CARAT

The unit of measurement for a diamond’s weight is known as a “Carat.”

 

CUT

A diamond´s Cut is considered the most important characteristic.

 

CLARITY

Diamond Clarity ratings are determined by the amount of inclusions.

 

COLOR

Generally, the less color a diamond has the more valuable it is.

 

 

DIAMOND ANATOMY

 

DIAMOND ANATOMY DEFINED:

Every diamond has a distinct set of properties and proportions which defines its anatomy.
The below guide will help you identify these areas:

Crown: The top part of a diamond extending from the table to the girdle.

Culet: The small or pointed facet at the very bottom of a polished stone.

Depth: The total height of a diamond as measured from the table to the culet.

Diameter: Width of a polished stone that is measured from edge to edge.

Girdle: The very edge of the diamond where the crown and pavilion meet.

Pavilion: The underside of a diamond extending from the girdle down to the culet.

Table: Largest polished facet located on the top portion of the diamond.

Shape

The shape of a diamond describes its appearance when viewed from above. Different cutting processes determine the variety of shapes a diamond can take. While all diamond shapes have special attributes, the overall choice depends on your personal preference.

POPULAR STONE SHAPES:

Asscher Cut

This shape has a pavilion that is cut with rectangular facets in the same style as the emerald-cut. It is distinct from the emerald-cut in that it has cropped corners giving it a square appearance. This square emerald diamond is bright, shiny, and clear and is made with the step-cut process. This stone shape is best when set with a four prong or six prong setting.

Brilliant Cut / Round

The most popular diamond shape is currently the round-brilliant cut. This diamond cut is optically brilliant because of its 360-degree symmetrical shape. For a large amount of sparkle and a classic shape, the round-brilliant is a great choice. This stone shape also works well with nearly all mounting types including four prong, six prong, channel, bezel, half-bezel and illusion.

Cushion

Also known as the “pillow cut”, the cushion is an antique cut that has both a classic and romantic appeal. The cushion-cut diamond has 58 larger facets and rounded corners which boost its brilliance. This cut comes in both square and rectangular variations.

Emerald

The beloved emerald cut has a unique pavilion that is cut with rectangular facets to create a distinctive optical appearance. Due to its large, open table, this diamond shape best showcases the clarity of a diamond. The blocked corners are usually cut to a rectangular outline, but can also be cut in a square shape. This cut can vary greatly in rectangularity. If your preference is for an emerald cut with a squared outline, look instead at the Asscher-cut diamond.

Half Moon

This cut comes in two varieties: step-cut half moons and the more common brilliant-cut half moons. Half moons can be proportioned differently. Thicker versions tend to be slightly less elegant and desirable than the slim, elongated type.

Heart

The ultimate expression of romance and love, the heart shaped diamond is cut with light bending triangular and kite-shaped facets. Generally there are 59 facets on a heart shaped diamond. The cut is similar to a pear shaped diamond, except the cleft at the top of the heart shaped diamond is strategically cut to remove inclusions without affecting the total diamond weight.

Marquise

The marquise cut is another brilliant cut. Its elongated shape can maximize the carat weight, giving you a larger carat weight per stone. With narrow points at both ends of the diamond, this shape has a flattering effect on the finger, making it appear longer. This shape works well in a solitaire setting or when paired with beautiful side stones.

Oval

The oval cut has beautiful brilliance very similar to a round-brilliant cut. An oval shape combines the sparkle of the round shapes with a finger slimming, elongated outline. It is a good choice for someone who wants something more unique but still wants the fire and brilliance of a round cut diamond. The relatively symmetrical shape lends itself well to a variety of mounting styles. Most oval cuts work in a mounting with six prongs properly spaced for security.

Pear

The less common but visually interesting pear shaped diamond is a unique variation of the round diamond cut. Like the round diamond cut, 58 facets allow the light to pass through the stone. It is a popular choice for many solitaire diamond engagement rings or diamond rings with side stones.

Princess

The princess cut is the second most popular diamond shape because of its modern classic shape which offers clean lines and immense sparkle. Depending on the cut, a princess diamond has either a square or rectangular appearance. The cutting process utilizes the step-cutting of the emerald cut with the triangular facets of the brilliant cut. Princess cuts work best in a prong or channel setting.

Radiant

The distinctively trimmed corners give a radiant cut its beautiful appeal. This diamond shape combines a square or rectangular shape with the brilliance of the traditional round cut. It combines the round cut style and the emerald cut style to make a non-traditional diamond. A radiant cut looks great in a solitaire setting or a prong setting with side stones.

Shield/Calf

Whether they are step cut or brilliant cut, shields are simply beautiful. They are great transitional stones that could be paired with virtually any center stone. The most elegant ratio is 1:1, however elongated cuts are also very elegant, complimentary, and appropriate companions to a center stone.

Square Radiant

The radiant cut diamond is the first square cut to have a complete brilliant-cut facet pattern applied to both the crown and pavilion. The result is a vibrant and lively square diamond. The cropped corner square shape of the radiant is a nice bridge between a cushion and a princess cut. It is a versatile cut and looks beautiful set with both rounded and square cornered diamonds.

Square Cushion

This diamond shape combines a square cut with rounded corners, lending it a pillow-like appearance. This classic cut has been around for almost 200 years, and for the first century of its existence, it was the most popular diamond shape (similar to round cut today).

Straight Baguette

This elongated, rectangular step cut can be set either north-south or east-west. When set north-south, they are commonly staggered on top of each other, forming a ladder-like element. This is the only way they could appear in a modern ring. Setting it in any other way would result in an Art Deco look.

Tapered Baguette

These are the most common side stones used in engagement rings. Some might argue that a ring with tapered baguettes should not be called a three stone ring, but instead, a solitaire. This is because baguettes are really not an extension of the center stone. They are set on the “cathedral’ part of the shank.

Trapezoid

Trapezoid diamonds are tapered on both ends to form a trapeze shape. This perspective view of straight baguettes allows for a graceful transition from a large center stone to a narrow shank of the ring. They work well with other step cut stones such as an emerald cut or Asscher cut. They are also a nice fit as part of a traps/bullet combination, which is popular in five stone rings.

Trillion

Triangular Brilliants, also known as Trillions and Trilliants, are mixed cuts with three equally straight or slightly curved sides. They are typically shallow and are often side stones for other fancy shapes. However, when well proportioned, one can also be a stunning centerpiece in an engagement ring.

GEMSTONE & BIRTHSTONE GUIDE

Celebrate your special milestone anniversary or the birth-month of a loved one by sharing a lasting and lovely gemstone. There are many myths and legends about the healing properties of birthstones including heightened powers during its assigned month, but no matter the myth, the fact is that these gems make very meaningful gifts.

Consult the gemstone guide below and see which birthstone or birthstones are assigned to which milestone and month. Use this information to personalize a gift for someone or for yourself. If the gemstone you are looking for is not listed on our website, simply contact an our customer service representative for a special quote. For a multi-color gemstone choice, you will receive all semi-precious options with the exception of tanzanite, ruby, and sapphire.

JANUARY – GARNET

Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January and anniversary gemstone for the second year of marriage. This stone represents friendship. According to legend, garnets improve your personal relationships and protect you from harm. This benefit supposedly doubles if your birthday is in January. Often used as good luck charms by the European bourgeoisie in the 18th and 19th centuries, garnets are also thought to assure the wearer of love, devotion from loved ones, health, faithfulness and energy. Garnets come in a rainbow of colors, from deep red to vibrant green. The standard color is a medium red.

FEBRUARY – AMETHYST

Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and the anniversary gemstone for the 6th year of marriage. Fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels. They were once believed to prevent drunkenness and protect people from contagious diseases, as well as to give courage, bring victories to soldiers in battle, and attract favors from those in high places. Other attributes that have been associated with the stone are its ability to soothe the nerves in times of stress, to make the wearer become calm and gentle, and to bring success in business. Amethysts are a purple quartz stone and come in a variety of purple shades including light violet to purple with deep red undertones.

MARCH – AQUAMARINE

Aquamarine is the birthstone for the month of March and is the anniversary gemstone for the 19th year of marriage. Aquamarine is named after sea water, as it sparkles like the sea and its color is light to medium blue. Aquamarines were believed to assure love, affection, youth, and health to the wearer of this stone. Aquamarine stones vary in color from greenish blue to blue-green.

APRIL – DIAMOND

Diamond is the birthstone of April as well as the anniversary gemstone for the 10th and 60th wedding anniversaries. This stone’s name comes from the Greek word adamas, which means unconquerable. Therefore, the gift of a diamond suggests eternal love, and the ancient Greeks even used the stone as their traditional symbol of love. A diamond’s powers are said to include healing properties as well.

The diamond is the purest of all gemstones and is generally a colorless stone, however, diamond color can vary from non-colored to shades of yellow, pink, blue and green. A colored diamond is typically referred to as “fancy” and is generally more expensive than colorless diamonds. A lab-colored or treated diamond is one which has been altered by added color. Joliano Jewelers strictly sells natural, untreated, colorless diamonds. If the diamond quality you are interested in is not listed on the website, please contact our customer service representative for a special quote.

MAY – EMERALD

Emerald is the birthstone of May and is also the anniversary gemstone for 20 and 35 years of marriage. Emerald is derived from the Greek word smaragdus, which means green. It is believed to signify rebirth and good fortune.

JUNE – PEARL AND ALEXANDRITE

 Pearl

For many centuries, the sparkling beauty of a strand of pearls has been used for adornment. The ancient Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying. The pearl is known to many as a symbol of wisdom, wealth, faith, knowledge, and innocence. It has been said that if you wear a pearl next to the skin, it will give off a vibration that has healing properties. Pearls come in a range of colors which includes sparkling white, slightly pink, golden tones, and even greys or blacks.

 Alexandrite

Alexandrite is a fairly modern birthstone as it was discovered in Russia during 1831. The gem is lovely and versatile. Green or purple in color and with slight fluorescence, this gemstone may also appear to change color under different lighting conditions.

 JULY – RUBY

Ruby is the birthstone of July as well as the anniversary gemstone for the 15th and 40th years of marriage. The scarlet-colored gem is said to bring health, happiness, wisdom, and particularly good luck to gamblers and lovers. Ruby is regarded as a regal and sacred gem. In ancient India, the ruby was called “the king of gems.” It was said that if you dreamed of a ruby, it indicated success in business and good fortune in money matters.

A top quality ruby is a pretty rare find, and color is one of the most important factors. A medium or dark vivid red is the most valuable ruby color, however, a ruby can also be light red and can even have undertones of purple and orange.

 AUGUST – PERIDOT

Peridot is the birthstone of August as well as the gemstone for the 1st year and 16 years of marriage. Peridot is rare, and one of the few gemstones to come in only one color, green. The Peridot is said to symbolize the sun and brings power and influence to those who wear it. This gem, which is sometimes referred to as the “evening emerald,” is often over looked, but truly quite amazing. Peridot gemstones are one of the oldest among gemstones with a rich history, making it a conversational piece for your jewelry collection.

SEPTEMBER – SAPPHIRE

Sapphire is the birthstone of September and the anniversary gemstone for the 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries. Sapphire symbolizes sincerity and faithfulness, and it is an excellent choice for an engagement ring. Regal and sacred, sapphires were worn by kings and queens for good luck. Their blue color is believed to symbolize heaven, and sapphires were believed to promote peace and happiness between lovers, and promote good health. Blue sapphires typically range from a very light blue to very dark green or purple blue. The most valuable blue sapphires will have a medium to medium dark blue color. Because this gemstone is part of the corundum species, it is also found in other colors such as pink, green, orange, purple and yellow sapphires.

OCTOBER – OPAL

Opal is a birthstone of October. Opals were once said to bring good fortune because they possessed the colors and powers of all gemstones. Since they are very sensitive to the atmospheric conditions, their brilliancy varies and is determined by the temperature and moisture in the air. Some say that an opal has a soul of its own, and that it attunes its soul to that of the person who wears it. Due to its propensity for color change, the opal is said to indicate the fortune of the wearer. In this way, bright colors are said to indicate good fortune and success, while dull and lifeless colors warn of disappointment and failure. Opals range in color from milky white to almost black with contrast flashes of green, orange, yellow, red, and blue.

NOVEMBER – TOPAZ AND CITRINE

 Topaz

Topaz is the birthstone of November (Yellow Topaz) and December (Blue Topaz). Blue Topaz is the anniversary gemstone for the 4th year of marriage. Topaz is known as the “stone of strength.” It has been said that topaz is a protector from travel accidents, prevents injury due to fire, and rids the wearer of fears. It has also been associated with bringing enchantments bringing wealth, and connection with the universe. Topaz can range in color from yellow to smoky browns or the popular light blue shade.

 Citrine

The citrine stone is an alternative birthstone for the month of November and is a golden-toned gem. Purportedly, these stones support vitality and health. Citrine comes in a variety of colors from pastel yellow to brownish orange. These stones are plentiful in nature and, therefore, are one of the most affordable.

 DECEMBER – TANZANITE

Tanzanite was discovered during the late 1960s in Tanzania and is found exclusively in this tiny area of the world. Its typical rich, violet-blue color makes it a treasured gem. The variations in color range from blue to purple with a medium dark tone. Since tanzanite is often less expensive than a blue sapphire, it is often purchased as an alternative.