The cut of a diamond is key to its brilliance, often called its "fire"—the captivating sparkle from light reflection. While the cut quality affects how light is captured, different cuts create unique visual effects. A round cut maximizes brilliance, while an emerald cut highlights depth and clarity with broad, mirror-like flashes. Ultimately, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The less colour a diamond has, the rarer and more valuable it is. The colour scale starts at D (completely colourless) and goes down to Z (light colour). Even slight colour differences can impact a diamond’s beauty and value. Diamonds in the D-F range are considered the most precious and sought after, while those with more colour can still offer stunning beauty at a more accessible price point.

Clarity measures a diamond by assessing internal inclusions and blemishes. The fewer inclusions, the clearer and more valuable the diamond. Clarity is graded from “Flawless” (no visible inclusions under 10x magnification) to “Included” (internal features visible to the naked eye). Higher clarity diamonds, (“Internally Flawless” or “VVS”) are highly prized for their exceptional purity.

Carat weight is the standard unit for measuring a diamond’s weight, with one carat equaling 0.20 grams, further divided into 100 points for precision. While carat weight is an important factor, it doesn’t solely determine a diamond’s value; the overall appearance of the diamond also depends on its cut, clarity, and colour.