Jewellery glossary

Anniversary Ring
Also known as an Eternity Ring, most usually worn on the third finger of the left hand with the diamond engagement ring, and most often bought to celebrate a wedding anniversary. This ring can also be worn on the third finger of the right hand as well. Traditionally a full or half-band of diamonds but today's design is very much a matter of individual choice.

Argyle Diamond
Diamond sourced from the Argyle Mine in the Kimberley region of Western Australia - the world's most productive mine.

Baguette
This refers to a rectangular-shaped small diamond that looks very similar to an emerald cut diamond.

Bezel Setting
A diamond that is completely surrounded by metal. A semi-Bezel Setting is a diamond that is only partially surrounded by the metal setting.

Brilliant Cut
Round diamond, the most popular shape. So named because a round diamond is symmetrical and capable of reflecting nearly all of the light that enters it.

Carat Weight
The metric carat, which equals 0.200gram, is the standard unit of weight for diamonds and most other gems.

Certificates
A certificate is a report on a diamond based on a combination of scientific measurement and visual assessment. While certification is a means of identifying a diamond, it assigns the stone within a range of quality and is not conclusive in determining the value.

Channel Setting
A Setting that has a row of stones set between two strips of metal to hold the stones at the sides. Used for round, baguette and square-cut stones, the channel setting resembles a railway track with the diamonds in the centre.

Clarity
The stone's relative position on the flawless to imperfect scale. Clarity characteristics are classified as inclusions (internal) or blemishes (external). The size, number, position, nature and colour determine the clarity grade.

Colour
Grading colour in the normal range involves deciding how closely a stone's body colour approaches colourlessness. Some diamonds have at least a trace of yellow or brown body colour. With the important exception of some fancy colours, such as blue, pink, purple or red.

Crown
The upper part of the diamond above the girdle. Consists of a large flat area called a table and several facets below it.

Cut
The proportions and finish of a polished diamond (also called make). Cut affects both the weight yield from rough, and the optical efficiency of the polished stone. The more successful the cutter is in balancing these considerations, the more valuable the stone will be.

Emerald Cut
A rectangular diamond-cut.

Facet
The plane or polished surface of a diamond.

Fancy Coloured Diamond
A diamond with an attractive natural body colour. Colours range from yellow, blue and green to pink, red and black.

Fancy Cut
A cut in any shape other than round. Fancy cuts include such shapes as baguette, emerald, pear, princess, oval, marquise, heart, teardrop and trilliant.

Flaw
An imperfection in the stone.

Girdle
The outer edge or the widest part of the diamond forming a band around the stone.

Inclusion
Imperfection internal to the diamond.

Pave Setting
A setting technique for small diamonds in which the stones are set so closely together that no metal shows. The effect achieved makes the surface appear as it has been paved with diamonds.

Pavilion
The bottom part of the diamond below the girdle.

Princess cut diamond
A diamond that is square in shape, also a very bright diamond, and similar in sparkle to the brilliant cut diamond.

Point
100th of a carat.

Solitaire
The mounting of a single gemstone.

Valuation
A valuation may be necessary in order to insure your piece of diamond jewellery and should be considered only for this purpose.