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Understanding Diamond Engagement Ring Terminology

When shopping for an engagement ring you’ll hear words like cut, clarity, carat weight, color, the 4Cs, fire, brilliance, prong set, pave, and many others.  Having a basic understanding of not only diamond terminology, but engagement ring terminology as well will benefit you greatly as you begin your search.

Here are some diamond and engagement ring terms you should familiarize yourself with before you begin your engagement ring search.

Diamond Terminology

Blemish – a clarity characteristic confined to the surface of a polished diamond

Brilliant cut – a cutting style in which triangular and kite shaped facets spread out from the diamond’s center toward the girdle
Brilliance – the brightness that stems from the center of the diamond.  Brilliance occurs when light enters through the table, reaches the pavilion facets, and is reflected back through the table.
4Cs - Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat weight
Carat (ct) – standard term used for the weight of a diamond
Clarity – absence of internal inclusions and external blemishes
Color – absence of color in a diamond
Cut – the proportions and finish of a polished diamond
Clarity characteristics – internal or external feature of a diamond that helps determine the quality and establish its identity
Crown – the upper portion of the diamond above the girdle
Culet – a facet sometimes added to the bottom of the pavilion to protect the tip
Eye clean – a term used to describe a diamond with no blemishes or inclusions that can be seen with the unaided eye
Face-up (aka table up) – a position where the diamond’s crown and table are pointed towards the viewer
Face-down (aka table down) – a position where the diamond’s pavilion is pointed towards the viewer
Facet – a smooth flat plane on the surface of a diamond.  Facets allow light to enter a diamond and reflect off its surface at different angles creating color and light.
Fancy cut– any diamond shape other than a round
Fire – the flashes of colors in a polished diamond
Fluorescence – the emission of visible light by a diamond when it is exposed to ultraviolet radiation
Girdle – the outer edge or outline of the diamond’s shape
Inclusion – a clarity characteristic totally enclosed in a polished diamond or extending into it from the surface
Pavilion – the lower portion of a diamond below the girdle
Plot (aka diamond certificate) – a map of a diamond’s inclusions, blemishes, and facet arrangements
Point (pt) – a unit of measurement used to describe the weight of a diamond
Proportions – the angles and relative measurements of a polished diamond and the relationship between them
Scintillation – the flashes of light and dark areas you see when the diamond, light, or observer moves
Shape – the face-up outline of a diamond
Shape appeal (aka “eye-pleasing”) – a diamonds overall appearance in relation to others of the same size, shape, and cutting style
Scintillation – the flashes of light and dark areas you see when the diamond, light, or observer moves.

Engagement Ring Terminology

Setting Styles

A Prong setting (aka claw setting) is the most common type of setting for solitaire diamond rings.   The diamond is placed in a metal head or basket and it is secured using 3-8 prongs.  The shapes of prongs vary in style and may even contain small accent diamonds.
Advantages – allows more diamond to show than any other style, is secure, easy to clean, and is quick to set.
Disadvantages – does not provide a smooth surface and the prongs can catch on clothing or hair and the girdle area of the diamond is left exposed.
A Channel setting is very popular for not only engagement rings, but wedding bands as well.  The diamonds are placed in a row and are “suspended” between two continuous pieces of metal on the top and bottom with no metal between each stone.   It provides a smooth surface across the ring and protects the girdle of the diamonds; which makes it a great setting choice for someone that is very active or uses their hands a great deal.  The diamonds used for a wedding band are usually all the same size, but may differ in size for engagement rings graduating from larger to smaller down the shank.
Advantages – protects the girdle area of the diamonds and provides for a smooth surface.
Disadvantages – more time consuming and costly to set than a prong setting because all stones must be evenly spaced and secure.
A Pave setting (aka bead setting) contains small round brilliant cut diamonds that are set level with the surface of the ring.  Tiny holes are made in the setting and once the diamond is placed into the hole the surrounding metal is raised to form tiny beads or prongs that will hold the diamond in place.  Pave adds brilliance to the ring and creates the illusion of a larger center stone.  Pave settings are commonly designed using white gold or platinum to minimize the appearance of metal.  Pave settings are quite durable, but aren’t for everyone.  Pave settings also require a little more cleaning and care than prong, channel, and bezel settings.
Advantages – provides great protection for the girdle and pavilion, accentuates the center stone and can make it appear larger than a prong setting, and it allows for an uninterrupted design.
Disadvantages – it doesn’t provide for a smooth surface like a channel setting or channel setting.

Metal Choices

Platinum is rare, pure and known for its durability.  Platinum is 95% pure and will not fade or tarnish keeping its rich white color for a lifetime.  With everyday wear platinum will develop a patina overtime.  Platinum is extremely strong and will hold precious stones firmly and securely in place.  Platinum will scratch, but unlike other metals no metal is lost it is just displaced.  Platinum is hypoallergenic and is a great choice for someone with sensitive skin.
Palladium is part of the platinum family and has a grayish white tone.  It is 10% stronger than platinum and consists of 95% palladium and 5% ruthenium which makes it more scratch resistant than platinum.   Palladium is also a hypoallergenic metal.
White Gold, available in 10kt, 14kt or 18kt, is pure gold alloyed with palladium, zinc or nickel.  The alloys in white gold make it stronger than yellow gold.  To mask the slightly yellowish tone in white gold it is rhodium plated giving it a bright white finish.
Yellow Gold, available in 10kt, 14kt or 18kt, is pure gold alloyed with copper and silver.  Its color looks great with all skin tones and gemstones.
Rose Gold, available in 10kt, 14kt or 18kt, is pure gold alloyed with copper.  Rose Gold has a soft tone that compliments the skin’s natural coloring.  Rose Gold comes in a variety of shades from reddish to a soft pink.  Rose Gold is not recommended for individuals with metal allergies because of its copper alloy.

Shop all Powers Jewelry Designers diamonds and engagement rings to find the perfect one for you!

Powers Jewelry Designers Presents

Diamond Glossary

Average Girdle Diameter

The result of adding the smallest and largest girdle measurements of a round brilliant and dividing by two.

Belly

The slightly curved center of the long side of the pear, marquise, heart, or oval.

Blemish

A clarity characteristic confined to the surface of a polished diamond.

Bow-tie

The dark area across the center of an elongated brilliant cut.

Brightness

The effect of all the diamond's internal and external reflections of white light.

Brilliance

The brightness that stems from the center of the diamond.  Brilliance occurs when light enters through the table, reaches the pavilion facets, and is reflected back through the table.

Brilliant Cut

A cutting style in which triangular and kite shaped facets spread out from the diamond's center toward the girdle.

Carat (aka ct.)

The unit of weight in which a diamond is measured.

Carbon Spots

An included crystal that has a dark appearance instead of a white or transparent appearance.  In many cases dark inclusions are not visible to the unaided eye and do not affect the brilliance.

Clarity

Absence of internal inclusions and external blemishes.  The GIA clarity grading scale is FL (flawless), IF (internally flawless), VVS1 and VVS2 (very, very, slightly included), VS1 and VS2 (very slightly included), SI1 and SI2 (slightly included), and I1, I2, I3 (imperfect).

Clarity Characteristics

Internal or external feature of a diamond that helps determine the quality and establish its identity.

Color Grading

A system of grading diamonds based on either being colorless for white diamonds or hue, depth of color, and saturation of color for fancy color diamonds.  For white diamonds, GIA uses a scale of D-Z in which D is colorless and Z is light yellow.  Z should not be confused with yellow fancy color diamonds.

Crown

The upper portion of the diamond above the girdle.  The crown contains a table facet and depending on diamond shape either star and bezel facets (round brilliant, oval, pear, radiant, princess, heart) or rows of concentric facets reaching from the table to the girdle (emerald, asscher).

Crown Angle

The angle formed by the bezel facets and the girdle plane.

Crown Height Percentage

The distance from the girdle plane to the table expressed as a percentage of average girdle diameter.

Culet

A facet sometimes added to the bottom of the pavilion to protect the tip.

Cut

The proportions and finish of a polished diamond.  Many Gemologists believe cut is the most important of the 4 Cs.

Cutting Style

The arrangement of a diamond's facets.

Depth

The height of a diamond from the culet to the table and is measured in millimeters.

Depth Percentage

A ratio of the total depth of a diamond from table to culet compared to the total diameter.

Diamond

A crystal made up of 99.5% pure carbon atoms arranged in an isometric, or cubic, crystal arrangement.

Dispersion

When white light passes through the diamond and is broken up into spectral colors.

Eye Clean

A term used to describe a diamond with no blemishes or inclusions that can be seen with the unaided eye.

Face-up (aka table up)

A position where the diamond's crown and table are pointed towards the viewer.

Face-down (aka table down)

A position where the diamond's pavilion is pointed towards the viewer.

Facet

A smooth flat plane on the surface of a diamond.  Facets allow light to enter a diamond and reflect off its surface at different angles creating color and light.

Fancy Cut

Any diamond shape other than a round.

Feather

A term for any break in a diamond.

Finish

A term used to describe the quality of the polish and symmetry of the cut in a fashioned diamond.

Fire

The flashes of colors in a polished diamond.

Fluorescence

The emission of visible light by a diamond when it is exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

French Tips

A cutting style that replaces the large bezel facets at the points of a marquise, pear, and heart with star and upper girdle facets.

Girdle

The outer edge or outline of the diamond's shape.

Girdle Thickness Percentage

Girdle thickness expressed as a percentage of the average girdle diameter.

Inclusion

A clarity characteristic totally enclosed in a polished diamond or extending into it from the surface.

Length to Width Ratio

A numerical expression between the length of a diamond and the width of a diamond where the value for width is one.

Lower Girdle Facet Percentage

The length of the lower girdle facets expressed as a percentage of the total distance between the girdle and the culet.

Luster

The appearance of the diamond's surface in reflected light.

Mixed Cut

A cutting style that combines brilliant cut facets and step cut facets.

Natural

Small parts of the original rough diamond's surface which are left on a polished diamond.

Normal Color Range (aka the D-Z range)

The color range of white diamonds from colorless to light yellow or light brown.

Pavilion

The lower portion of a diamond below the girdle.

Pavilion Angle

The angle formed by the pavilion main facets and the girdle plane.

Pavilion Bulge

Outward curve of the pavilion facets on a step cut diamond.

Pavilion Depth Percentage

The distance from the girdle plane to the culet expressed as a percentage of average girdle diameter.

Plot (aka diamond certificate)

A map of a diamond's inclusions, blemishes, and facet arrangements.

Point

A unit of measurement used to describe the weight of a diamond.

Polish

The overall condition of the facet surfaces of a finished diamond.

Proportions

The angles and relative measurements of a polished diamond and the relationship between them.

Reflection

The bouncing back of light when it strikes a surface.

Refraction

Change in speed and direction of light as it travels through a diamond.

Scintillation

The flashes of light and dark areas you see when the diamond, light, or observer moves.

Shape

The face-up outline of a diamond.

Shape Appeal (aka "eye-pleasing")

A diamonds overall appearance in relation to others of the same size, shape, and cutting style.

Sparkle

The spots of light that flash as the diamond, light, or observer moves.

Star Facet Length Percentage

The length of the star facets expressed as a percentage of the total distance between the girdle and the edge of the table.

Step Cut

A cutting style with long narrow four sided facets in rows parallel to the girdle on the crown and pavilion.

Symmetry

Refers to the exactness of a finished diamond's shape and the placement of the facets.

Table

The largest facet on the diamond.

Table Percentage

The diamond's table size expressed as a percentage of its average girdle diameter.

Total Depth Percentage

Table to culet depth expressed as a percentage of the average girdle diameter.

New Men's Watches - 12-06-2011

Why NOT To Buy Diamonds At A Franchise Or Online!

Why shop at a family owned & operated jewelry store like Powers Jewelry Designers?

1. Support local businesses to help support your community.

2. When you buy from a small business, you are a life-long customer. When you buy from a franchise or online, your deal is final once you walk out the door.

3. All that advertising, fancy promotions, and other overhead costs all come back to your jewelry cost. We don't have big sales because we always offer the best price in town...whether buying or selling.

4. If you buy from Powers and something happens in the future where you need to return, we give you more money back than if you bought from another jewelry store. Most franchise jewelry stores won't even buy back items they've sold.

5. A diamond upgrade is an easy option when you bought your original diamond from Powers. We can easily replace and upgrade the old diamond at a fraction of the cost that other jewelry stores can.

So when you see "SALE" and hear jewelry advertising on the radio, don't be fooled. A small, family owned & operated business like Powers Jewelry Designers keeps initial cost to a minimum, and guarantees life-long sanctification!

FAQ

1.   Q: Do You Buy Gold?

A: Yes! The best way to get an accurate estimate of what we would pay would be to bring ALL your Gold pieces in. We do not buy less than 3 grams. We also stop buying a Half-Hour before store close. You may also get more money for your gold if you choose In-Store Credit over cash. We are usually the highest bidder in Milwaukee.

2.   Q: How Can I Tell If My Pearls Are Real?

A: Scratch the Pearls on your teeth and if they’re scratchy and taste like sand, then you have real Pearls. Otherwise, bring them into Powers and we can help.

3.   Q: Where Should I Park At Powers Milwaukee Location?

A: We have a Loading Zone on Broadway Ave. exclusively for Powers Jewelry Customers. NEVER park on Wisconsin Avenue, they will tow.

4.   Q: Do You Sell Charms? (for bracelets)

A: We don’t have them in the store, but we can special order them for you.

5.   Q: Do You Buy or Sell Grills?

A: No.

6.   Q: Can You Create Custom Jewelry?

A: Yes! Powers has access to the latest Custom Jewelry technology. With the 3D CAD-CAM, we can take your drawing, turn it into a wax, and then create it. We work with you through the whole process, satisfaction guaranteed!

Q: Do You Buy Silver?
A: It depends. Because the price of silver isn't as high as the price of gold, we only buy if you have a large amount. Call us or bring your silver in to get the best estimate.

Q: Is Powers Jewelry Designers Associated With Don Powers Jewelry Or Any Other Powers Jewelry Store?
A: No. Powers Jewelry Designers on Broadway & Wisconsin Ave in Downtown Milwaukee is our only location.


Q: Do You Offer Layaway?
A: Yes! Pay the minimum amount each month, or pay it off in a couple payments. We offer flexible payment plans that are appropriate to the item being purchased and that work with your financial situation.


Q: How Many Years Have You Been In Business?
A: We've been in business in Downtown Milwaukee for over 35 years! Powers Jewelry Designers is also family owned & operated.


Q: Do You Buy/Sell Heirloom Jewelry, Vintage Jewelry, Estate Sale Jewelry, or Antique Jewelry?
A: Yes! Powers Jewelry Designers has the largest inventory in Milwaukee of Heirloom Jewelry, Vintage Jewelry, Estate Sale Jewelry, and Antique Jewelry. If you are interested in Powers purchasing a large amount of jewelry, contact us.


Q: Can Powers Jewelry Designers Repair / Fix / Restore My Antique or Vintage Jewelry?
A: Yes, Powers Jewelers is one of the only places in Milwaukee that can Repair / Fix / Restore Antique or Vintage Jewelry. Our Goldsmiths are on-site and offer a quick completion time.

About Us

Powers Jewelry Designers has been Downtown Milwaukee's jeweler for over 35 years and is family owned & operated. Our specialties include: On-Site Jewelry Appraisals, GIA Certified Gemologist, Master Goldsmith, On-Site Jewelry Repair, On-Site Watch Repair, 3D CAD-CAM Custom Jewelry, Certified Diamonds, Gemstones, Buy/Sell Gold, Silver, & Diamonds, Antique Jewelry, Wedding Jewelry, Layaway/Special Billing Options, and more! We offer: Engagement Rings, Engagement Mountings, Wedding Bands, Wedding Sets, Anniversary Bands, Custom Designs, Gemstone Jewelry, Fashion Jewelry, Pearls, Antique Jewelry, Diamond Stud Earrings, Pendants, Necklaces, Bracelets, Bangle Bracelets, Pins, Men's Rings, and Watches. Stop in to our store on 3rd and Wisconsin to view our entire inventory, or check out our website to view our jewelry from home. We're also on Facebook, Twitter, Yelp!, Foursquare, and YouTube...we appreciate your support and feedback!