diamond
essentials

How to choose a diamond? Here is a basic guide on what to look for, and why quality and price vary widely. We invite you to visit our stores for more in-depth and experiential information. Ask any one of us about diamonds. It’s our favorite subject.

  • Carat Weight

    This is the standard measurement for diamond weight. It is the most obvious of all the variables. Diamond weight is measured in carats. There are about 142 carats to an ounce, with each carat divided into 100 points. While there is a certain attraction to size, it is the least important in the determination of the brilliance and beauty of a diamond.

  • Clarity

    Clarity, like color, is determined by nature. Clarity refers to tiny marks, called inclusions, which exist in almost all diamonds. The size, location, type and number of such markings compared with that of the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) clarity scale grades each diamond. Diamonds near flawless are rare.

    GIA CLARITY SCALE
    (under 10x magnification)

    FL: Flawless
    IF: Internally Flawless
    VVS1, VVS2: Very Very Slight Inclusions
    VS1, VS2: Very Slight Inclusions
    SI1, SI2: Slight Inclusions
    I1, I2, I3: Imperfect

  • Color

    The color of a diamond is determined by nature. Truly colorless diamonds are very rare. Most diamonds used in jewelry are nearly colorless with tints of yellow or brown. Since the O.C. Tanner Grace Diamond is the result of exceptional cutting, the color will be optimized, resulting in exceptional brilliance and beauty – this diamond will always be found between the D and I color.

    GIA COLOR SCALE

    D–F: Colorless
    G–J: Near Colorless
    K–M: Faint
    N–R: Very Light
    S–Z: Light

  • Cut

    A polished diamond's beauty lies in its complex relationship with light: how light strikes the surface, how much enters the diamond, and how, and in what form light will "leak out" through the sides or bottom of the diamond.

    The precise cut guarantees you a sensational balance of brilliance, scintillation and brightness. Every O.C. Tanner Grace Diamond has a depth percentage between 59.0% and 61.5%, which grants the diamond its brilliance and causes it to appear larger, rather than deeper.