The diamond is the most classic and most exclusive of all gemstones – timeless, unique and made to be worn through a lifetime. A diamond has a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, the highest value attainable. It is four times harder than number 9 on the scale, the sapphire, and can be scratched by nothing but another diamond.
Every diamond is created by nature and is therefore unique. Quality is judged by the four internationally recognised Cs – carat, cut, clarity and colour.
Carat – weight
Carat describes the weight of the diamond and is one of the factors affecting size and value. Two diamonds of the same carat can look different in size depending on cut and proportions. Our advice is not to look at weight alone, but to weigh it against cut, clarity and colour. The price of a one-carat stone can vary by tens of thousands of kronor depending on quality.
Cut
The cut is the single most important factor for a diamond's brilliance and play of light. A well-cut diamond reflects light in the best possible way and brings out the natural beauty of the stone. Our stones have an excellent cut.
How light travels through a diamond:
- If the diamond is cut to the right proportions, light is reflected between the facets and back up through the stone.
- If the cut is too deep, some of the light escapes through the bottom.
- If the cut is too shallow, light passes straight through without being reflected.
The shape of a diamond is more a matter of personal taste and does not affect the value in itself. The most common cuts are:
- Brilliant – round, the classic
- Princess – square with sharp corners
- Cushion – cushion-shaped with soft corners
- Emerald – rectangular with step-cut facets
- Oval – elongated and bright
Clarity
Because diamonds are created by nature, every stone is unique. Small natural inclusions of other minerals can occur and are part of the diamond's identity – they are also what separates a real diamond from a synthetic one. The clarity grade is judged by the number, position and visibility of these traces. The fewer the inclusions, the higher the value.
| FL / IF | Loupe clean, free from inclusions |
| VVS1–VVS2 | Very, very small inclusions |
| VS1–VS2 | Very small inclusions |
| SI1–SI2 | Small inclusions |
| P1–P3 | Piqué, visible inclusions |
The scale runs from Flawless (FL) to Included 3 (I3), which in Europe is usually called Piqué 3 (P3).
Colour
Diamonds are also graded by colour. For white diamonds, a higher grade means a clearer, more colourless stone. The difference between two adjacent grades is very fine. The larger the diamond, the more colour matters, since the reflections show more clearly in a large stone.
| D–E | River | Exceptionally rare white |
| F–G | Top Wesselton | Rare white |
| H | Wesselton | White |
| I | Top Crystal | Very slightly tinted white |
| J | Crystal | Slightly tinted white |
| K–L | Top Cape | Tinted white |
| M–N | Cape | Slightly yellowish |
| O–R | Light Yellow | Yellowish |
| S–Z | Yellow | Yellow |
Quality, origin and certificates
Our standard is Top Wesselton VS – rare white with very small inclusions, visible only under ten times magnification.
All our diamonds are conflict-free under the Kimberley Process. If you choose a larger diamond, a certificate confirming quality and authenticity is included.
Our diamond rings are available in 18k red gold, white gold and rose gold, as well as in platinum. Choose between classic solitaire and eternity rings or Annika's own designs.
→ See our engagement rings and wedding rings
Ordering a ring? Find the right ring size →
Other gemstones
Besides the diamond, nature has created many other remarkable gemstones. There are over 500 different kinds, although far from all of them are used in jewelry. Most are minerals formed in the earth's crust. Within the mineral structure are small amounts of various metals – and it is these that give gemstones their unique colours. It is iron, for instance, that makes an aquamarine such a beautiful blue.
A gemstone is graded on six criteria: colour, size, clarity, hardness, cut and rarity. Together they determine the price, which can vary widely from stone to stone.
We work with a range of gemstones across our collections, not least in our cocktail rings and in the drops for the Martall earring.