Four C's

Color, Cut and Clarity are the keys to valuable and beautiful diamonds. Tovon & Co. uses only the finest diamonds available for our custom jewelry. Below are some helpful hints and visuals concerning diamond color, clarity and cuts. These are not the only standards that should be evaluated when purchasing a diamond, but they are certainly important ones and the most obvious as well. For even more resources, check our Links page.

Certified Diamonds:

Tovon & Co. has a large selection of certified diamonds. These diamonds are certified by the European Gem Lab (EGL) or the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). A very important piece of information to note is that each and every laboratory that grades diamonds never guarantees the quality they assign to the diamond.

Always read the 'fine print' on any lab report. It states that the report is not a guarantee, and the lab cannot be held liable for the grading of the diamond.

Tovon & Co. DOES GUARANTEE the quality to be within 1/2 grade, color or clarity. All weights are guaranteed to be within .005 point. We also guarantee our diamonds are not to be fractured filled, color enhanced or laser drilled.


Color:

Diamond color is grouped into the following categories:

D-E-F Colorless
G-H-I-J Near Colorless
K-L-M Considered light yellow
M-Z You will see a yellow or brownish cast.

In our opinion, a F-G-H color is what you should look for when buying a round, brilliant diamond. When looking to buy a fancy shaped diamond, such as a marquise or pear shapes, we recommend looking at a diamond in the color range of E-F-G. The reason for this is because elongated part of the diamond is where you will see the color first. Color is also more prominent when a diamond has been worn or is soiled.

Below are samples of several diamond colors (with variations depending on your monitor). Note the subtle differences among colors as you go down the alphabet from D (perfect, colorless) to Z (the most yellow and least expensive).

Clarity:

Below are some simplified definitions of the various clarity grades set by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

FL = Flawless: no internal or external inclusions of any kind visible under 10x magnification to a trained eye, the most rare and expensive of all clarity grades

IF = Internally Flawless: no internal inclusions visible under 10x magnification to a trained eye, but there may be some tiny external irregularities in the finish

VVS-1 = Very Very Slightly Included 1: usually just one tiny inclusion visible only to a trained eye under 10x magnification

VVS-2 = Very Very Slightly Included 2: tiny inclusions visible only to a trained eye under 10x magnification

VS-1 = Very Slightly Included 1: extremely small inclusions visible with 10x magnification

VS-2 = Very Slightly Included 2: several very small inclusions visible with 10x magnification

SI-1 = Slightly Included 1: small inclusions visible only with 10x magnification

SI-2 = Slightly Included 2: several small inclusions visible with 10x magnification

SI-3 = Slightly Included 3: inclusions that may be visible to the naked eye for a trained observer

I-1 = Included 1: flaws that are visible to the naked eye

I-2 = Included 2: many flaws clearly visible to the naked eye that also decrease the brilliance

I-3 = Included 3: many flaws clearly visible to the naked eye which decrease the brilliance and compromise the structure of the diamond, making it more easily cracked or chipped


Cut:
Below is an example of what we consider the 'Ideal Cut', as well as some examples of light refraction, and imperfect cuts.
 

The light refraction on this diamond is entirely through the top,
showing that it is an ideal cut diamond.

For round, brilliant diamonds, there is the 'Ideal Cut.' However, you do not have to have an 'Ideal Cut' diamond to have a brilliant and beautiful diamond! A round diamond can be cut slightly off the ideal proportions, and still have the maximum brilliance. You will save a lot of dollars when purchasing a diamond that is not ideal, and still not sacrifice the beauty of the stone.

Tovon & Co. has a large selection of certified diamonds. These diamonds are certified by the European Gem Lab (EGL) or the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). A very important piece of information to note is that each and every laboratory that grades diamonds never guarantees the quality they assign to the diamond.

Always read the 'fine print' on any lab report. It states that the report is not a guarantee, and the lab cannot be held liable for the grading of the diamond.

Tovon & Co. DOES GUARANTEE the quality to be within 1/2 grade, color or clarity. All weights are guaranteed to be within .005 point. We also guarantee our diamonds are not to be fractured filled, color enhanced or laser drilled.