CUT

The most important, yet under-hyped ‘C’ of them all, cut is the best indicator of a diamonds overall beauty and brilliance. This is the C to put your money towards if you’re picking up a round brilliant diamond.

For more about diamond cut, read our blog.

Carat

Contrary to popular belief, carat actually refers to diamond or gemstone weight, not size. Two 1 carat diamonds put side-by-side can look completely different.

Clarity

The level of inclusions or blemishes in a diamond. The GIA rates diamond clarity from FL (flawless) to I3 (noticeable inclusions to the naked eye).

Highly included diamonds are known as Salt & Pepper diamonds. More on those below!

Color

Color refers to how white or colorless a diamond looks. The GIA grades color from D (most colorless) to Z (a noticeable brown or yellow tint). The lower color grade diamonds are known as champagne diamonds which are beloved by many.

Keep in mind, you don’t need a choose a D diamond in order to get that white color - many diamonds from G to H look completely colorless!

Rose Cut Diamond

Rose cut diamonds are the unique, antique-inspired alternatives to your traditional round brilliant diamond. With their domed top and flat bottom, they glow and glisten more than sparkle. A gorgeous alternative option that stands out amongst a sea of identical diamonds.

And the best part, rose cut diamonds look larger than round brilliant diamonds at the same carat weight. Read our blog for more about rose diamonds!

Salt & Pepper Diamonds

A Gem Breakfast mainstay, Salt & Pepper diamonds are heavily included diamonds. Also known as ‘Galaxy’ diamonds, they have a cosmic, ethereal, night-sky vibe depending on the patterns and colors of inclusions. No two are created equal so every diamonds feels truly one-of-a-kind and representative of the wearer’s personality and energy.

‘Pepper’ refers to the black or dark inclusions, and ‘salt’ refers to the white inclusions. These stones can range from almost completely jet black to milky white and everything in between.

The best part: S & P diamonds are much less expensive than traditional white diamonds, which means a much larger diamond for your dollar. Of course, make sure your fiancé love these unusual stones, but if she does, they’re a stunning, earth-friendly, incredibly unique diamond to choose.

For more on choosing the perfect salt & pepper diamond, plus examples of the color spectrum, read our blog!

Champagne Diamonds

Ranging from slightly honey-hued to mocha brown, champagne diamonds are a deliciously warm, effervescent alternative to an icy white diamond. They have a golden, touched-by-the-sun look that’s hard to resist for many of us! They’re less expensive than white diamonds and a gorgeously unique choice for a lady that loves the path less traveled.

For the full down-low on champagne diamonds, read our blog!

Lab created or synthetic diamonds

Synthetic diamonds are created in a lab under conditions meant to mimic a diamond's natural formation. They’re not our cup of tea, but of course jewelry is all about personal preference. We personally love from-the-earth diamonds that were created millions of years ago – there’s a certain majesty and history in the creation of a natural gemstone.

Stackable

An engagement ring or right-hand ring that’s lifted slightly off the finger, allowing room for a straight band to fit snugly beside.

Not stackable:

A low-profile ring that lays flat against the finger. It’s considered ‘not-stackable’ as there’s not room for a straight band to fit directly beside it. In this case, you’d opt for either a custom or already-made curved or pointed band to fit around the stone’s shape.

See endless variations of Gem Breakfast ring stacks on our IG story highlights (maybe even one requested by your fiancé!)

Stone hardness

Gemstones are rated for hardness from 1 to 10 by the MOH’s hardness scale. The hardest and more durable gemstone is a diamond – rated a perfect 10. Sapphires come close at a 9, and every other gemstone falls below that.

For a worn-daily engagement ring, your best bet is to choose a stone rated 8 or above. The more high-impact your lifestyle, the harder the stone you should choose.

Read our blog for our five favorite diamond alternatives suitable for an engagement ring!

A 'not stackable' ring made stackable with a pointed tiara band!

heated

Many colored gemstones have been heat-treated (heated at extremely high temperatures) to intensify their color, remove color-zoning, and improve their clarity.

The practice is so common for sapphires that you should assume all sapphires have been heat-treated unless they're specifically called out as 'unheated'.

Heat treatments are very common in gemstones and nothing to be concerned about as it is generally accepted safe practice.

Read our definitive guide for Heated vs Untreated Sapphires to learn more.

EYE-CLEAN

A gemstone that has no inclusions or imperfections visible to the naked eye. You would need magnification to see any blemishes.

Ring Booty

The underside of a ring that lays against your finger. For more on engagement ring anatomy, visit our detailed blog!

Post-consumer recycled

Precious metals or gemstones that have been recovered from previously used consumer products for reuse in new products. This often means repurposing a family heirloom item to keep a piece of that sentimentality in a new design.

We have a whole blog on post-consumer recycled gemstones if you’re interested!