Diamond Shapes & The 4Cs

Diamond Shapes – Express Your Style! Your Guide to Choosing the Perfect Diamond at Ashmi Jewellers.

At Ashmi Jewellers Global, we understand that each diamond shape tells a unique story. Explore our curated selection of diamond shapes to find the one that best reflects your individuality.

Popular Diamond Shapes

Shape	Description	Best For	Visual Representation
Round	Classic, brilliant sparkle with 58 facets.	Timeless elegance, most popular choice.
Princess	Square with sharp edges, modern and bright.	Contemporary styles.
Cushion	Rounded corners, soft and romantic glow.	Vintage, romantic designs.
Emerald	Step-cut rectangular facets, elegant and clear.	Sophisticated, clean look.
Oval	Elongated round, creates illusion of length.	Slimming effect, unique brilliance.
Marquise	Pointed ends, dramatic and eye-catching.	Maximizes size appearance.
Pear	One rounded, one pointed end -like a teardrop.	Elegant and feminine.
Asscher	Square with step cuts, vintage feel.	Retro charm, Art Deco appeal.
Radiant	Hybrid of round and emerald — brilliant and geometric.	Modern brilliance with character.
Heart	A true symbol of love, shaped like a heart.	Romantic, bold statements.

Discover the 4 Cs of Diamonds

Every diamond whether naturally formed deep within the Earth or created with cutting-edge technology – tells a unique story of timeless elegance, expert craftsmanship, and extraordinary beauty. To help you find the perfect gem, we guide you through the internationally trusted 4 Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight.
These key factors shape the sparkle and value of your diamond, no matter its origin. Here’s what makes each diamond shine:

✦ Diamond Cut – The Sparkle Maker

The cut of a diamond refers to how well it has been shaped and faceted from its rough form. Unlike shape (which is the outline like round, princess, or oval), cut is about the precision of angles, proportions, and symmetry crafted by the diamond cutter. This directly affects how light travels inside the diamond, which determines its brilliance, fire, and scintillation, the sparkle you see.

Why Cut Is So Important

Even a diamond with perfect color and clarity can appear dull if it’s poorly cut. Conversely, a well-cut diamond can maximize sparkle and hide minor flaws, making it look more beautiful than a larger, poorly cut stone.

Key Aspects of Cut

1. Proportions
   • The angles and relative measurements of facets influence light performance. For example, the depth and table size must be balanced so light reflects to your eyes rather than leaking out the sides or bottom.
2. Symmetry
   • Facets must be aligned and polished evenly. Good symmetry ensures the diamond sparkles evenly from all angles.
3. Polish
   • A smooth surface without blemishes or roughness lets light enter and exit cleanly.

Cut Grades

Gemmological labs like GIA/IGI grade diamond cuts typically as:

• Excellent/Ideal: Best light performance and sparkle.
• Very Good: Slightly less sparkle but still beautiful.
• Good: Noticeably less brilliance but can be budget friendly.
• Fair/Poor: Light leaks, resulting in a dull appearance.

How Cut Affects Sparkle

• Brilliance: White light reflection that makes a diamond shine.
• Fire: The dispersion of light into colors of the rainbow.
• Scintillation: The flashes of light when a diamond or light source moves.

✦ Colour – Nature’s Subtle Shades

Color in diamonds refers to the presence or absence of any tint within the stone. While many people imagine diamonds as perfectly clear, most actually have slight traces of color, usually yellow or brown. The less color a diamond has, the rarer and more valuable it typically is.

How Diamond Color Is Graded

Diamonds are graded on a color scale from D to Z by gemmological laboratories such as the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America)/IGI (International Gemmological Institute). This scale measures the amount of color visible under controlled lighting and comparison:

• D–F: Colorless
  These diamonds are extremely rare and appear completely colorless to the naked eye. They reflect light in the purest form, offering maximum brilliance.
• G–J: Near Colorless
  These diamonds have slight traces of color, but it is usually not noticeable without comparison to higher grades. Near colorless diamonds offer excellent value with only a minimal difference in appearance.
• K–M: Faint Color
  Diamonds in this range show a slight yellow or brown tint visible to the naked eye, especially when set in white gold or platinum.
• N–Z: Noticeable Color
  These diamonds have obvious color tints and are generally less expensive, often used in fashion or colored diamond jewelry.

Factors Affecting Diamond Color Perception

• Lighting: The type and angle of light can make color more or less visible.
• Setting: The metal color (white gold, yellow gold, platinum) can influence how diamond color appears. For example, warmer metals like yellow gold can mask slight yellow tints.
• Size and Shape: Larger diamonds may show color more easily. Fancy shapes with larger tables, like emerald or cushion cuts, tend to reveal color more than round cuts.

Why Color Matters

While many diamonds appear similar to the untrained eye, subtle color differences affect the stone’s brilliance and beauty. Choosing the right color grade depends on your preferences and budget. For example:

• If you want a pure white diamond, aim for D–F grades.
• For excellent value with nearly invisible color, G–J is ideal.
• If you prefer a warmer tone or budget-friendly option, K–M can work beautifully, especially with yellow gold settings.

✦ Clarity – The Diamond’s Unique Fingerprint

Clarity refers to the presence or absence of internal flaws (called inclusions) and external imperfections (called blemishes) in a diamond.

Why Clarity Matters

These inclusions and blemishes affect how light travels through the diamond, impacting its brilliance and overall beauty. The fewer and smaller the imperfections, the more valuable and visually stunning the diamond is. Whether forged naturally deep within the Earth over millions of years or meticulously created in advanced laboratories, diamonds both natural and lab-grown may contain tiny internal characteristics that contribute to their unique identity.

How Clarity Is Graded

Diamond clarity is assessed using a 10x magnification under a jeweller’s loupe or microscope. The most widely accepted clarity grading scale comes from the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) and IGI (International Gemmological Institute):

Grade	Description	Visibility
FL (Flawless)	No inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification.	Extremely rare and perfect.
IF (Internally Flawless)	No internal inclusions, only minor surface blemishes.	Nearly perfect to the eye.
VVS1 & VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included)	Minute inclusions extremely difficult to detect even under magnification.	Inclusions barely visible to experts.
VS1 & VS2 (Very Slightly Included)	Minor inclusions visible with effort under magnification.	Typically, invisible to naked eye.
SI1 & SI2 (Slightly Included)	Noticeable inclusions under magnification, sometimes visible to the naked eye.	May affect brilliance slightly.
I1, I2, I3 (Included)	Inclusions obvious under magnification and visible to the naked eye.	May affect durability and sparkle.

Types of Inclusions and Blemishes

• Inclusions: Internal features like crystals, feathers, clouds, or needles.
• Blemishes: Surface irregularities such as scratches, nicks, or pits.

Not all inclusions are equally impactful; their size, location, and type determine how much they affect the diamond’s beauty.

✦ Carat – Size That Speaks to Your Style

Carat refers to the weight of the diamond and often, its visual presence. But size isn’t everything. At Ashmi Jewellers, we help you balance carat with cut, colour, and clarity to find a stone that suits your style and story. Whether you’re drawn to a bold statement or delicate elegance, we guide you to the perfect fit.

Why Carat Matters

• Rarity and Value: Larger diamonds are much rarer and therefore more valuable per carat than smaller ones. As carat weight increases, the price does not simply double it often rises exponentially due to rarity.
• Size vs. Weight: Two diamonds of the same carat weight can appear different in size depending on their cut and shape. For example, a well-cut diamond may appear larger and more brilliant than a heavier, poorly cut stone.
• Balance with Other 3 Cs: While carat is important, it’s just one factor. A perfectly cut, smaller diamond can often look more stunning than a larger diamond with poor cut, color, or clarity.

Carat Weight Ranges

• Under 0.50 carat: Petite and delicate, often used in subtle jewelry designs.
• 0.50 to 1.00 carat: Popular size for engagement rings, balances size and affordability.
• 1.00 to 2.00 carats: Considered large and eye-catching, with significant price premium.
• Above 2.00 carats: Rare and prestigious, ideal for those seeking luxury and statement pieces.

Why Choose Ashmi?

We understand that buying a diamond is a personal journey. At Ashmi Jeweller Global, our promise is simple: authentic diamonds, expert advice, and craftsmanship that lasts generations. Whether it’s for a proposal, a lifetime celebration, or simply for you – trust us to help you choose a diamond that reflects your light.