Our Types of Diamond
Lab-Grown Diamonds
At De Éternel, our lab-grown diamonds are the zenith of crafted perfection. In pristine, controlled environments, our master artisans replicate—and elevate—nature’s genius. Chemically and visually identical to mined diamonds, these gems are the exclusive domain of those who value both artistry and conscience. Each stone is a bespoke marvel, reserved for connoisseurs of luxury who demand beauty with purpose.
Natural DiamondsForged by the Earth over eons, these treasures are nearly 99.95% carbon, prized for their scarcity and primal allure.
Shape
A diamond’s shape is its overall outline or form (viewed from above). Each shape features unique attributes—like facet count and placement—that define its appearance and style.
ROUND BRILLIANT CUT
The King of Diamonds
The Round Brilliant is the most popular and most researched diamond shape in history. It’s not just “round” — it’s a precisely engineered optical machine designed to maximize brilliance (white light return), fire (colored flashes), and scintillation (sparkle when moved).
PRINCESS CUT
The Square Sparkler
The princess cut is the most popular non-round diamond shape in the world (especially in the US). It’s a modern, square (or very slightly rectangular) brilliant-cut that combines razor-sharp corners with explosive fire.
EMERALD CUT
Rectangular with cropped (beveled) corners → creates an elegant octagonal silhouette.
Classic hallmark: Long, rectangular step-cut facets that run parallel to the girdle, creating broad flashes of light and a “hall-of-mirrors” effect instead of the fiery sparkle of brilliant cuts.
OVAL CUT
The Elegant, Elongated Sparkler
The oval brilliant is essentially a round brilliant that has been stretched into an elliptical shape. It combines the fiery sparkle of a round with a more distinctive, slender silhouette.
RADIANT CUT
The Fiery Rectangle
The radiant cut is the only fancy shape that combines:
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Trimmed (cut-off) corners like an emerald cut
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Brilliant-style faceting like a round → Result: massive fire + modern octagonal outline + built-in corner protection
ASSCHER CUT
Perfectly square with deeply cropped (beveled) corners → an octagonal silhouette, just like emerald but strictly square.
Invented 1902 by the Asscher brothers in Amsterdam (the same family that cut the Cullinan diamond).
PEAR BRILLIANT CUT
The Teardrop
The pear shape is a hybrid: one rounded end like an oval, one pointed end like a marquise. It’s romantic, dramatic, and one of the most finger-flattering shapes available.
CUSHION CUT
The Pillow cut
Because of its soft, rounded corners and sidesSquare or slightly rectangular with rounded corners and curved sides. The length-to-width ratio usually falls between 1.00–1.09 for a true square look; anything 1.10+ starts looking noticeably rectangular (sometimes called “cushion rectangular”).
MARQUISE CUT
Elongated football (navette) shape with two pointed ends. One of the most dramatically lengthening shapes on the finger.
HEART SHAPE CUT
Shape outline A modified pear with a cleft (notch) at the top – the ultimate symbolic, romantic cut.
Key visual features
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Perfectly symmetrical lobes and wings (the two rounded halves must be identical)
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Distinct cleft in the center top
4C's of Diamond
If you’re wondering what to look for in a diamond, the best place to begin is by understanding the 4 C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat. Created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the 1940s, the 4 C’s act as a universal scale to describe and determine the quality of diamonds.
CARAT
Carat weight is the standard measurement for a diamond’s size and mass—one carat equals exactly 200 milligrams. Diamonds are priced on a per-carat basis, and larger diamonds tend to be far rarer, which makes them more valuable.
Here is a clean, accurate, and clearly labeled visual comparison of round brilliant diamonds from 1.00 ct to 10.00 ct (all excellent proportions, face-up view):
CUT
Among the Diamond 4Cs (Carat, Color, Clarity, Cut), Cut is often called the “most critical C” — it’s the only factor entirely shaped by human craftsmanship (not nature) and the key to unlocking a diamond’s sparkle. Unlike carat (size), color (whiteness), or clarity (purity), cut refers to the precision of a diamond’s proportions, symmetry, polish, and how it interacts with light — not just its shape (e.g., round, princess). A well-cut diamond turns a raw carbon crystal into a dazzling gem, while a poor cut can waste even a high-carat, high-clarity stone.
1. What Does Diamond Cut Actually Measure?
Cut grading evaluates three core craftsmanship elements, all tied to light performance:
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Proportions: The angles and dimensions of the diamond (e.g., depth of the pavilion, width of the crown, size of the table). Perfect proportions ensure light enters the diamond, reflects off internal facets, and bounces back to the eye (instead of leaking out the sides or bottom).
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Symmetry: How well the diamond’s facets, outline, and culet (tiny bottom tip) align. For example, do the crown facets match on both sides? Is the shape uniform (e.g., a round diamond truly circular)?
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Polish: The smoothness of the diamond’s facets. Even slight scratches or roughness on the surface can dull light reflection.
These three factors work together to create a diamond’s brilliance (bright white light), fire (rainbow flashes from light dispersion), and scintillation (sparkles when the diamond or observer moves) — the “magic” of a dazzling diamond.
2. Standard Cut Grading Scale (4C’s Core Reference)
The 4C system relies on trusted gemological labs like GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and AGS (American Gem Society) for consistent cut grading. This scale applies primarily to round brilliant diamonds(the most common shape with universal proportion standards). Fancy shapes (non-round, e.g., oval, emerald) use simplified grading (more on that below).
3. Cut for Fancy Shapes (Non-Round Diamonds) in the 4C’s
Fancy shapes (princess, cushion, oval, emerald, etc.) don’t have a universal “cut grade” in the 4C system (since their unique outlines lack one-size-fits-all proportions). Instead, 4C evaluations for fancy cuts focus on two critical sub-grades:
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Symmetry: Graded Excellent/Very Good/Good/Fair/Poor — ensures the shape is uniform and sparkle is balanced (e.g., a heart-shaped diamond has evenly curved lobes).
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Polish: Also graded on the same scale — smooth facets enhance light reflection, a must for maintaining 4C-quality shine.
Example: A 4C report for a princess-cut diamond might state: “Symmetry: Excellent / Polish: Very Good” (no overall “cut grade,” but these two metrics signal strong 4C craftsmanship).
4. Why Cut Is the “Most Important C” in the 4Cs
While carat (size), color (whiteness), and clarity (purity) are important, a diamond’s cut is the only C that directly impacts its “sparkle factor.” For example:
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A 2-carat diamond with a “Poor” cut will look duller than a 1-carat diamond with an “Excellent” cut.
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A diamond with top-tier color (D) and clarity (IF) but a “Fair” cut will waste its natural potential — light leakage ruins its beauty.
In 4C terms: Prioritize cut above all other Cs if sparkle is your goal. For round diamonds, aim for Excellent or Very Good cut grades. For fancy shapes, target Excellent/Very Good Symmetry and Polish to meet 4C quality standards.
Final 4C Cut Takeaway
In the Diamond 4Cs, cut is the “craftsmanship C” — it’s what turns nature’s raw diamond into a dazzling gem. Unlike carat, color, or clarity (which are determined by how the diamond forms underground), cut is a choice made by lapidaries (diamond cutters). Investing in a high 4C cut grade ensures your diamond lives up to its full sparkling potential — making it the most impactful C for long-term beauty.
De Éternel only provide excellent cut:
CLARITY
As one of the Diamond 4Cs (Carat, Color, Clarity, Cut), Clarity refers to the absence of internal flaws (inclusions) and external blemishes in a diamond. Formed deep underground over billions of years, diamonds often develop natural “birthmarks” — tiny minerals, air bubbles, or fractures trapped inside (inclusions) or surface imperfections (blemishes) from mining or cutting. Clarity grading measures how visible these flaws are, as they can affect a diamond’s transparency, brilliance, and rarity.
De Éternel's diamonds only provide grades of "FL" , "IF", "VVS1":
COLOR
In the Diamond 4C standard, Color mainly evaluates the degree of colorlessness of white diamonds (colored diamonds are classified separately beyond this system). The globally recognized grading is based on the GIA’s D - Z scale, which divides white diamonds into 23 color grades. This grading directly affects the diamond’s rarity, appearance, and market value. Here is a detailed introduction:
De Éternel's diamonds only provide grades of "D" , "E", "F" & "G":
CERTIFICATION
All De Éternel diamonds hold certification from either the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the International Gemological Institute (IGI)—two globally respected leaders in diamond grading, renowned for their strict standards, thorough testing protocols, and unwavering commitment to impartial evaluations. Beyond their trusted certification, our diamonds are sustainably sourced and 100% conflict-free, aligning with ethical practices that prioritize responsibility.
Each GIA or IGI certificate serves as a detailed, authoritative record of a diamond’s key attributes: it outlines the core 4Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight) and supplements this with critical additional metrics like symmetry and polish. For an extra layer of authenticity and traceability, every HauteCarat diamond weighing over 1 carat features a unique laser-inscribed serial number on its girdle—directly matching the information on its corresponding GIA or IGI certificate.
