For most people, BUYING A DIAMOND is a new experience, but that doesn't mean it should be overwhelming. Understanding a diamond's quality characteristics is straightforward and simple.

Vaishali Diamonds- diamond education is designed to answer all your questions. It explains a diamond's characteristics, how those characteristics influence appearance, and which are more important than others. In just a few minutes you'll know everything you need to know to find your perfect diamond.

At Vaishali Diamonds, we apply the same high quality standards to all of our Diamond shapes. We have an exceptional collection of traditional round diamonds and we also offer the Finest non-round, or "fancy-shaped", diamonds available. All of our Certified diamonds are graded by the GIA ,HRD & IGI to have FL-SI2 clarity, D-L colour, and Ideal, Very Good, Good, or Fair cut. Our D-L Diamonds are the finest quality diamonds available, and we offer them in round, princess-cut, Asscher-cut, and emerald-cut shapes.

Diamond Education - Shape

Choose Your Diamond Shape.
Since all DIAMOND shapes are very different, unique characteristics determine quality for each shape. Select your shape below to learn how to recognize the most beautiful diamond. If you have additional questions, feel free to Contact us.

Round
The round brilliant cut diamond is by far the most popular and most researched diamond shape available today. For almost 100 years, diamond cutters have been using advanced theories of light behavior and precise mathematical calculations to optimize the fire and brilliance in a round diamond. In addition to being the most popular and researched shape, a round diamond will typically give you more flexibility in terms of balancing cut, colour, and clarity grades while still getting the fire and brilliance you want.

To maximize the brilliance of a traditional round DIAMOND, select one in the two highest cut grades, ideal or very good, and choose ideal, excellent, or very good polish and symmetry grades. For the FINEST ideal round diamonds available, view the Vaishali Diamonds Brilliant Round.

Princess
This is our most popular non-round DIAMOND. Its beautiful brilliance and unique cut makes it a favourite for ENGAGEMENT RING. The princess has pointed corners and is traditionally square in shape. When choosing a colour grade, consider that while the price of a J-colour non-round Diamond is exceptional, colour may be slightly visible in its corners. Also, princess-cut diamonds can vary greatly in how square or rectangular they are. To find the dimension of princess you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive Diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. This will determine what the diamond will look like when viewing it from above. Here are length-to-width ratios for princess-cut diamond shapes that are pleasing to the eye.

For a princess diamond shape that is square, look length-to-width ratios between 1 and 1.05. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, look for length-to- width ratios greater than 1.10. For the most brilliant princess available, view the Vaishali Diamonds Princess-Cut Diamonds.

Asscher
This beautifully unique shape is nearly identical to the emerald-cut, except that it is square. Also, this shape has a pavilion that is cut with rectangular facets in the same style as the emerald-cut. If you choose SI-clarity be sure to view the clarity plot on the Diamond certificate, because this shape highlights the clarity of the Diamond. When choosing a colour grade, consider that while the price of a J-colour non-round diamond is exceptional, colour may be slightly visible in its corners.

All Asscher-cut Diamond from Vaishali Diamonds will appear square, because each one is guaranteed to have a length-to- width ratio between 1.00 and 1.05. For our ideal Asscher-cut diamond, view the Vaishali Diamonds Asscher-Cut Diamond

Marquise
The shape of a marquise diamond can maximize carat weight, giving you a much larger-looking diamond. This brilliant-cut diamond looks beautiful set with round or pear-shaped side stones, and the length of the marquise makes fingers appear long and slender. To find the dimension of marquise you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each Diamond detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For the most traditional marquise-cut diamonds, look for length-to-width ratios between 1.75 and 2.25

Oval
An oval diamond has beautiful brilliance that's similar to a round diamond. Oval diamonds are also very popular as their length can accentuate long, slender fingers. To find the dimension of oval you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For the most traditional oval diamonds, look for length- to-width ratios between 1.33 and 1.66.

Radiant
Trimmed corners are the signature of this Diamonds, and they help make the radiant-cut a popular and versatile choice for Jewellery. A radiant-cut looks equally beautiful set with either baguette or round side-diamonds. Radiant-cut diamonds can vary in their degree of rectangularity. To find the dimension of radiant you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive Diamond search and on each DIAMOND detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For a radiant diamond shape that is square, look for length- to-width ratios between 1 and 1.05. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, look for length-to-width ratios greater than 1.10.

RADIANT CUT DIAMOND - LENGTH TO WIDTH GUIDE

Pear
This brilliant-cut diamond is also called a teardrop for its single point and rounded end. The unique look of the pear shape helps make it a popular choice for a variety of Diamond Jewellery. If you choose an elongated pear shape, the length of the diamond creates a subtle slimming effect on the fingers.

To understand what the diamond will look like when viewing it from above, look for the length-to-width ratio on each diamond's detail page. For the most traditional pear- shaped diamond, look for a length-to-width ratio between 1.45 and 1.75.

Heart
The heart is the ultimate symbol of love. The unique look of the heart-shaped diamond helps make it a distinctive choice for a variety of Diamond Jewellery. When choosing a colour grade, consider that while the price of a J-colour heart shaped diamond is exceptional, colour may be slightly visible in its corner. To find the dimension of heart-shape you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For a more traditional heart-shaped diamond, look for length-to-width ratios between .90 and 1.10.

Cushion
This unique shape has been popular for more than a century. Cushion -cut diamonds (also known as "pillow-cut" diamonds) have rounded corners and larger facets to increase their brilliance. These larger facets highlight the Diamonds clarity, so if you choose an SI clarity grade, be sure to review the clarity plot on the Diamond certificate. Cushion-cut diamonds are available in shapes ranging from square to rectangular. To find the dimension of cushion you want, look for the length-to-width ratio in our interactive diamond search and on each diamond's detail page. The length-to-width ratio will determine the diamond's outline, or what it will look like when viewed from the top.

For a cushion-cut diamond that is square, look for length-to-width ratios between 1 and 1.05. If you prefer more of a rectangular shape, look for length-to-width ratios greater than 1.15.

Diamond Education – Cut

Key Points:-

• Cut is a Diamond’s most important characteristic.
• It has the greatest overall influence on a Diamond’s beauty.
• It determines what we generally think of as sparkle.

Vaishali Diamonds gemologists recommend selecting the highest cut grade within your budget. The reason is simple: of the Four Cs, no other characteristic has a greater influence on a diamond's appearance.

A diamond's cut grade is an objective measure of a diamond's light performance, or, what we generally think of as sparkle. When a diamond is cut with the proper proportions, light is returned out of the top of the diamond. If it is cut too shallow, light leaks out of the bottom; too deep and it escapes out of the side.

Cut Grades

• Our most brilliant cut, representing roughly the top 1% of Diamond quality based on cut. The highest grades of polish and symmetry allow it to reflect even more light than the standard ideal cut.
• Ideal cut: Represents roughly the top 3% of Diamond quality based on cut. Reflects nearly all light that enters the Diamond. An exquisite and rare cut.
• Very good cut: Represents roughly the top 15% of diamond quality based on cut. Reflects nearly as much light as the ideal cut, but for a lower price.
• Good cut: Represents roughly the top 25% of diamond quality based on cut. Reflects most light that enters. Much less expensive than a very good cut.
• Fair cut: Represents roughly the top 35% of diamond quality based on cut. Still a quality diamond, but a fair cut will not be as brilliant as a good cut.
• Poor cut: Diamond that are generally so deep and narrow or shallow and wide that they lose most of the light out the sides and bottom.
• Vaishali Diamonds does not carry diamonds with poor cut grades.

What Cut Grade Is Right For Me?

For the best possible cut, look to the Vaishali Diamonds Inventory. Custom made exclusively for Vaishali Diamonds, each diamond is hand-selected and cut to the most exacting standards, guaranteeing one of the Finest cuts available in the world.

Diamonds with a cut grade of good or very good represent an excellent combination of beauty and value.

Now that you have a solid understanding of how cut affects a diamond's light performance (or sparkle), learn about the second of the Four Cs, colour.

Diamond Education –Colour

Key Points

Colour refers to a Diamond’s lack of colour, grading the whiteness of a diamond.

A colour grade of D is the highest possible, while Z is the lowest.

Colour manifests itself in a diamond as a pale yellow. This is why a diamond's colour grade is based on its lack of colour. The less colour a diamond has, the higher its colour grade. After cut, colour is generally considered the second most important characteristic when selecting a diamond. This is because the human eye tends to detect a diamond's sparkle (light performance) first, and colour second.

At Vaishali Diamonds, you'll find only the finest diamonds at the best price.

Z-N Noticeable colour. Not carried by Vaishali Diamonds
M-K colour. Not carried by Vaishali Diamonds.
J-I Near-colorless. An exceptional value with slightly detectable warmth or tone.
H-G Near-colourless. Colour difficult to detect unless compared side-by-side against Diamond of better grades. An excellent value.
F-E Colourless. Minute traces of colour can be detected by an expert gemologist. A rare Diamond.
D Absolutely colourless. The highest colour grade. Extremely rare.

What Colour is Right for Me?
• For the purist, look for a colourless Diamond with a grade of D-F for a Diamond with no discernible colour.
• For an excellent value in a diamond with little or no noticeable colour to the unaided eye, look for a near-colourless grade of G-I

Now that you understand how colour affects the white look of a diamond, you are ready to learn about clarity.

Diamond Education – Clarity

Key Points
• Clarity is a measure of the number and size of the tiny imperfections that occur in almost all diamonds.
• Many of these imperfections are Microscopic, and do not affect a diamond's beauty in any discernible way.

Much is made of a diamond's clarity, but of the Four Cs, it is the easiest to understand, and, according to many experts, generally has the least impact on a diamond's appearance. Clarity simply refers to the tiny, natural imperfections that occur in all but the finest diamonds. Gemologists refer to these imperfections by a variety of technical names, including blemishes and inclusions, among others. Diamonds with the least and smallest imperfections receive the highest clarity grades. Because these imperfections tend to be microscopic, they do not generally affect a diamond's beauty in any discernible way.

Diamond Clarity

What Clarity Grade Is Right For Me?
• Select an "eye-clean" diamond - one that has no imperfections visible to the unaided-eye through the crown. An excellent value, diamonds of this clarity are much less expensive than flawless (FL) or internally flawless (IF) diamonds, which are extremely rare and command higher prices.
• Frequently, imperfections in diamonds graded slightly included (SI) are not visible to the unaided eye, making them an excellent value. If you're considering a diamond with an SI clarity grade, call to speak to a diamond and JEWELLERY consultant who will review the diamond to ensure the imperfections are not visible to the unaided eye.
Now that you understand clarity, learn about a diamond's carat weight.

Diamond Education –Carat

Key Points
• Carat is specifically a measure of a Diamond's weight, and by itself may not accurately reflect a Diamond's size.
• We tend to evaluate Diamond size by viewing it from the top because that is how diamonds are presented to us when set into a RING.
• To understand diamond size, carat weight should be considered in conjunction with two other criteria:
– Distance in millimeters across the top of the diamond.
– Diamond's cut grade.

Carat weight specifically refers to a diamond's weight. However, much as a person's weight does not necessarily correlate with height, carat weight, by itself, may not accurately reflect a diamond's size. To gain a precise understanding of diamond size, Vaishali Diamonds recommends considering carat weight with two other characteristics: 1) the distance across the top of the diamond measured in millimeters, and 2) the diamond's cut grade.
It is important to measure the distance across the top of the diamond as this is how we view a stone when set into a ring.
A diamond's cut grade should also be considered because, as we noted in the cut grade section, when a diamond is cut with the proper proportions, the maximum amount of light (or sparkle) is returned out of the top of the diamond. Thus, when a diamond is well cut, the light reflected out of the top makes it appear larger. In addition, much of the weight of a poorly cut diamond, for example, may be "hidden" in the base of the diamond, making the diamond appear smaller than its carat weight would imply.
It is therefore possible to have a diamond of a lower carat weight, but higher cut grade that appears larger than a diamond with a larger carat weight, but poor cut.
Once you've selected your cut, colour, and clarity grade, it's easy to determine the carat weight of diamond that will fit within your budget.
Much as there are 100 pennies in a dollar, a one-carat diamond is comprised of 100 points. Hence, 50 points is equal to 1/2-carat, and so on.
This chart illustrates how diamonds of different carat weights look when set in a ring. Note that a 2-carat diamond does not appear to be twice the size of a 1-carat diamond when viewed from the top.

What Carat Weight Is Right For Me?
To choose the best carat weight of Diamond, consider the size of her finger, the size of your setting, and your budget.
• If a large carat weight is important to you, yet you're working within a strict budget, consider a Diamond with a good cut, SI1-SI2 clarity, and an I or J colour grade.
• Diamond Prices jump at the full- and half-carat weights. Diamonds just below these weights cost significantly less, and, because carat weight is distributed across the entirety of the diamond, small size differences are almost impossible to detect.
• Keep in mind that the smaller the finger, the larger the diamond will appear. A 1.5-carat diamond solitaire looks much larger on a size 4 finger than a size 8.

For even more help determining what size is best is to get an idea of what she is expecting. If you research carefully, you can get answers without even raising her suspicions. For ideas and suggestions on how to choose the right engagement ring, read our Engagement Ring Guide.

Diamond Education Diamond Certification

Before purchasing a diamond, you should expect to review a copy of its certificate as proof that it has undergone an unbiased, professional examination

What is a Certificate?
A diamond certificate, also called a diamond grading report, diamond dossier, or diamond quality document, is a report created by a team of gemologists. The diamond is evaluated, measured, and scrutinized using trained eyes, a jeweler’s loupe, a microscope, and other Industry tools. A completed certificate includes an Analysis of the diamond’s dimensions, clarity, colour, polish, symmetry, and other characteristics. Many round diamonds will also include a cut grade on the report.

Vaishali Diamonds have Certified and Non Certified Diamonds
Every Loose Diamonds sold by Vaishali Diamonds has been analyzed and graded by Highly Experienced & Trained people who have at least 10 to 15 years of Experience.
Diamonds that are accompanied by these grading reports are the most highly valued in the industry.

View Certificates While Shopping
If you are Interested in a specific certified diamond at Vaishali Diamonds, you can view its certificate on our site before purchase.

Diamond Education Fancy Colour Diamonds

Only one in every 10,000 diamonds possesses natural colour and is referred to as a fancy colour Diamond. For this reason, fancy colour diamonds are purchased almost exclusively for the intensity and distribution of the diamond's colour. Criteria considered when purchasing a white or colourless diamond, such as cut proportions and clarity, are less important when purchasing a fancy colour diamond.

The information below will help you understand fancy colour diamonds to determine the diamond that's right for you.

Colour
Colour intensity, the deepness or richness of colour, is the most important consideration when purchasing a fancy colour diamond. The more intense the colour, the rarer and more valuable the diamond will be. Fancy colour diamonds are graded in order of increasing intensity from Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, Fancy Dark, and Fancy Deep.

All of our colour diamonds possess natural colour and are never exposed to artificial coloring techniques such as dyeing or irradiation.