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Diamond Education
Everything you need to make a confident, informed purchase — from a certified gemologist.
The Smart Choice
Lab-Grown vs Mined Diamonds
A 1.5ct lab-grown E/VS1 costs approximately $3,500. The equivalent mined diamond? Over $12,000.
Same carbon crystal structure. Same Mohs 10 hardness. Same fire and brilliance. Same GIA and IGI grading process. The only thing different is where it was born.
Shape & Style
Popular Diamond Cuts
Each cut has a distinct personality. Here are the most popular choices.
Round Brilliant
The most popular cut worldwide. 58 precisely angled facets maximize fire and brilliance. Timeless and universally flattering.
Princess
Square outline with brilliant-style faceting. Modern and geometric. Second only to round in popularity for engagement rings.
Oval
Elongated brilliant cut. Creates an illusion of greater size and makes fingers appear longer. Trending strongly.
Cushion
Square or rectangular with rounded corners. Soft, romantic look with a vintage feel. Excellent light dispersion.
Emerald
Step-cut faceting creates a hall-of-mirrors effect. Rectangular outline with truncated corners. Sophisticated and architectural.
Pear
Teardrop shape — round on one end, pointed on the other. Elegant and unique. Looks stunning on a slender band.
Radiant
Rectangular with brilliant-style faceting. Combines the emerald shape with the fire of a round. Lively and versatile.
The Essentials
The 4Cs of Diamonds
Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat — the universal language of diamond quality.
Cut
The most important of the 4Cs. Cut determines how light travels through the stone. Our diamonds are cut to Excellent or Ideal grade for maximum fire, brilliance, and scintillation.
Color
Graded D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). D–F are colorless; G–J are near-colorless and appear white to the naked eye. Most buyers choose G–H for outstanding beauty at great value.
Clarity
Clarity grades natural inclusions and surface blemishes on a scale from FL (flawless) to I3. VS1–VS2 and SI1 stones are eye-clean — no visible inclusions without magnification.
Carat
Carat measures diamond weight, not size. A well-cut 1.00ct diamond looks larger than a poorly cut 1.20ct stone. Prioritize cut grade, then carat, for the best visual impact.
Proof of Quality
IGI vs GIA Certification
Every TrueSmith diamond comes with a certificate. Here is what that means.
IGI
International Gemological Institute. The world's largest independent gemological laboratory, with over 30 offices globally. Industry standard for lab-grown diamonds.
- Grades all 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat
- Explicitly states "Lab-Grown" on certificate
- Preferred by most lab-grown diamond retailers
- Verifiable online at igi.org
GIA
Gemological Institute of America. The creator of the 4Cs grading system. The gold standard for natural diamonds, now also grading lab-grown.
- Invented the 4Cs grading standard in 1953
- Universally recognized by jewelers worldwide
- Available for both natural and lab-grown diamonds
- Verifiable online at gia.edu/report-check
Both are real certifications. IGI is commonly used for lab-grown diamonds because they were early adopters of the category. Every TrueSmith diamond comes with an IGI or GIA certificate. The certificate number is your proof of exactly what you bought — grade it yourself at the lab's website.