•    What makes a diamond so precious?
In order to accurately evaluate diamonds the same unit criteria is used worldwide, which is the 4 C’s (Carat / Cut / Colour / Clarity). These criteria are crucial in determining the price of a diamond, this price is determined by utilising a system known as the Rapaport Price Index.

•    Carat / Carat - Diamond specific weight
A carat (100 points) - equivalent to 0.2 g. The ratio of the price of a Carat increases exponentially as a result of the size and rarity. Carat is derived from the Greek acronym of Ceratonia (carob tree). Since the seeds of this tree are predominantly a uniform size of 0.2 g, they were once used as weights.

•    Clarity / Purity
The term refers to the purity of inclusion of all classification features in naturally grown diamonds. The fewer the inclusions, cracks and cloudiness a naturally grown stone has, the more valuable it is. Approx 95% of all stones have inclusions.

•    Colour / Color
Colourless diamonds are the most desirable since they allow the most refraction of light (sparkle) through the various trace elements contained in their composition. Off white diamonds absorb light, inhibiting brilliance. These "defects" in the crystal lattice can cause tinted colours from colourless to yellow and brown.  Fancy Colour diamonds are very rare and are more valuable because of their colour.  These include pink, green, blue and extremely rare red.

•    Shape / cut forms
Rough diamonds are cut differently. The default is the eight balanced round cut, or the brilliant cut with 56-58 facets. The individual proportions and the uniformity of the diamond’s facets are critical to the grinding quality that causes the highest degree of brilliance.

Besides the most common brilliant cut, there are also other common cuts such as Princess cut, marquise, oval, emerald, baguette, drop, heart and cushion.  Imaginative cuts, such as Fire Rose, Zinnia, Sunflower, Troidia, dahlia, marigold, zinnia and Gabrielle have yet to establish themselves in the market.