Carat — Weight. One carat equals 0.2 grams. Price rises non-linearly with size.
Cut — The most important factor for sparkle. Excellent / Ideal cut returns the most light.
Colour — Graded D (colourless) to Z. Fancy colours are graded by hue and intensity.
Clarity — FL (Flawless) to I3. Most people cannot see inclusions under VS2 with the naked eye.
Type IaA — Nitrogen pairs. Most common. Near-colourless to light yellow.
Type IaB — Aggregated nitrogen. Can appear yellow/brown.
Type Ib — Isolated nitrogen. Rare. Intense yellow (canary).
Type IIa — Almost pure carbon. Very rare. Often colourless or pink/brown from strain.
Type IIb — Contains boron. Extremely rare. Blue diamonds.
Natural — Mined from the earth over billions of years.
Lab-Grown (CVD / HPHT) — Chemically identical diamonds grown in controlled conditions. Usually more affordable for the same size and quality.
Prioritise cut quality. Choose eye-clean clarity. For engagement rings, D–G colour and VS–SI1 clarity often give the best value. Always insist on a reputable laboratory certificate (GIA, IGI, HRD).