6 WAYS TO DETERMINE QUALITY AND VALUE IN A DIAMOND

1. The 5 C's

2. Why is cut the most important characteristic?

When a diamond comes out of the ground it looks like a translucent pebble. Only when the diamond has been skillfully cut does it capture and release light brilliantly. Cut is the only one of the 5 C's completely under man's control and the most important because it determines the amount of brilliance, sparkle and fire - the properties which make a diamond special. For more information on The GIA Diamond Cut Grading System please click here.

3. What is an "ideal cut" diamond?

In order to achieve the maximum play of light, a diamond must be ideal cut. The ideal cut is a mathematical formula for cutting diamonds to precise angles and proportions to gain the optimum reflection and refraction of light.

You may choose to economize on color, clarity or size, but to ensure that you have the most brilliant diamond possible, you should never compromise on cut.

4. What makes the "ideal cut" so important?

When a diamond is ideally cut, light rays from all sides are bent towards the center of the stone and a re reflected back through the top in a blaze of light. If a diamond isn't ideally cut, light will "leak out" through the side or bottom of the stone causing a loss of brilliance. The ideal cut guarantess you a spectacular balance of brilliance, sparkle and fire.

5. Why are diamonds from Hannon Jewelers your best value?

When you buy a non-ideal cut diamond, you may want to pay more for extra weight. But that extra depth or thickness can actually detract from the brilliance of your diamond.

Every Hannon Diamond is ideal cut for maximum beauty, not weight. All diamonds have brilliance, but an ideal cut diamond will offer the maximum play of light and sparkle.

Because more of the original rough diamond must be sacrificed to achieve an ideal cut, only a small percentage of diamonds are cut this way. Our expert craftsmen take care to cut every facet of a Hannon Diamond to precise angles and perfect symmetry to capture optimal light. And, Hannon Diamonds are available in a broad range of sizes, colors and clarities to fit every budget.

6. How can you easily identify a Hannon Diamond?

The ideal cut gives Hannon Diamonds a brilliance you can see. No other jeweler can match the quality of each and every diamond sold.