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Education
FAQ
About

Diamonds, Gems & Engagement Rings Education Center

FAQ

+ - Are any of your diamonds laser treated or modified in any way?
JamesAllen only sells diamonds that are 100% natural and untreated. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the American Gem Society Laboratory (AGSL), and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) will not issue grading reports on diamonds that have been treated or enhanced, so purchasing our diamonds - which are GIA, AGS or IGI certified - is another guarantee that your diamond is natural.
+ - What are conflict-free diamonds?
Conflict-free diamonds are gems that were not obtained due to human rights abuses, child labor, violence, or environmental degradation. At James Allen, we make sure that our customers receive conflict-free diamonds. Our internal guidelines exceed government requirements. When you shop at James Allen, you can be certain that your diamonds are coming from the most reputable providers.
+ - What are the Four C's?
The Four C's - Carat (size), Color, Clarity and Cut - are the industry grade standard from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Every diamond is specifically graded on these features.
+ - What are GIA, AGS and IGI diamond certificates?
A GIA, AGS and IGI diamond certificate assures the value and quality of your diamond. GIA, AGS and IGI are the gold standard in diamond grading. Their reports detail key characteristics of each diamond.
+ - What does the term "eye clean" mean?
"Eye-Clean" is a term used to describe a diamond that is clean to an unaided eye in a face-up position from a distance of 8 to 10 inches. Diamonds of VS2 or higher in quality will always be eye-clean. Diamonds of Si1, Si2 and I1 need to be visually inspected to determine whether any inclusions are visible from the top. We can inspect any diamond at no charge.
+ - What is "Cut"?
A diamond's cut determines how effectively it returns light to the viewer's eye: a well-cut diamond appears brilliant and fiery, while poorly cut stones look dark and lifeless. Well-cut diamonds often appear larger than stones of the same carat weight.
+ - What kind of diamonds do you use for accent stones?
Smaller diamonds (often called melee) are cut in factories around the world and are available in a variety of qualities. The lowest quality goods are usually labeled as "commercial" and consist of I/J/K color and I1 clarity. "Promotional" goods are higher in both color and clarity, but are still cut for maximum weight. The highest quality diamonds are often referred to as "Collection". Collection diamonds are finer in both color and clarity. They're precisely cut to maximize fire and brilliance. Collection quality goods are only available from specialty dealers. We pride ourselves on using collection diamond melee in all of our engagement designs.
+ - Are any of the gemstones used in your jewelry heat-treated?
Yes. It is very common for natural gemstones to be heated. Heating the stone can intensify color and clarity, making the gemstone more beautiful and valuable. In addition, emeralds are commonly infused with a colorless oil, wax or resin to improve their appearance and luster. Nearly all rubies and emeralds on the jewelry market today are heated or treated in some fashion.

Diamond Grading

A diamond's cost depends upon objective characteristics popularly known as the 4C's: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat. The relationship between these four characteristics determines the value of a diamond. Our diamond grading charts will help you visualize the relationship between rareness and cost. Although it is commonly assumed that carat is the most important member of the 4C's, color, cut and clarity have a much greater impact on the appearance of a diamond.

Diamond Color Grades

When shopping for a diamond, it is generally preferred to choose a stone with the least amount of color possible. Diamond color is divided into five broad categories.

Colorless Diamonds (D-F):: Diamonds within the colorless range are the most rare and valuable of all those on the color scale. D/E color stones display virtually no color, whereas F colored diamonds will display a nearly undetected amount of color when viewed face down by a gemologist.
Near Colorless Diamonds (G-J):: Diamonds within the near colorless range appear colorless in the face up position, but do display a slight amount of color when viewed face down against a perfectly white background. This trace amount of color will be undetectable to an untrained eye once the diamond has been mounted. Near colorless diamonds offer a tremendous value for their price.

Diamond Clarity Grades

The GIA has provided us with a universally understood method of describing clarity grades for diamonds. There are five main clarity grades that can be found on your GIA or AGSL report.

FL/IF Diamonds:
Flawless: No inclusions under 10x magnification.

Internally Flawless: No or only insignificant surface blemishes and no inclusions when examined under 10x magnification. Normally, most blemishes can be removed by minor polishing. Very rare, beautiful and expensive diamonds.
VVS1/VVS2 Diamonds: Very Very Slightly Included: Contain minute inclusions that are extremely difficult for an experienced grader to locate under 10x magnification. VVS diamonds are considered very rare and beautiful.
VS1/VS2 Diamonds: Very Slightly Included: Contain minor inclusions that range from difficult to somewhat easy to see under 10x magnification. Typical VS inclusions are small crystals, feathers or distinct clouds. In some rare cases, a VS stone can contain an eye–visible inclusion. Excellent quality diamonds.
SI1/SI2 Diamonds: Slightly Included: Inclusions are easily visible under 10x magnification to an experienced gemologist and may be visible with the unaided eye. A great value.
I1/I2/I3 Diamonds: Included: Diamonds with significant inclusions.

Diamond Cut Grading

A diamond's cut not only refers to its shape, but also how effectively the stone can return light back to the viewer's eye. A well-cut diamond will appear very brilliant and fiery, while a poorly cut stone can appear dark and lifeless, regardless of its color or clarity.
Each and every diamond has its own unique set of properties and proportions:

Diameter: Width of a polished stone, measured from edge to edge.
Table: Largest polished facet located on the top of the diamond.
Crown: The top part of a diamond extending from the table to the girdle.
Girdle: The very edge of the diamond where the crown and pavilion meet.
Pavilion: The bottom part of a diamond extending from the girdle down to the culet.
Depth: The total height of a diamond measured from the table to the culet.
Culet: The small or pointed facet at the very bottom of a polished stone.

Diamond Clarity Grades	Description
FL = Flawless & IF = Internally Flawless	No visible flaws can be seen under 10x magnification
VVS1 & VVS2 = Very Very Slight Inclusions	Inclusions are present, but are almost never seen under 10x magnification.
VS = Very Small Inclusions	Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, but only viewable an experienced gemologist.
SI1 & SI2 = Small Inclusions	Inclusions easily visible under 10x magnification to an experienced gemologist and may be visible to the naked eye.
I1 - I2 - I3 = Imperfect	Significant inclusions, visible to the naked eye, which may dim the diamond's brilliance.

Diamond Weight Grades

The size of a diamond is proportional to its carat weight. When rough diamonds are cut and polished into finished diamonds, as much as 2/3 of the total carat weight may be lost. Since larger rough gems of high quality are found less frequently than smaller rough gems of high quality, a single two carat diamond will be more expensive than two one –carat diamonds of the same quality.