Diamond Terms & Terminology: Key Patterns, Words, & Descriptions

Like any other industry, the diamond world is a world of its own and, therefore, requires a certain amount of knowledge in order to make one’s way around the various vendors, dealers, and jewelers without getting completely lost. Some, but not all, individuals who venture into the diamond world are aware of the famous 4Cs: cut, clarity, color, and carat. However, though this concept is crucial for understanding diamonds, it is far from being the only term one should become acquainted with. We have, therefore, compiled a collection of diamond terms and terminology that will help you navigate yourself as you search for the perfect diamond. Take a look at this little diamond glossary and take note, as these words can assist you greatly now and in the future.

Yellow diamonds within the field of rocks

A:

Abrasion 

B:

Baguette 

Blemish 

Brilliance 

Brilliance refers to the unique display of light reflected from a diamond. It is determined based on the overall level of a diamonds’ light return.

Brilliant Cut 

C:

Carat Weight 

Cavity 

A cavity, like its name implies, refers to an isolated break in a diamond’s surface.

Chip 

A chip refers to a shallow surface break on a diamond or gemstone.

Clarity Grade 

A clarity grade refers to how clean the stone is of defects. Clarity is one of the 4Cs, along with cut, color, and carat. This particular grade looks at the purity of the stone and takes into account any and all blemishes. It ranges from FL (Flawless) to I (Included). Read more about diamond clarity.

Crown 

A crown refers to a part of a faceted diamond or colored gemstone above the girdle.

Culet

A culet is the small facet on the tip of a diamond or gemstone that comes in place of the sharp point that would normally be at the tip of the pavilion. Some diamonds do not have a culet at all while others can have an extremely large culet, which is basically an extended, flat surface.

D:

Diamond

A diamond is a mineral that has crystalized in the cubic system and ranks 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Diamonds are divided into two main categories: Type I and Type II.

Durability

The durability of a diamond or gemstone refers to a combination of things. This includes the hardness, stability, and toughness of the stone. It is ultimately the best way to determine how a stone will respond to intense wear.

E:

Emerald-Cut

Emerald cut is a specific cut, used often for emeralds, but for other stones including diamonds as well. It is a rectangular shape with cut corners. It incorporates triangular and trapezoidal facets.

Emeralds 

Not to be confused with emerald cut diamonds, emeralds are their own unique type of gemstone.

Eye Clean 

Will not be able to determine inclusions or diamond imperfections with your naked eye.

EX-EX-EX 

This term refers to the cut of the diamond when it is graded with an excellent cut, and excellent polish, and and excellent symmetry.

F:

Facet

A facet is a small flat surface that is polished on a diamond or gemstone.

Fancy Color 

Most diamonds are colorless (void of color.) Fancy Color refers to diamonds that display a unique color which is created by the compound elements of the stone. Fancy Color diamonds are all diamonds of color.

Fancy Cut 

Although the round cut is the most popular shape for diamonds and some gemstones, and is on the more expensive side compared to other shapes, all shapes other than round are considered Fancy Cuts.

Feather 

A feather is a type of fracture in a diamond or colored gemstone that breaks the surface. It is one of the many types of inclusions that will affect the clarity grade of a stone.

Fire 

Fire is the appearance of a rainbow or some color in a diamond or colored gemstone. This phenomenon is caused by the dispersion of color and light in the stone.

Fisheye

The term Fisheye, is used to refer to stones that have a black dot in the center due to the reflection of light between the facets.

FL (Flawless) Grade 

This is the ultimate clarity grade, meaning it is void of any imperfections. Very few stones receive this grade and those that do are priced accordingly.

Fluorescence 

This is a phenomenon that some diamonds, colored gemstones, and pearls display as a result of being exposed to higher energy wavelengths. Visible light is showcased from the stone. Some diamonds do not have any fluorescence at all while others emit strong fluorescence.

Fracture Filling 

Fracture filling is a type of treatment a stone can receive in order to enhance it. Fractures are synthetically filled thus perfecting the stone.

G:

Gemstone

A gemstone can be a rock, mineral, or other organic or inorganic material that is cut and polished for jewelry.

Girdle 

A girdle is the narrow band encompassing a polished or faceted diamond or gemstone. It essentially separates the crown (upper section of a polished stone) from the pavilion (the lower section).

Gletz

This is just another term used for an inclusion within the stone.

Grading Report

A grading report is an official document issued by a gemological laboratory, such as GIA. It provides an in-depth assessment of a diamond's key characteristics, including: Carat weight, Cut, Color, and Clarity and additional details like fluorescence, symmetry, and polish. A grading report is essential for verifying a diamond's authenticity and quality.

H:

Hardness

The hardness of a stone is its ability to resist scratching.

Heart Cut 

The heart cut is a pear shape with a crevice in the middle of the rounded edge. It is the shape of a heart, hence the name.

Hue 

A stone’s hue is its primary color impression, which is red, green, or blue.

H&A (Hearts & Arrows)

It describes the visual patterns seen in diamonds with exceptional symmetry, typically in ideal-cut round brilliants. When viewed from the pavilion side, a pattern of hearts appears, and from the crown side, arrows are visible. These patterns are a hallmark of superior craftsmanship and precision cutting, enhancing the diamond’s brilliance and fire.

I:

I (Included) Grade

This is the lowest clarity grade. Stones with this grade have inclusions that are visible to the eye.

IF (Internally Flawless) Grade 

This is one of the highest clarity grades.

Inclusion

An inclusion is an internal flaw. This can be a cavity, a crystal, a feather, internal graining, pinpoint, and so forth.

K:

Kimberley Process

This is a certification system that was implemented in order to prevent and discourage the flow of conflict diamonds and gemstones.

Knot 

This inclusion can be found in diamonds. It’s an included crystal that has broken to the surface.

L:

Lab-Grown Diamond

Lab-grown diamonds are not natural diamonds. They are synthetic diamonds that have been grown in a lab in a process similar to the natural processes that genuine diamonds have undergone over millions (even billions) of years.

Leakage 

This phenomenon can occur in diamonds and colored gemstones. It is when the light that enters the stone fails to reflect back through the crown and is instead dispersed through the pavilion.

Loupe

A diamond loupe is a special lens used to magnify 10x what the human eye is able to see. 

Louping

A phrase used when someone insepcts a diamond through a diamond loupe.

Laser Drilling

A diamond treatment technique that uses laser technology to remove or minimize visible inclusions and blemishes. This process involves creating a tiny tunnel with a laser to access and treat inclusions, often by bleaching them.

M:

Marquise-Cut

A diamond or colored gemstone with an elliptical shape and pointed ends.

Mazal

The term used when a deal between two people from the diamond trade is agreed upon.

Melee

This term refers to faceted diamonds or colored gemstones that are smaller than 0.12 carats.

Mixed Cut 

The mixed cut is a combination of the two most popular cutting methods: brilliant cut and step cut.

Mohs Scale 

The Mohs scale is used to determine the hardness of a stone. It was created by comparing stones with one another thus placing them in a hierarchy of hardness. Diamonds rank the highest at 10.

Mounting 

The mounting is the part of a setting in which a stone is set.

N:

Naked Eye 

Inspecting a stone with one's eye as opposed to using some sort of a loupe.

Naturals

Naturals are a portion of the rough diamond left behind by the cutter. They are usually located near the girdle.

Needle 

A needle is a thin inclusion found within a diamond or colored gemstone. It is one of several possible inclusions.

Nick 

A nick is a minor chip, a surface break.

O:

Opaque

A characteristic of a diamond or colored gemstone that makes it neither transparent nor translucent. This means it does not transmit light.

Oval Cut 

A diamond or colored gemstone with an oval shape.

LEIBISH 11.79 carat, Violet, Tanzanite, Oval Shape

P:

Pavilion 

The bottom section of a polished diamond or colored gemstone, below the girdle of the stone.

Pear Cut 

Pear cut, or teardrop as it is also known, is one of the Fancy Cuts for diamonds and colored gemstones, and is rather popular after the round brilliant and princess cuts of course. Round at one edge and pointed at the other, it resembles a pear or a teardrop.

Pit 

A pit is a minuscule indentation that can appear on the surface of a diamond.

Piqu’e

This is another term used to describe an inclusion which will affect the clarity grade of a stone.

Point 

Diamonds are measured in carats. There are 100 points in each carat. A 0.50-carat diamond is equivalent to 50 points.

Price Per Carat 

One of the main characteristics by which a diamond's price is determined is by the carat weight. However, because the bigger stones are more difficult to come by, the price isn't simply doubled as the carat weight increases. Meaning, a two carat diamond is not two times the price of a one carat stone, and a six carat diamond is definitely not double the price of a three carat stone. Therefore, within the trade, people will often ask or quote the price per carat of any specific stone. 

Princess Cut 

The princess cut is the second most popular cut for colorless diamonds. It can be either square or rectangular with pointed edges.

Proportions 

Proportions refer to the relationship between the various measurements of a diamond. The size of the table compared to the girdle, pavilion, crown, depth, and culet of the diamond.

R:

Radiance 

The radiance of a diamond is the amount of light that is refracted and reflected in a diamond. It is also referred to as sparkle.

Rough 

A rough diamond is a diamond that has yet to be cut or polished.

Round Cut

The round cut, or round brilliant as it is also called, is the most popular colorless diamond shape. It is a diamond that is cut into a circular shape using the brilliant cut.

LEIBISH 5.25 carat, Fancy Orange Brown Diamond, Round Shape, VS2 Clarity, GIA

S:

Saturation

The level at which color is seen.

Scintillation 

Scintillation refers to the mirror-like reflections that can be reflected off a diamond’s facets as it is turned in the light.

Scratch 

A long, white, shallow mark on the surface of a diamond can be referred to as a scratch.

Solitaire 

A jewelry setting containing a single stone.

Step Cut 

A style of cutting that utilizes straight facets that run parallel to the girdle. The facets decrease in size as they move further from the girdle, thus resembling steps.

Spread

Spread refers to the perceived size of a diamond when viewed face-up, which is influenced by its proportions and cut. 

T:

Table

The table is the top, flat, horizontal facet that appears on polished and faceted diamonds and colored gemstones.

Tone 

Tone refers to how light or dark a color appears.

Toughness 

Toughness describes a stone’s ability to resist breakage.

Transparency 

The amount of light that is transmitted through a diamond or colored gemstone.

Treatment 

Various processes and materials used to enhance a diamond or stone’s appearance.

Triangle Cut 

A triangle-cut diamond is one with three sides, which resembles a triangle.

Triple Ex

This term refers to a diamond that is cut with a perfect cut grade. When the symmetry, polish, and cut are all graded as an 'excellent cut.'  

U:

Ultraviolet Light

Ultraviolet light is light that is not visible to the naked eye because its wavelengths are shorter than wavelengths of visible light.

V:

Variety

A variety is a subcategory, and often refers to various subcategories of minerals. For instance, rubies are a variety of the mineral corundum.

VS (Very Slightly Included) Grade

The VS clarity grade is one of the more common grades of diamonds that the general public acquires.

VVS (Very Very Slightly Included) Grade

The VVS clarity grade is one level between IF and VS. Inclusions within a stone graded with a VVS clarity usually cannot be determined without a microscope.

LEIBISH Argyle Diamonds

W:

Wisp

A wisp is a hair-shaped feature that can appear on a diamond. It can appear on its own or in a cloud-like shape.

X:

X-ray Fluorescence

This is the procedure in which diamonds, colored gemstones, and pearls can emit energy when exposed to a high-energy incident. This is done through secondary x-rays and indicates the chemical properties of these stones.

Understanding diamond terms and terminology is essential for anyone looking to appreciate, purchase, or evaluate these timeless gems. Each term reveals something unique about the craftsmanship and quality of the stone.  By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you’ll be better equipped to choose a diamond that meets your aesthetic preferences, quality expectations, and investment goals. After all, each diamond carries its own story, shaped by both nature and artistry.