DIAMOND EDUCATION
CENTER

DIAMOND LINGO

Most diamond grading reports include comments. The following is a brief glossary definitions and terminology that may be encountered.

Bruise: A chip on the surface of the diamond that may include root-like feathers radiating into the diamond.

Cavity: An opening or depression in the surface of the diamond, usually caused by a natural flaw in the rough stone.

Chip: A shallow nick in the surface of the diamond, often created during the cutting process.

Cloud: A grouping of pinpoint inclusions. The individual pinpoints are often impossible to see under 10x magnification, but when aggregated into a cloud they become visible.

Crystal: A mineral deposit found inside the diamond, either alone or in groups. The crystal may be colored or colorless, but usually appears black when viewed in natural light through the table.

Extra facet : Any facet that is not part of the shape’s standard cut. Usually created by the cutter due to a limitation or flaw in the original rough stone.

Feather: A fracture that often has fine lines radiating from it, resembling a feather. Feathers usually a appear white or transparent, depending on the viewing angle.

Natural: Small remains of the original rough stone’s surface, left unpolished on the surface of the finished diamond. An “indented natural” occurs when a natural leaves a depression or indention on the surface of the finished diamond

Needle: Very fine elongated inclusion. They are similar in appearance to a feather, without the radiating lines.

Pinpoint: A very small crystal, often whitish in color. When clustered together, these pinpoints can form a cloud.

Twinning wisps : Flat ribbon of pinpoints or clouds, caused by natural distortion created during the growing of the crystal.