Diamond Search

Your search for the perfect diamond begins here
Selecting a diamond can be an emotional experience. But there’s no need to feel overwhelmed by the variety of choices. With the right guidance and education, the process can be enjoyable and rewarding. When you begin your selection with a Brian Gavin Signature or Brian Gavin Select diamond, you’re making an excellent first step. You can trust that when you select a Brian Gavin Signature or Select diamond – for a ring, earrings, bracelet, pendants, necklace or custom piece of jewelry – it will have the perfect balance of brilliance, beauty and value that you desire.

Our goal is to help you select the ideal diamond for your needs and your budget. So, we suggest you visit the “Education” section of our Web site to see our perspective on the “5 Cs” ( the infamous 4 Cs plus 1) of diamond quality: cut (performance), cut (shape), color, clarity and carat weight (size). Here is an overview with important tips to help you find the best diamond for your needs and budget.

Cut – the most important thing for you to consider
One distinct difference at Brian Gavin Diamonds is our belief that “cut” (performance) is by far the most significant of the 5 C’s because it directly affects a diamond’s “performance” – or how effectively it returns light to a viewer’s eye under the widest range of lighting conditions. Our combined knowledge and experience of five generations of master diamond cutters has shown us a well-cut and symmetrical diamond will reveal all the inner brilliance and fire that a diamond contains. Let’s explain what we mean:

Cut vs. Carat Weight
A well-cut and polished diamond with precise angles and symmetry will have more fire and brilliance and may give the impression that it is larger than stones of equal weight but with a lesser cut. In the US, the average diamond engagement ring sold today has a weight of about 3/4 ct. A larger stone may be impressive to some, but a larger stone with poor cut parameters causing less brilliance and light-return will simply look flat next to a smaller, well-cut and higher-performing stone. What people notice most and what increases a diamond’s “wow” appeal is the way it transmits light back to the viewer’s eye, and that’s affected more by the cut than any other factor.

What is the AGS and GIA grade of cut for my diamond? Ask for verification. The AGS system is very strict and as a result, less than 1% of the world’s round diamonds earn the AGS top grade of 0 or “Ideal” for each of the following categories: polish, symmetry, light performance and cut grade. All Brian Gavin Signature diamonds meet and exceed this grade.

Cut vs. Color
In real life it is difficult to see small variations in a diamond’s color. A mounted diamond will show even less accurate color than it did loose because its color can be influenced by the color of the metal used for its setting. “Performance” is a more noticeable and important feature than color. A round brilliant cut like that on our Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows diamonds returns more light to the eye and shows less color than a lesser quality cut. As a result, with a well-cut diamond, you can afford to go with a lower grade of color and have a better performing more brilliant stone.

Cut vs. Clarity
A diamond’s clarity is rated by whether it contains inclusions or not. Inclusions are caused any material that was trapped inside the stone during its formation. Cut maximizes a diamond’s brilliance, light dispersion and brightness, therefore, a well cut, higher performing stone will easily conceal any slight inclusions that it may contain. The term “eye-clean” is used to describe diamonds that have no visible inclusions to the naked eye when viewed in the face-up position from no closer than 6” to 12”. Our diamonds are well known for being not just eye clean, but for being brilliant and scintillating as well. Therefore, to maximize the value of your purchase, we recommend you select cut over clarity. Our average customer buys a diamond with a clarity rating of VS2 or SI1.

Our Diamond Search chart (above) will help you narrow your selection parameters and simplify your search. You select the shape, size, color, clarity and price range that you desire, and it will present a variety of stones in our immediate inventory from which you can begin creating the perfect piece of diamond jewelry. At any time during your selection process, we invite you to call us for help – for guidance and options to achieve the best value for your diamond purchase.