DIAMOND
Diamonds are a natural material composed of carbon. They are among the hardest naturally occurring elements. Nearly 50% of the world's diamonds originate from mines in Africa. A diamond extracted from the earth resembles sea glass or plastic, and it is not until the stone is properly cut that it achieves radiance.

CARAT WEIGHT
One of the 4 C's of the International Diamond Grading System. Carats are the universal system of weight for all gemstones. One carat is 200 milligrams, where .01 carat is equal to 2mg. Because small diamonds are more plentiful than large stones, the price of diamonds increases as its carat weight goes up, although this does not happen exponentially. The price of diamonds is based on a combination of aspects, the size only being one consideration. It is important to consider the purpose of the diamond when deciding on its carat weight. A diamond that looks large on one hand may look too small when placed on the hand of a larger person.

CLARITY
One of the 4Cs of the International Diamond Grading System. The number of inclusions greatly affects the clarity grade of a diamond. It is noted how many inclusions are present, their location, size and type. While some inclusions may reduce the brilliance of a diamond, others compromise the structural durability. GIA grades the clarity of diamonds on a five-point scale from flawless, which is extremely rare, to imperfect.

COLOR
One of the 4Cs of the International Diamond Grading System. The color of diamonds is rated on a scale from D-Z, with D-F appearing almost colorless and at the highest price. Lower on the color scale, diamonds rated G-K come at a lower price and, to the untrained eye, appear as colorless as D-F. At the extreme end are fancy yellow diamonds, which carry a hue throughout.

CROWN
The entire top of a diamond, including the table. This portion of the diamond is the most visible when placed into a setting.

CULET
The pointed bottom of a cut diamond. Cutlets that are too large cause the appearance of a hole at the bottom of a diamond due to loss of light.

CUT
One of the 4Cs of the International Diamond Grading System. The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance and fire. The facets of a cut diamond are calculated to allow for the maximum reflexivity of light. A poorly cut diamond will appear dull, with no luster or fire. The GIA grades cut on a five-point scale: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor.

DEPTH
The length of the diamond from table to cutlet. If the depth is too long or narrow, a diamond will lose light refraction and brilliance. While this is an important consideration in grading diamonds, depth is a continuum of cut. If a diamond is cut well, flaws due to depth can be prevented.

EGL
European Gemological Laboratory. The EGL issues certificates rating diamonds and gemstones based on internationally accepted standards. For more information on their practice, go to the following link: http://www.eglusa.com/

ENGRAVING
Engraving is done on the metal surface of a gem setting. It is a very personalized process and can add special meaning to a piece. Click here for more on our engraving services.

FACET
The flat, polished surfaces of a diamond. For example, a round brilliant diamond has 58 facets, including the culet.

FIRE
The refraction of light within a diamond that causes color; essentially what makes a diamond sparkle. A stone that is cut to exact proportions achieves strong fire.

GEMSTONE
A naturally occurring mineral or rock that when cut and polished exhibits colorful, brilliant qualities. Gemstones are categorized into precious stones (diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires) and semi-precious (all others). A gemstone categorized as precious is more rare and therefore costs more.

GIA
The Gemological Institute of America. The GIA is the world's largest and most respected institute for grading diamonds. They are responsible for the development of the 4Cs that have become the International Diamond Grading System; color, cut, clarity and carat. The Institute also issues the GIA Diamond Grading Report and the GIA Diamond Dossier. For more information on their practice, go to the following link: http://www.gia.edu/

GRIDLE
The outer edge of a diamond that connects the pavilion to the crown. A girdle is needed to prevent the diamond from chipping in its setting.

INCLUSION
An internal defect in a diamond. It can appear as a foreign object or blemish inside the diamond. See Clarity.

INTERNATIONAL DIAMOND GRADING SYSTEM
Developed by the GIA, the International Diamond Grading System rates diamonds based on cut, color, clarity, and carat; also known as the 4Cs.

ISRAELI DIAMOND EXCHANGE
Melees: medium grade diamonds which often require a great deal of effort to cut.

Pavilion: Lower portion of a diamond, running from the girdle to the culet. It can take the shape of an inverted pyramid.

Platinum: A metal more precious than gold. There has been resurgence in the use of platinum recently due to its durability, brilliant silver color, and rarity. Before WWII, platinum was a very popular choice among the wealthy. During the war, it became almost impossible to find due to its use in the war effort. To give platinum settings an antique look, they can undergo shank engraving. Settings made of platinum bear a small stamp indicating the percentage of platinum. For example, "900 Plat" contains 90% platinum alloyed (combined) with 10% of other metals for added strength. Platinum is whiter in color than white gold, and 60% than gold.

Polish: A well-polished diamond will have an added amount of sparkle. The GIA grades polish on a five-point scale: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. When buying a diamond with clarity VS1 or below, polish affects the stone very little. In a flawless diamond, excellent polish, without any grain lines or cloudiness visible, is crucial.

Shape: The form that a diamond is cut into. It is often mistaken for cut.

Symmetry: The symmetry of a diamond is an important component of the cut stone. In an effort to avoid inclusions or achieve the highest carat weight for a stone, a diamond cutter may sacrifice some symmetry. This includes adding extra facets, cutting a diamond with an off- center table or cutlet, and variations in the thickness of the girdle. The GIA rates symmetry on a five-point scale: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor.

Table: The top of a cut diamond where the largest, polished surface area is exposed.

White Gold: White gold has the same characteristics as yellow gold, but is alloyed (combined) with metals that change the appearance to a silver luster.

Yellow Gold: A valuable metal used in the manufacturing of jewelry and gem settings. Gold is measured in carats (k)- 24k being pure gold, which is too soft to use in jewelry. Gold is alloyed (combined) with other metals, such as silver and copper, to make it stronger and more suitable for everyday use. 18k and 14k gold are the most common for jewelry and gem settings. Settings made of gold will bear the stamp of the manufacturer and a number indicating the number of carats.