Once you have chosen the style of the ring, the next decision is the diamond itself. When
selecting a diamond, the most important rule of thumb is to choose the finest diamond you can
afford. The best way to determine a diamond's quality is to measure it according to the 4cs: Cut,
Clarity, Color, Carat Weight

Cut
Cut refers not just to the shape of the diamond, but to the angles, proportions and faceting
arrangements of the stone. It is perhaps the most important of the 4cs because it is what releases
the diamond's brilliance. A well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one facet to another and disperse and reflect it through the top of the stone. Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow
lose or leak light through the side or bottom, resulting in less brilliance. The shape of a diamond is its outline. Common shapes for a diamond are round, emerald, oval, princess, radiant, pear, marquise and
heart. The faceting arrangement, along with the outline of the diamond, results in the diamond's visual brilliance. A diamond cut is classified as Excellent, Very good, Fair and Poor.

At Fuller’s, we strive to present you with diamonds that are cut to maximize their intensity
and brilliance.

The style and shape of a diamond are easy to see. The style of a diamond refers to the pattern of the
facet arrangement. There are three basic types of faceting arrangements -- brilliant-cut (round, oval,
pear, marquise, heart), step-cut (emerald, baguette) and mixed-cut (princess, radiant). Brilliant and
mixed-cut diamonds have a sparkly brilliance while step-cut diamonds have a mirror-like brilliance.

The shape of a diamond is its outline. Common shapes for a diamond are round, emerald, oval,
princess, radiant, pear, marquise and heart. The faceting arrangement, along with the outline of the
diamond, results in the diamond's visual brilliance.

Color
Color refers to the degree to which a diamond is colorless. Color in a diamond is the result of traces
of other elements, which mix with carbon during the diamond's formation. White diamonds are color
graded on a scale that begins with “D” indicating a total colorlessness, progressing down the alphabet
for lower qualities. While diamonds tinged with yellow or brown are less desirable. Diamonds of vivid
colors such as Canary Yellow are rare and today are highly valued.
With ArtCarved all of our diamonds are in the colorless and near colorless range.

Clarity
Clarity is an indication of a diamond's purity. In all diamonds, except the most rare, tiny traces of
non-crystalized carbon (the element from which a diamond is formed) can be trapped during the crystallization process. These internal 'inclusions' appear as tiny crystals, clouds or feathers. The
presence of some inclusions does not diminish the diamond's beauty or endanger its durability. Most
cannot be seen without powerful magnification.

Clarity is based on the quantity, size, position, nature, color and relief of inclusions in a diamond.
There are 10 clarity grades, where each grade represents a range. Clarity is determined by a trained
grader, using 10-power magnification.

Carat Weight
Carat weight is the gemologist's universal measurement of a diamond weight (not how big it is) and is
the easiest of the 4cs to determine.

Diamonds are weighed when they are loose or free from any mounting or setting. A carat weighs
0.02 grams or 1/142 of an ounce. And one carat is made up of 100 units called points. Therefore, a
diamond of 75 points weighs 3/4 of a carat, and 50 points, 1/2 of a carat. It is important to know that
two diamonds of equal weight can have very different appearances because of their cut, and different
values because quality is still determined by cut, color and clarity.