Knowing the terminology associated with engagement rings is vital for anyone exploring the world of fine jewellery, whether purchasing a ring or designing one. Understanding key terms helps you make informed choices regarding diamond quality, setting styles, and craftsmanship, ensuring the perfect ring that symbolises love and commitment.
Accent Stones
Small diamonds or gemstones used to complement the main stone in a ring, adding extra sparkle.
Alloy
A mixture of metals, often used to increase the durability of precious metals like gold.
Bezel Setting
A setting where the gemstone is encircled by a metal rim, offering protection and a modern look.
Blemish
Visible flaws on a diamond’s surface, including scratches, abrasions, and nicks.
Branded Diamond/Cut
A patented cutting style, such as Hearts On Fire’s “Most Perfectly Cut Diamond.”
Brilliance
The brightness and radiance emitted from a diamond’s centre, caused by the reflection of light within the stone.
Brilliant Cut
A diamond cut with numerous facets designed to maximise light reflection. The round cut is the most classic and popular example.
Carat (c or ct)
The weight of a gemstone, not to be confused with karats. One carat equals 200 milligrams.
Cathedral Setting
A setting where the band arches upwards on either side of the stone, resembling the arches of a cathedral.
Certification
An official document issued by a gemological laboratory, detailing the 4 Cs and other characteristics of a diamond.
Clarity
The degree to which a diamond is free from internal or external flaws, known as inclusions or blemishes.
Colour
The presence or absence of colour in a diamond, graded from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
Crown
The upper part of a diamond, above the girdle, including the table and bezel facets.
Culet
The small, flat facet at the bottom of a diamond where the lower facets meet, sometimes used to give the diamond more structure.
Cut
The proportions, symmetry, and polish of a diamond, affecting its sparkle and brilliance.
Eye Clean
Describes gemstones with no visible flaws to the naked eye, though some may be detectable under magnification.
Fancy Colour Diamond
Diamonds with distinct and rich colours, such as yellow, blue, or pink, graded separately from standard colourless diamonds.
Fancy Shape
Any diamond shape other than round, including emerald, oval, or pear-shaped diamonds.
Facet
The flat surfaces on a diamond that are cut and polished to enhance light reflection.
Face/Table Down
When the diamond’s pavilion is positioned outward, the opposite of face/table up.
Face/Table Up
When the diamond’s crown and table face the viewer, as in most engagement rings.
Fire
The coloured light flashes emitted from a polished diamond as it disperses light.
Flawless
A diamond with no internal or external flaws, even under magnification.
Fluorescence
The visible light emitted by some diamonds when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.
Four Cs
The four key factors used to evaluate a diamond’s quality: Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Colour.
Girdle
The thin outer edge of a diamond where the crown and pavilion meet, defining the stone’s silhouette.
Halo Setting
A setting where a central stone is surrounded by a circle of smaller stones, enhancing the centre stone’s appearance.
Hardness
A measure of a gemstone’s resistance to scratching, typically assessed using the Mohs scale.
Inclusion
Internal flaws within a diamond, such as cracks or foreign materials, visible through the stone’s facets.
Kimberley Process
A certification ensuring that diamonds are ethically sourced and conflict-free.
Laboratory-grown
Diamonds created in a laboratory environment, as opposed to natural-mined diamonds.
Loupe
A small magnifying glass used by jewellers to inspect the details and quality of a diamond.
Melee
A term used for small diamonds weighing less than 0.2 carats, often used in side stone settings.
Pavilion
The lower part of a diamond, below the girdle, responsible for reflecting light back through the crown.
Plot
A diagram found on a diamond certification showing the stone’s inclusions, facet arrangements, and blemishes.
Princess Cut
A square-shaped diamond cut, also known as a square modified brilliant diamond, which resembles an inverted pyramid when viewed from the side.
Proportions
The relationship between the angles and measurements of a diamond, influencing its appearance and light performance.
Prong Setting
A setting where metal claws hold the diamond in place, allowing maximum light to enter the stone.
Radiant Cut
A diamond cut with a rectangular or square shape and trimmed corners, combining the brilliance of round cuts with the elegance of emerald cuts.
Ring Size
The measurement of a ring’s circumference or diameter, typically measured in millimetres, to ensure a proper fit.
Round Brilliant Cut
The most popular diamond shape, featuring 58 facets designed to maximise the stone’s brilliance and fire.
Scintillation
The play of light and shadow within a diamond when it is moved, contributing to the stone’s sparkle.
Shape
A diamond’s silhouette or outline, such as oval, cushion, or round cut.
Simulants
Alternative gemstones used to mimic diamonds, such as cubic zirconia.
Solitaire
A ring that features a single diamond or gemstone as its centrepiece, often highlighting the stone’s quality and cut.
Step Cut
A diamond cut with rectangular or square facets arranged in steps, often seen in emerald and baguette cuts.
Table
The large, flat facet on the top of a diamond, forming the main window into the stone and playing a crucial role in its brilliance.
Tension Setting
A modern setting style where the diamond is held in place by the tension of the band, creating the illusion that the stone is floating.
Three-Stone Ring
A ring featuring three stones, symbolising the past, present, and future, with the centre stone typically larger than the side stones.
VVS (Very Very Slightly Included)
A high clarity grade for diamonds, indicating very tiny inclusions that are difficult to see even under magnification.
VS (Very Slightly Included)
A clarity grade indicating that a diamond has small inclusions that are not easily visible to the naked eye, offering a good balance between quality and value.
White Gold
A popular metal for engagement rings, created by alloying gold with white metals like palladium or silver, often plated with rhodium for added shine.
Yellow Gold
A traditional choice for engagement rings, yellow gold is an alloy of gold and other metals like copper and zinc, valued for its warm and classic appearance.
