Typically, the quality and value of a diamond is determined by what is known as the four C’ s. They are, color, clarity, carat weight and cut. With regard to color, the closer a diamond is to being completely colorless, or transparent, the more valuable it is. There are also colored stones and these are more often found in yellow, green, blue, brown and pink colors. The clarity of this gem is decided by the amount of light that passes through it. The most valued are the ones that allow the greatest amount of light to pass through. A carat is a measure of the weight of a diamond and one carat is equal to 0.2g. The size of this gem depends largely on its carat weight.

One of the most important factors in determining the value of a diamond is the cut. This is very different from its shape. It has to do with the symmetry, proportion and polish of the stone. There are many different kinds of cuts. Some of them are the round brilliant, the modified brilliant, the step, the rose, the princess and the cushion cut. A cushion cut diamond is also sometimes called a pillow or a candlelight cut. It is an antique design which is a mix of The Old Mine and the modern-day oval.

A cushion cut stone has rounded corners and a large number of facets. These diamonds usually have 58 facets. This large number increases its brilliance and clarity. They are available in square and rectangular shapes. Their shape is determined by the length-to- width ratio. If you are looking for a classic version of this, the correct length-to-width ratio would be 1.10 to 1.20. This is the best if you are buying a colored diamond, as this shape distributes the color very evenly.