A polished diamond’s beauty lies in its complex relationship with light. The magnificent display you see comprises three attributes: Brightness is the combination of all white light reflecting from the surface and interior of a diamond. Fire describes the “flares” of colour emitted from a diamond. Scintillation describes the pattern of light and dark areas and the sparkle you see when the diamond, the light, or the observer moves.

A diamond’s proportions affect its light performance, which in turn impacts its beauty and overall appeal. Diamonds with pleasing proportions, symmetry, and polish optimise their interaction with light and have increased brightness, fire, and scintillation.

Clarity

Because diamonds form under tremendous heat and pressure, it is extremely rare to find a diamond that lacks any internal and external characteristics. These characteristics are a by-product of its formation and help gemologists separate natural diamonds from synthetics and simulants, and identify individual stones.

Colour

Although many people think of gem-quality diamonds as colourless, truly colourless diamonds are actually very rare. Diamonds occur in a variety of colours- steel grey, white, blue, yellow, orange, red, green, pink purple, brown, and black. Coloured diamonds contain interstitial impurities or structural defects that cause colourisation; pure diamonds are perfectly transparent and colourless.

Carat

One carat equals 200 milligrams in weight.

For diamonds under one carat, each carat is divided into 100 points- similar to pennies in a dollar. 0.75 ct. = 75 points, ½ ct. = 50 points.