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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.

What Is Diamond Polish?

Polish influences how well light is able to pass through a diamond. It is a very important attribute in determining a diamond's overall brilliance. When choosing a diamond, it is best to pick one that is laboratory certified with good, very good or excellent polish. Diamonds with poor polish are significantly less brilliant because they have microscopic polish lines that blur the surface of the stone—this also reduces the amount of light that enters or exits the diamond. Be aware that many diamonds have a poor polish because some diamond cutters reduce their costs by not spending sufficient time to properly polish a diamond.

How Is Polish Graded?

Polish is graded the same way symmetry is. On a GIA report, the grades are Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair or Poor. The same applies for AGS and IGI reports, which also include ideal in their list.

EX or E - Excellent, Flawless at 10X magnification
VG or VGD - Very Good, Extremely difficult to locate under 10X magnification
GD, GO, G - Good, Very difficult to see under 10X magnification
F, FR, FA - Fair, Noticeable under 10X magnification
PR, PO, P - Poor, Easy to see under 10X magnification / Visible to unaided eye
VP, VE - Very Poor, Relatively easy to see with the unaided eye
EX or EP - Extremely Poor, Obvious to see with unaided eye

There is very little difference between these ratings to the unaided eye. A diamond with a polish rating of Good can still be a remarkable stone. It is only under magnification that the differences in these ratings become clearer. Polish rated Fair (FR) and Poor (PR), however, indicates that the flaws in the polish are visible to the naked eye and affect the overall beauty of the diamond.