The Valeria Ring

All of our prices are in US$.

Diamond cut should not be confused with shape. Shape refers to the general outward appearance of the diamond, not its reflective qualities. Brilliant Earth currently carries the following shapes:

The carat is the unit of weight of a diamond. Carat is often confused with size even though it is actually a measure of weight. One carat equals 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. Often diamond weight is declared in points. One carat is equal to 100 points. Thus, a .75 carat diamond is equivalent to 75 points. The word comes from the carob bean, whose consistent weight was used in times past to measure gemstones.

Once cut, color, and clarity grade have been determined, the carat weight of a diamond can easily be established to fit within a budget. When diamonds are mined, large gems are discovered much less frequently than small ones, which make large diamonds much more valuable. In fact, diamond prices rise exponentially with carat weight. For example, a 2-carat diamond of a given quality is always worth more than two 1-carat diamonds of the same quality. A diamond of double the weight costs around four times more. The cutoff weights are 1/2ct, 3/4ct, 90 points, 1ct, 1.5ct, and 2ct. 'Under-sizes' are diamonds that weigh just below a cutoff weight and while fewer exist, they represent an exceptional value.

Total carat weight (t.c.w.) is a phrase used to describe the total mass of diamonds or other gemstone in a piece of jewelry when more than one gemstone is used. Diamond solitaire earrings, for example, are usually quoted in t.c.w., indicating the mass of the diamonds in both earrings and not each individual diamond.

Describes the alignment of the facets of the diamond. If facets are misaligned, the diamond may poorly reflect light. Symmetry is graded from Ideal / Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor. Symmetry grades of Good or higher have the least effect on the brilliance of the diamond and are suitable for the finest quality jewelry. Certain gem labs, such as Gemscan, incorporate Symmetry into an overall Cut grade.

The height of a gemstone, from the culet to the table. Depth % is the height of the diamond as a percentage of the girdle diameter.

Diamonds are given three measurements to specify their dimensions. For fancy shaped diamonds, the measurement specifies length x width x depth. The length is the larger dimension as you view the diamond from the top and the width is the smaller. The depth is the height of a gemstone, from the culet to the table. The measurements determine the length to width ratio and can indicate the quality of cut of the diamond.

For round diamonds, the measurement specifies diameter 1 x diameter 2 x depth. Round diamonds are never quite perfectly round given they are cut by humans. They are given two measurements for diameter to indicate the maximum and minimum diameter. These two diameters vary slightly, but should not vary by very much.

Describes the finish of the facets of the diamond. Polish is graded from Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor. Polish grades of Good or higher have the least effect on the brilliance of the diamond and are suitable for the finest quality jewelry. Certain gem labs, such as Gemscan, incorporate Polish into an overall cut grade.

The largest facet of a gemstone, located at the top. Table % is the table width as a percentage of the girdle diameter.

The narrow rim around the widest part of a diamond, separating the crown from the pavillion.

The tiny facet at the bottom tip of a gemstone. The optimal culet should be pointed or very small (graded "small" or "none").

Describes the diamond's response to ultraviolet light. In diamonds with strong or very strong fluorescence, there may be some interference with the flow of light which causes a milky or oily appearance. Canadian diamonds almost always have none to slight fluorescence.

Color is the natural color visible in a diamond and does not change over time. Colorless diamonds allow more light to pass through than a colored diamond, releasing more sparkle and fire. Acting as a prism, a diamond divides light into a spectrum of colors and reflects this light as colorful flashes called fire. Just as when looking through colored glass, color in a diamond will act as a filter and will diminish the spectrum of color emitted. The less color in a diamond, the more colorful the fire, and the better the color grade. Color refers to the degree to which a diamond is colorless. Diamond color has a significant impact on its value. Color also has more influence on prices in higher clarity grades.

The professional color scale begins with the highest rating of D for colorless, and travels down the alphabet to grade stones with traces of very faint or light yellowish or brownish color. Usually, the closer a diamond is to colorless, the more beautiful and valuable it is. Diamonds graded D-F are considered "colorless," G-J are considered "near-colorless," K-M are "slightly colored," and N-Y usually appear light yellow or brown. Brilliant Earth only carries diamonds of superior color, ranged D-J.

D:

Absolutely colorless or icy white. The highest color grade-- extremely rare and most expensive.

E:

Colorless. Only miniscule traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist - a rare, high quality diamond.

F:

Colorless. Slight color detected by an expert gemologist, but still considered a "colorless" grade -- a high-quality diamond.

G-H:

Near-colorless. Color noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades, but offers excellent value.

I-J:

Near-colorless. Slightly detected color – a good value.

K-Y:

Slightly colored or colored. Not carried by Brilliant Earth.

A diamond's clarity refers to the presence of impurities on and within the stone. When a rough stone is extracted from carbon deep beneath the earth, tiny traces of natural elements are almost always trapped inside. These elements are called flaws or inclusions because they are formed naturally and are unique to each stone. Inclusions may be crystals of a foreign material or another diamond crystal, or structural imperfections such as tiny cracks that can appear whitish or cloudy. The number, size, color, relative location, orientation, and visibility of inclusions can all affect the relative clarity of a diamond. Diamonds with few inclusions are considered particularly rare and highly valued. After carat weight, clarity has the most influence on cost.

A well-cut diamond will optimize the use of light, creating fire and brilliance. Inclusions can hinder how the light reflects, lessening the brilliance and prismatic effect of color in a diamond.

When gemologists inspect diamonds for overall quality, they must use a 10x magnification loupe (a small magnifying lens used to examine diamonds) to determine the size, type, and position of the imperfections.

FL:

Flawless with no internal or external flaws. Extremely rare and valuable.

IF:

Internally Flawless. No internal flaws.

VVS1:

Very very slightly included 1. Very difficult to see under 10x magnification.

VVS2:

Very very slightly included 2. Very difficult to see under 10x magnification. Slightly more inclusions than VVS1.

VS1:

Very slightly included 1. Difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. Typically cannot see inclusions with the naked eye.

VS2:

Very slightly included 2. Difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. Typically cannot see inclusions with the naked eye. Slightly more inclusions than VS1.

SI1:

Slightly included 1. Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, but may not be very visible with unaided eye.

SI2:

Slightly included 2. Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification and may be visible with unaided eye. More inclusions than SI1.

I1 - I3:

Included 1-3. Inclusions are visible to the unaided eye. Not carried by Brilliant Earth.

The cut refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond. The cut of a diamond - its roundness, its depth and width, the uniformity of the facets - determines its beauty. The skill with which a diamond is cut determines how well it reflects and refracts light. A well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another and disperse and reflect the light through the top of the stone. This results in a display of brilliance and fire. Fire, or dispersion, is the ability of a diamond to break light into rainbow colors. Brilliance describes the brightness from reflections of white light coming from the diamond.

Cut is considered to be the most important diamond characteristic because a well-cut diamond can appear to be of greater carat weight and have enhanced clarity and color.

The quality of the cut is determined by a number of factors, including proportion, symmetry, and the relative angles of various facets. The width and depth have the greatest effect on how light travels within the diamond, and how it exits in the form of brilliance. A poorly-cut diamond with facets cut only a few degrees out of alignment can result in a poorly performing stone. A well-cut diamond should reflect most light out from the table (the largest top facet) and make the diamond appear white when viewed from the top. An inferior cut will produce a stone that appears dark at the center and in some extreme cases the ring settings may show through the top of the diamond as shadows.

The best cut diamonds have proportions that are within specified ranges to maximize brilliance. The cut grading scale of diamonds is based on the reflective properties of the diamond according to the calculated diamond measurements.

Super Ideal:

Cut to the most exacting standards. On the diamond certificate, graded as "Excellent" or "Ideal" for cut, polish, and symmetry. These diamonds will also show a "hearts and arrows" facet pattern, have the most desirable girdle and culet dimensions, and be proportioned to return the maximum possible light.

Ideal:

Exquisite quality cut to create the optimal combination of brilliance and fire. Reflects nearly all light that enters the diamond. Top 3% of diamond quality based on cut.

Very Good:

Superior quality cut that reflects nearly as much light as the ideal cut while at a substantially lower cost. Top 15% of diamond quality.

Good:

Premium quality cut to optimize the size without sacrificing quality or beauty. Reflects most light that enters. Top 25% of diamond quality.

Fair:

Good quality cut which reflects some light while maximizing weight. While not as brilliant as a good cut, still a quality diamond. Top 35% of diamond quality.

Poor:

Inadequate quality cut that reflects minimal amount of light. Brilliant Earth does not provide diamonds with cut grades of poor.

Diameter:

Width of diamond as measured through the girdle.

Culet:

The tiny facet at the bottom tip of a gemstone. The optimal culet should be pointed or very small (graded "small" or "none").

Table:

The largest facet of a gemstone, located at the top.

Crown:

The top portion of the diamond, from the girdle to the table.

Pavillion:

The lower portion of a diamond, from the girdle to the culet.

Girdle:

The narrow rim around the widest part of a diamond, separating the crown from the pavillion.

Depth:

The height of a gemstone, from the culet to the table.

A diamond certificate or grading report provides an expert opinion on the quality of the diamond and is provided by an independent gemology lab. Trained gemologists with specialized equipment measure the weight and dimensions of the diamond and assess quality characteristics such as cut, color, and clarity. Brilliant Earth diamonds are certified by the world’s leading gem grading labs including GIA, AGS, IGI, and Gemscan. Diamonds graded by CDL (Canadian Diamond Laboratory) are evaluated by specialized equipment on premise. If the diamond lab certificate is not available online, please contact us to request an electronic copy.

All Brilliant Earth diamonds come with a certificate guaranteeing the conflict free origin of the diamond. Our diamonds are tracked throughout their chain of custody to ensure that they are mined, cut, and polished in areas not tainted by war. This ensures that the diamonds are certified for their pure origin and are not corrupted by illicit or conflict diamonds. All of our diamonds are also verified to be produced with environmentally responsible methods using ethical labor practices.

While other retailers may claim that they do not carry conflict diamonds, very few have auditing processes to guarantee the ethical source of their diamonds. Brilliant Earth provides a diamond origin certification and can track our diamonds back to their source.

Learn more about Conflict Diamond Issues.

Browse our diamonds according to general preferences and staff recommendations.

Our current diamond collections include:

• Glacier Collection: Our premium and rarest diamonds, exhibiting the most sparkle and brilliance
• Yosemite Collection: Beautiful diamonds offering an optimal balance between size and quality.
• Recommended Collection: Hand-selected by our staff gemologists to offer diamonds of unique beauty that maximize value for any budget. Diamonds are in stock and available immediately.

Length-to-Width Ratio –The length-to-width ratio compares the length of a diamond to its width to show how elongated a fancy-shaped diamond appears when viewed from the top. Length-to-width ratio is a matter of personal preference with some individuals preferring a more elongated shape and others a more equal or square shape. The most popular length-to-width ratios for fancy shapes are below.

Ex. A princess-cut diamond that measures 5.05 mm long by 5.00mm has a length-to-width ratio of 1.01 (5.05/5.00), and will appear perfectly square.

Most popular length-to-width ratios:
Princess: 1.00-1.05
Radiant: 1.00-1.05
Asscher: 1.00-1.05
Cushion: 1.00-1.05
Heart: 0.90-1.10
Emerald: 1.30-1.40
Oval: 1.30-1.70
Pear: 1.45-1.75
Marquise: 1.75-2.30

All Brilliant Earth diamonds come with a certificate guaranteeing the conflict free origin of the diamond. Our diamonds are tracked throughout their chain of custody to ensure that they are mined, cut, and polished in areas not tainted by war. This ensures that the diamonds are certified for their pure origin and are not corrupted by illicit or conflict diamonds. All of our diamonds are also verified to be produced with environmentally responsible methods using ethical labor practices.

While other retailers may claim that they do not carry conflict diamonds, very few have auditing processes to guarantee the ethical source of their diamonds. Brilliant Earth provides a diamond origin certification and can track our diamonds back to their source.

Learn more about Conflict Diamond Issues.

You may use a bank wire to pay for Brilliant Earth purchases of $500 or more. For US, Canadian, and Australian bank wires only, Brilliant Earth provides a 1.5% discount to your order. For Canadian, Australian, and other international bank wires, a $30 processing fee will apply to your order. Some financial institutions may also charge a fee for using a bank wire.

After you submit your order, Brilliant Earth will give you the account information you will need to provide to your bank to transfer funds from your account directly to a Brilliant Earth account. It may take a few days for your bank to process the bank wire. Once your bank has transferred the funds, Brilliant Earth is immediately notified and your purchase is processed. If you have any questions about the process involved in a bank wire, contact your bank or call Brilliant Earth at 800-691-0952.

Please note an ACH transfer is not the same as a wire transfer. At this time, Brilliant Earth does not accept ACH transfers.

The length of the chain will determine where the necklace will fall, whether choker length, at or below the collarbone, or at the neckline. We measure the length from the beginning of one end, to the end of the other, including the clasp (which may add an additional .75 inches). Different lengths are worn for different occasions and different outfits. The most common length is the 18" length, which typically falls at the collarbone. 16": Choker length. Accentuates her neckline. 18": At collarbone. Classic length. 20": A few inches below collarbone. 22": At or above neckline. For more dramatic, stylish look.

The dimensions of the gemstone are the length and width of a gemstone as it appears from the top view. Dimensions represent the size of the gemstone more accurately than carat weight.

Color is used to describe the color present within a gemstone. Color is described in terms of tone and hue. Brilliant Earth carefully selects gemstones with even color distributed throughout the gemstone.

Clarity is used to describe the presence of impurities on and within the gemstone. If the clarity of gemstones is specified as "eye clean", no visible impurities or flaws will be seen with the unaided eye. If the gemstone is "moderately included," there may be moderate flaws that are visible upon examination.

All Brilliant Earth gemstones come with a certificate guaranteeing the fair trade origin of the gemstone.

At Brilliant Earth we ensure that every gemstone we offer has been handled according to strict labor, trade, and environmental protocols. We track our gemstones from the moment they are mined to their final delivery to our valued customers, in order to provide genuine, high-quality fair trade gems. By holding our suppliers to a high ethical standard we hope to better the lives of those negatively affected by the mining and trade of gemstones, and to create a viable framework for industry accountability that will benefit the global community.

For US orders, Brilliant Earth currently only collects sales tax on orders shipped to addresses in California State. For orders shipped to Canada, Brilliant Earth collects the relevant GST/PST/HST based on the province that the order is being shipped to. For Canadian orders, there are no additional duties. For orders over $1,000 AUD shipped to Australia, Brilliant Earth collects the 10% GST tax.