Diamond Cut & Clarity Glossary

diamond cut clairty glossary

Learn the lingo from the experts! If you’re shopping for a diamond, you should know about the 4 C’s and how diamond cut and clarity impact a diamond’s appearance. But to truly understand cut and clarity—and get the best deal for your dollar—you need to know all the details of what makes these diamond qualities so important.

Our glossary has all the terms you need to know to discuss diamond cut and clarity, and determine which diamond is the best fit for you:

Blemish: An imperfection found on the exterior of a diamond that may or may not be visible.

Brilliance: How light enters and exits a diamond and creates brightness.

Clarity: Refers to the absence or presence of flaws (inclusions and blemishes) in a diamond.

Crown: The top part of the diamond that sits above the girdle.

Culet: The small, often pointed tip located at the very bottom of the diamond.

Cut: The height of the diamond, which is measured from the culet to the table in millimeters.

Depth: The height of the diamond, which is measured from the culet to the table in millimeters.

diamond cut clarity anatomy chart glossary

Facet: The smooth, flat surfaces of a diamond.

Fire: The colorful sparkle that appears when the diamond is exposed to light.

Flawless: The highest clarity grade that can be assigned to a diamond. A flawless diamond has no inclusions or blemishes even when placed under 10x magnification and examined by a skilled diamond grader.

Girdle: The outermost edge of the diamond. This is the area where the crown of the diamond meets the pavilion.

Included: The lowest clarity grade that can be assigned to a diamond. An included diamond has obvious inclusions and blemishes.

Inclusion: An imperfection found within a diamond that may or may not be visible to the naked eye or under magnification.

Internally Flawless: The second highest clarity grade that can be assigned to a diamond. An internally flawless diamond has no inclusions, but blemishes are visible when the diamond is placed under 10x magnification.

Length: The distance (measured in millimeters) between the top and the bottom of the diamond when looking at it as it would sit in a ring setting.

Length to Width (L/W Ratio): A ratio that is calculated by dividing a diamond’s length by its width.

Pavilion: The bottom part of the diamond that is located underneath the girdle.

Scintillation: The way that a diamond sparkles as it moves and hits the light.

Slightly Included: The second lowest clarity grade that can be assigned to a diamond. A slightly included diamond has inclusions that are very noticeable to a skilled grader.

Table: The largest facet on the top of a diamond.

Very Slightly Included (VS1 or VS2): The fourth highest clarity grade that can be assigned to a diamond. A VS1 or VS2 diamond has minor inclusions that may or may not be easily spotted by a skilled grader.

Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 or VVS2)The third highest clarity grade that can be assigned to a diamond. A VVS1 or VVS2 diamond has inclusions that are very difficult to see under 10x magnification.

WidthThe distance (measured in millimeters) between one side of the diamond to the other when looking at it as it would sit in a ring setting. The width runs perpendicular to the length.

Keep this diamond cut and clarity glossary handy the next time that you shop for a diamond to ensure that you can understand the terms used to describe diamonds.