1. Debunking the Top Five Loose Diamond Myths
Myth: When looking at a loose diamond, your eye first notices the cut quality and then the color grade of the
stone, so those are the most important factors when choosing a loose diamond
Reality: When you see a loose diamond, your eye perceives every facet of the stone’s quality at once—as one
cohesive aesthetic judgment. Not only that, but color is the single most difficult factor for the average
layperson to discern, even on a loose diamond. If a diamond is cut well, it will be very difficult for you to tell
the difference between a colorless D or E stone and a slightly colored J loose diamond—even more so if you set
the loose diamond into jewelry. The first two things about a diamond the eye first notices are size and
sparkle. Size is the actual physical measurements and the sparkle has to do with the cut performance.
These two stones are alike in almost every feature—except color.
To upgrade from the top stone (a J) to the bottom (a D) you will pay four times the price.
Myth: A higher clarity grade, even if it is a difference invisible to the naked eye, will make your loose diamond
a better investment in the long run.
Reality: Most diamond buyers are not looking at their loose diamond purchase as a pure investment; most
diamonds, even loose diamonds, are sold for sentimental purposes on special occasions. So the higher clarity
grade, even on a loose diamond, will not significantly affect its resale value, and is not necessarily a feature
that you will appreciate when you wear the stone. Whether you are buying a loose diamond or one set into
jewelry, as long as the stone is certified eye clean, the clarity grade is not so important.

2. Myth: Carat weight is the single most important factor in any loose diamond purchase—bigger is always better!
Reality: First of all, carat weight refers to the weight of a diamond (1 carat is .2 of a gram), not size—the size
of the diamond as your eye sees it is affected by the proportions of the cut and how deep the table-to-pavilion
ratio is. More importantly, the perceived size of your loose diamond will be greatly affected by its light
performance—the more light caught and reflected out of your loose diamond, the bigger it will look and the
more eye-catching it will appear. Not only that, but sacrificing all other factors for a giant rock isn’t going to
get you the stunning look you want—a very large stone with poor light performance, visible inclusions and
subpar proportions will just look dull and fake.
There are many factors influencing the perceived size of your diamond, including halo settings like this one
Myth: All cut grades with names like Excellent, Ideal, Super-Ideal and Hearts and Arrows all refer to the same
proportions in the cut of the loose diamond.
Reality: Although all those cut grades are nice-looking stones, even in loose diamond form, the truth is that
super-ideal diamonds are visibly more brilliant and sparkly than their lesser cousins, the Excellent and Ideal
stones. Of course, the planned use of the diamond will impact what cut grade is right for you, but for
applications where the loose diamond is the focal point, like an engagement ring, you just can’t top the
superior light performance of the Super-Ideal. Hearts and Arrows just takes the proportional perfection of the
Super-Ideal one step farther, with facets so symmetrically arranged that they form visible hearts and arrows
patterns in the loose diamond itself. The A Cut Above® diamond is the premier brand of certified Hearts and
Arrows diamonds available for online purchase.
http://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/diamond-education/top-five-loose-diamond-myths-868.htm

3. When photographed through a special colored lens, the near-perfect hearts on this A Cut Above® show up
clearly.
Myth: It’s really important that your loose diamond be certified so that you can be sure you are getting the
features you are paying for, but all the certifying agencies are standardized and it doesn’t matter which
certificate you have.
Reality: Well, the first part of that is true—never buy an uncertified loose diamond, even if you see it yourself,
because you simply never know what you’re getting. But not all certifying agencies are created equal. The two
most reliable are the GIA—Gemological Institute of America—and the AGS—American Gem Society. Both of
these companies specialize in diamond grading to the most exacting standards; the AGS in particular is known
for having very high standards when it comes to the nuances of cut grading.