.The fewer inclusions or blemishes there are in or on the diamond, the higher the clarity grade and therefore value. The type of inclusions that affect the clarity can include scratches, blemishes, and pockets of air or non-diamond material inside or on the surface of a stone.

Cut refers not to a diamond’s shape (e.g. round, oval, pear, etc.) but to a diamond’s proportions, symmetry and polish. The beauty of a diamond depends more on cut than any other factor. Though extremely difficult to analyze and quantify, diamond cut has three primary effects on appearance: brilliance.