A diamond is a pure or nearly pure carbon, with three extraordinary qualities.
First, a diamond owns unique powers of light reflection. When cut to proper proportions, it gathers light within itself and sends it back in a shower of fire and brilliance.
Second, it's the only gem mineral composed of a single unadulterated element, making it the purest of earth's gemstones.
Third, it is the hardest of transparent substance known to man. However due to its unique internal structure, if subjected to an impact, a diamond may sustain damage.
It is fitting that the purest and most brilliant of all the world's stones should also be the most enduring. These qualities make the diamond engagement ring the perfect symbol of engagement.
Cut determines the fire and brilliance of a diamond. In order to maximise this fire and brilliance, the diamond cutter must place each of the stones' facets and angles, which act as light dispersing mirrors inexact geometric relation to one or other. It is a painstaking procedure requiring the patience and precision of a surgeon.
On a classic round brilliant-cut diamond, for instance, fifty-even or fifty-eight facets must be aligned. Diamonds2u uses the most skilled and experienced diamond cutters in the world to bring out the stone's beauty.
Diamonds2u makes no compromise in this crucial area. Our customers are offered only those diamonds cut to proper proportions. That's why, even across a crowded room, you will always notice the extraordinary brilliance of a Diamonds2u diamond engagement ring.
Clarity refers to the quantity, size, position, nature, colour and release of inclusions in a diamond. Though a diamond is said to be "flawless" if no inclusions or superficial blemishes can be seen under a standard 10-power jeweller's loupe, truly flawless diamonds are extremely rare. It is possible to find in nearly all diamonds the minute crystals, feathers and clouds that are called inclusions.
At Diamonds2u, a diamond solitaire must achieve a clarity rating of at least VS. This is an exceptionally clean stone. Diamonds2u stringently hold these standards to each and every diamond.
Colour quality is critical because usually the more colourless the diamond, the greater its rarity and value. A single increase in colour grade can boost a diamonds value by thousands of pounds, depending on the stone's size.
Although many diamonds may appear colourless to the untrained eye, the majority contain very slight traces of yellow, brown and grey.
Diamond2u diamonds are colour graded to the standards of either the Gemological Institute of America or the European Gemological Laboratory and certified as such in the GIA / EGL certificate that accompanies every diamond we sell.
It should also be noted that diamonds also occur by rare accidents of nature in shades and intensities of yellow, pink, blue, green and red. While these fancy coloured diamonds are very special, the traditional engagement diamond is colourless.
A "carat" is the gemologist's standard measure of a diamonds weight, not size.
It is important to note that size alone is almost meaningless unless you consider cut, clarity and colour. A large stone holds little value if it lacks brilliance, purity and high-grade colour. A large stone holds little value if it lacks brilliance, purity and high grade colour. However size does increase the value of a good quality diamond for the simple reason that large stones are rarer than small ones.
Bear in mind that no two diamonds are exactly alike, and at Diamonds2u we have structured our request form to allow you to select - cut, clarity, colour and carat weight - the best combination for your diamond.
Fluorescence is the effect whereby invisible ultraviolet light is transformed into visible light. Some stones light up spectacularly in the dark when irradiated by long-wave ultraviolet light. The colour of the fluorescence is usually blue, but other colours are possible too.
Normal daylight contains a certain amount of UV-light, and therefore the fluorescence can influence the colour of the stone. The degree of fluorescence is determined by comparing the diamond to a series of masterstones under long-wave UV-light (wavelength 366 nm). The fluorescence grades are: nil, slight, medium and strong. The colour of the fluorescence is not mentioned on a certificate.