We’ve just explored the definition of cut when it comes to diamond engagement rings and the common misconception surrounding it. We’ve also looked at the higher grades given to diamond engagement rings featuring stones that have been cut to maximise their reflective qualities. Now let’s continue to explore the remainder of the grading scale for cut in diamond engagement rings.

Moving on to the final three grades used to classify the cuts of stones in diamond engagement rings, we come to the rating of good. Diamond engagement rings with stones rated as good with regards to cut are often considered the ideal choice for budget conscious consumers. The diamonds in these diamond engagement rings still possess a great deal of shine and brilliance since they are still able to reflect a great deal of the light they are exposed to. Like diamond engagement rings with stones rated as very good cuts, diamond engagement rings with stones rated as good cuts were often created intentionally. The jeweller who cut the stones in the diamond engagement rings purposely chose to create larger stones, rather than trim the extra size off the rough stone to get a better rated cut. The resulting diamond engagement rings can be offered at a significant discount as compared to diamond engagement rings with higher rated cuts.

When diamond engagement rings bear stones that are either not cut properly or were cut with the sole intention of maximising finished carat weight, the end result is often ratings of wither fair or poor. Diamond engagement rings with stones that are given grades of fair or poor do not reflect nearly as much light as they should. In fact, diamond engagement rings with stones in these grades may even appear rather dull or flat since their ability to reflect the proper amount of light has been hindered by their cut. Diamond engagement rings such as these are rarely, if ever, found being sold by higher end jewellers and are more frequently seen being sold by bargain retailers specialising in low rate diamond engagement rings.

One of the most important of the Four C’s of diamond engagement rings deals with the cut of the stones. We’ve already examined the most common misconception regarding the cut ratings for diamond engagement rings, as well as the specifics of diamond engagement rings which are given the ideal cut grade. Now let’s turn our attention to some of the other ratings frequently used to rate the cut of the stones in diamond engagement rings.

While the ideal cut rating is the highest grade given to stones in diamond engagement rings, the next grade down of diamond engagement ring cuts is often just as beautiful. Premium cut diamond engagement rings contain stones that are nearly identical to those rated as ideal cut, however, they fall just outside the reflective standards to be given the highest grades. Premium cut diamond engagement rings are often hailed as a great way to get ideal cut looking diamond engagement rings at a discounted price. The untrained eye cannot distinguish between ideal cut diamond engagement rings and premium cut diamond engagement rings and even some jewellers have a hard time separating the two. Like ideal cut diamond diamond engagement rings, premium cut diamond engagement rings are restricted to Round Cut stones only.

When diamond cutters want to achieve the maximum sparkle and brilliance in their diamond engagement rings, but also want to end up with slightly larger carat weights for the stones in the diamond engagement rings, they often end up with diamonds that fall into the very good category with regards to cut. Diamond engagement rings with stones rated as very good possess a tremendous amount of reflective qualities, however, the diamonds themselves have been left slightly larger in their total carat weight. The jeweller creating these diamond engagement rings chooses to sacrifice a small amount of brilliance in the stones to achieve a larger finished carat weight. The result is diamond engagement rings that possess beautiful diamonds with larger carat sizes than diamond engagement rings rated ideal or premium cut would likely have.

Stay tuned as we explore the final cut ratings and their common qualities.

We’ve already taken a look at the colour ratings that fall into the colourless and near colourless categories for diamond engagement rings. Now let’s move further down the grading scale to the faint yellow category.

Diamond engagement rings with stones rated as either K, L, or M fall into the faint yellow category. This means that the diamonds are overall clear, but possess a slight hint of yellow tint to them. For the most part, the yellow tint to stones in diamond engagement rings in this category can easily go unnoticed. While it may not seem so, diamond engagement rings with stones rated K through M are actually in high demand. Not only are diamond engagement rings with stones in these colour grades more affordable, many consumers believe they actually look better in diamond engagement rings with yellow or rose gold settings. These diamond engagement rings are said to have a certain warmth to their appearance, driven by the faint yellow tones the stones possess.

The next category of ratings used for stones in diamond engagement rings includes ratings from N to R and is considered very light yellow. While diamond engagement rings with stones in this category can be found on the bridal jewellery market, they are not as in high demand as other diamonds and are often found in bargain retailers selections of diamond engagement rings. Diamond engagement rings with stones rated N though R do have a noticeable yellow tint to them which many consumers feel dulls the overall beauty of the diamond engagement rings.

Of course, stones rated from S through Z are the bottom of the heap when it comes to colour ratings for diamond engagement rings. For the most part, reputable jewellery dealers will not carry diamond engagement rings with stones rated in this category as they are considered to be light yellow.

Keep in mind, the yellow tints to diamonds we have looked at are not the same as actual fancy yellow diamonds. These yellow tints in diamond engagement rings are caused by flaws in the diamonds, while true yellow diamonds are produced when particular chemicals are present during the stone’s creation deep within the earth.

When it comes to grading diamond engagement rings, the colour of the stones in the diamond engagement rings plays an important factor in both the visual appeal of the ring as well as the price tag. Understanding the finer details of the colour rating system used to rate stones in diamond engagement rings is crucial to better understanding the importance the colour of the stones plays on the overall ring as a whole.

The stones in diamond engagement rings are graded on an alphabetical scale from D to Z with regards to colour. The D rating for diamond engagement rings being the best, and the Z rating being the lowest quality for diamond engagement rings. For most consumers, the less amount of colour a diamond engagement ring has, the better, though there are a few exceptions to this rule.

Diamond engagement rings with stones rated D, E, or F on the colour scale are classified as colourless. These diamond engagement rings are considered the cream of the crop and also have the highest price tags attached to them. Diamond engagement rings rated with a D rating are considered as close to colourless of all diamonds, with E and F rated diamond engagement rings possessing only trace amounts of colour.

Diamond engagement rings with stones rated from G through J fall into near colourless category. This means these diamond engagement rings have stones that possess traces of colour, but not enough to make an obvious impact on the diamond engagement rings. In fact, diamond engagement rings with ratings above I on the colour scale are considered colourless to the naked eye. Diamond engagement rings rated with a J rating do have enough traces of colour to make the tint visible to the eye however.

When selecting diamond engagement rings with white metal settings, including platinum diamond engagement rings, white gold diamond engagement rings, and palladium diamond engagement rings, jewellers recommend choosing diamonds from the colourless or near colourless groupings. This is due to the fact that diamonds with any traces of colour beyond these groupings will tend to appear somewhat off in white metal settings.

Continuing with our exploration of the various rating scales used to identify the clarity of stones in diamond engagement rings, we come to the SI rating group. Broken down into wither SI1 or SI2 ratings, this category indicates the stones in the diamond engagement rings are slightly included. Like diamond engagement rings with stones rated in the VVSI category, diamond engagement rings with SI 1 or 2 ratings also have flaws visible under 10x magnification. SI rated diamond engagement rings, however, contain flaws that are easier to see under this magnification. For the most part though, diamond engagement rings with stones rated SI1 or SI2 are still fairly flawless to the naked eye. This makes diamond engagement rings with SI rated stones the ideal compromise for consumers looking for the best value while also seeking the highest quality stone for the money. After all, most consumers are only concerned with the fact that their diamond engagement rings are flawless to the naked eye and don’t always concern themselves with how the stones in their diamond engagement rings may look under magnification since the chances of their diamond engagement rings being examined under magnification are so rare to begin with..

Diamond engagement rings with stones that include flaws or inclusions visible to the naked eye are rated anywhere from I1 to I3. This rating indicates the diamond engagement rings have surface or internal flaws that can be seen just by looking at the stones in the diamond engagement rings without the help of magnification. Most reputable jewellers will not recommend or even sell diamond engagement rings with stones that have I ratings. These lower rated diamond engagement rings are more commonly seen being sold by less reputable dealers and often bought by consumers who know little about the various clarity rating used to identify stones in diamond engagement rings. Of course, diamond engagement rings containing stones with I ratings are some of the cheapest on the market, primarily die to the fact that most diamond engagement rings retailers would consider the quality of these stones sub-par.

Many consumers may be familiar with the Four C’s of rating stones in diamond engagement rings. They may not, however, have the more in depth knowledge that details the various ratings within each of the categories. Let’s begin by taking a closer look at the clarity rating used to grade diamond engagement rings as we examine the various ratings within this category.

Clarity refers to how flawed or flawless the stones in diamond engagement rings are. Of course, the more flawless the diamond engagement rings are, the more costly they will be. By understanding the basics of the ratings scales used to describe the diamond engagement rings clarity though, you can not only better understand exactly what type of stones you’re getting in your diamond engagement rings, you can also better choose the best compromise between value and visual appeal.

The highest rating that stones in diamond engagement rings can achieve is F or flawless. This indicates the stones in the diamond engagement rings have no internal or surface flaws and are essentially perfect. Flawless diamond engagement rings are extremely rare, as well as extremely costly. Most jewellers will even tell you that, unless you simply must have stones in your diamond engagement rings that are truly perfect, you’re typically better off seeking diamond engagement rings with stones rated slightly lower on the clarity scale.

IF rated diamond engagement rings contain stones that are internally flawless. This means that the stones in the diamond engagement rings may have extremely minor surface flaws but are perfect internally. Like flawless diamond engagement rings, internally flawless diamond engagement rings are also extremely rare and extremely costly.

The next rating set used for diamond engagement rings is the VVSI ratings. VVSI stands for very, very slightly included and indicates the stones in the diamond engagement rings have only minimal flaws, either internal or on the surface, that can only be seen under magnifications higher than 10x. Essentially, diamond engagement rings with stones rated in the VVSI category are still perfect to the naked eye, making them an ideal choice for diamond engagement rings.