Diamond Buying Guide
Natural Diamonds
Natural diamonds form deep within the Earth under extreme conditions of heat and pressure. They are comprised of nearly 99.95% carbon, with the other 0.05% reflecting trace elements that aren't part of their essential chemistry — making diamond the only gemstone constructed of a single element. They are the hardest naturally occurring material found on Earth and one of the most sought-after.
Lab Diamonds
Lab diamonds are optically, chemically, and physically the same as natural diamonds. In other words, they look, feel, and are identical. Their difference lies only in their origins — natural diamonds form within the Earth, and lab diamonds are grown by professionals with specialized equipment. Another difference relates to cost; as lab grown diamonds are less rare than natural diamonds, they often come at a much more accessible price.
4 C's of Diamonds
If you're wondering what to look for in a diamond, the best place to begin is by understanding the 4 C's: cut, color, clarity, and carat. Created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the 1940s, the 4 C's act as a universal scale to describe and determine the quality of diamonds.
Color
White diamonds occur in a variety of shades from warm whites to hints of yellow. The closer a diamond is to colourless (Grade D) the rarer it is considered.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the rarity and purity of a diamond. Invisible to the naked eye, inclusions or marks which are formed in its remarkable journey through the earth will influence the way light is reflected and refracted. Diamonds with fewer of these characteristics are deemed to have a higher clarity. At INTOU we only select diamonds from FL to VS.
Cut
A INTOU Diamond is selected by eye to find the perfect alignment of facets and angles, the cut determines how a diamond reflects, refracts and disperses light. This not only represents the quality of a diamond but results in its ultimate sparkle.
Carat
One diamond carat is equal to 200 milligrams, yet carat alone does not determine a diamond"s value as the cut, colour & clarity together give a diamond it's rarity and brilliance. INTOU Diamonds are cut to give the ultimate sparkle, not carat weight.
Diamond Certification
Many diamonds, including all INTOU diamonds, are certified by independent institutions such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the International Gemological Institute (IGI), HRD Antwerp, and the Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL). To grade a diamond, trained professionals use specialized equipment to assess cut, color, clarity, and carat. They may also plot a diagram of its clarity characteristics and graphic representation of its proportions. Certifications may also include notes on symmetry, polish, fluorescence, shape, or measurements.
Certifications are essential as they detail not only the quality characteristics of your stone but also its authenticity. During the certification process, most diamonds are laser inscribed with a unique number that correlates to the number on its certification — meaning that, under magnification, you'll always be able to visually confirm that the diamond you have is the same one that was certified. We digitally deliver to customers with their purchase. Providing digital certifications in lieu of paper certifications decreases our paper use, the size of our packaging, and our shipping emissions, therefore reducing our carbon footprint.
Diamond Shape
Shape refers to the external appearance of a diamond's outline. It is distinct from cut, which refers to a diamond's internal facet arrangement. The most popular shape is round, and any other shape (such as emerald, marquise, or oval) is considered a 'fancy shape.'
Diamond Fluorescence
Diamond fluorescence refers to the effect that ultraviolet (UV) light has on a diamond. It is graded on the intensity of the diamond's reaction to long-wave UV, which is an integral part of daylight. Fluorescence may cause diamonds to emit a blue or yellow glow under UV light, but it does not have a noticeable effect on diamond appearance under regular lighting, nor does it affect the structural integrity of the stone.
How to Buy Diamonds
1. Study up on the 4 C's. To find the best diamond for you, learn to balance the 4 C's with your budget. If you're looking for a high-carat stone, you may have to sacrifice cut, color, or clarity to keep it affordable. Or vice versa, if you're looking for a colorless stone, you may have to sacrifice carat, cut, or clarity. And remember, no two diamonds are identical, and there's no right answer to how a diamond should look.
2.Pick your favorite shape. Whileround brilliant diamondsare the most popular, remember that there are many other shapes to choose from. Here at Brilliant Earth, we offer eight shapes in addition to round:oval,cushion,princess,radiant,emerald,marquise,pear, andasscher.
3.Make sure that it's certified. Your diamond must come with a digital or physical certification from an independent institution such as GIA, IGI, HRD, or GCAL to prove its authenticity and quality. All Brilliant Earth diamonds are certified, and any other diamond you're considering purchasing should be, too.
At Brilliant Earth, we're proud to offer our customers an incredible assortment of sustainable and ethical diamonds — in all shapes and sizes — so we suggest using our filters to navigate our diamond searches best. Once you've determined the shape and 4 C's you're hoping for, filter away to narrow it down to the perfect piece.
Our experts are also available 24/7via chat, phone, text, and email to assist with questions big and small. If you're interested in viewing diamonds in person, schedule an appointment and come see us.