Myth: When looking at a loose diamonds, your eye primarily notices the cut quality and then the color grade of the stone, so those are the generally foremost factors when selecting a loose diamond
Reality: When you see a loose diamond, your eye perceives every facet of the stones quality at onceas one solid aesthetic result. Not just that, but color is the single most difficult factor for the average layperson to discern, even on a loose diamond. If a diamond is cut good, it will be vastly difficult for you to report the difference between a colorless D or E stone and a slightly colored J loose diamondeven further so if you set the loose diamond into jewelry. The firstly two things about a diamond the eye formerly notices are size and sparkle. Size is the actual physical measurements and the sparkle has to do with the cut execution.

Myth: A higher clarity grade, even if it is a discrepancy invisible to the naked eye, will make your loose diamond a best investment in the lengthy run.
Reality: Mainly diamond buyers are not looking at their loose diamond purchase as a uncorrupted investment; most diamonds, steady loose diamonds, are sold for sentimental purposes on special occasions. So the higher clarity grade, even on a loose diamond, will not drastically affect its resale value, and is not necessarily a feature that you will appreciate when you wear the stone. Whether you are buying a loose diamond or one set into jewelry, as long as the stone is certified eye clean, the clarity grade is not so important.
Myth: Carat weight is the single mainly significant factor in any loose diamond purchasebigger is always better!
Reality: First of all, carat weight refers to the weight of a diamond (1 carat is .2 of a gram), not sizethe size of the diamond as your eye sees it is affected by the proportions of the cut and how deep the table-to-pavilion ratio is. More importantly, the perceived size of your loose diamond will be greatly affected by its light performancethe more light caught and reflected out of your loose diamond, the bigger it will look and the more eye-catching it will appear. Not only that, but sacrificing all other factors for a giant rock isnt going to get you the stunning look you wanta very large stone with poor light performance, visible inclusions and subpar proportions will just look dull and fake.

There are many factors influencing the perceived size of your diamond, including halo settings like this one
Myth: All cut grades with names like Excellent, Ideal, Super-Ideal and Hearts and Arrows all refer to the same proportions in the cut of the loose diamond.
Reality: Although all those cut grades are nice-looking stones, even in loose diamond form, the fidelity is that super-ideal diamonds are visibly more brilliant and sparkly than their slighter cousins, the Excellent and Ideal stones. Of course, the planned use of the diamond will impact what cut grade is right for you, but for applications where the loose diamond is the central spot, like an engagement rings, you recently cant top the superior light performance of the Super-Ideal. Hearts and Arrows simply takes the proportional perfection of the Super-Ideal one step farther, with facets so symmetrically agreed that they form perceptible hearts and arrows patterns in the loose diamond itself. The A Cut Above diamond is the premier brand of certified Hearts and Arrows diamonds available for online purchase.

Myth: Its very weighty that your loose diamond be certified so that you can be sure you are getting the features you are paying for, but all the certifying agencies are harmonized and it doesnt matter which certificate you have.
Reality: Well, the first part of that is truenever buy an uncertified loose diamond, even if you see it yourself, since you just never know what youre receiving. But not all certifying agencies are produced equal. The two largely reliable are the GIAGemological Institute of Americaand the AGSAmerican Gem Society. Equally of these companies concentrate in diamond grading to the mainly exacting standards; the AGS in special is known for having very high standards when it comes to the nuances of cut grading.