The quality of an Emerald diamond’s cut effects how beautiful it is. It determines whether the stone has a lovely hall of mirrors effect or whether it looks haphazard or lifeless. Like all fancy cut stones, the GIA does not grade Emerald cut diamonds for cut quality. If you see a cut grade listed on an Emerald cut diamond, it has been assigned by the jeweler, not GIA. So, the accompanying GIA certificate will not have a cut grade. While there is no problem with this, we strongly recommend you verify the cut grade yourself.

In order to do this, it is crucial to understand cut specifications. Unfortunately, there is no industry standard for what makes an “Ideal Emerald Cut Diamond.” However, there are certain tips to finding a great stone. The table below serves as a general guideline for evaluating the cut of an Emerald cut stone.

The “color” of a diamond refers to how much yellow tint (or lack of a yellow tint) the stone shows. “Colorless” diamonds fall into the color range of D, E, and F. These gems show no color at all, like water. G through Z color stones show increasing amounts of yellow tint.

Emeralds show color more readily than other diamond shapes. This is because their mirror-like sheen does not mask color like brilliant cut sparkle does. This is also the reason you’ll often see colored gems, like Sapphire, cut in an Emerald shape – it shows off the gem’s deeper tone. Smaller Emeralds may hide color better than larger Emeralds. In larger Emeralds, you will want to consider only G color and up for a colorless appearance. The chart below will help you decide on what color to choose.

The clarity grade of a diamond reflects the extent of the natural markings inside the stone, which gemologists call its “inclusions.” These inclusions are your diamond’s fingerprint – no two are alike. How extensive a diamond’s inclusions are inform what clarity grade it receives. The lesser the amount of inclusions, the more “flawless” the gem is.

Due to their unique window-like faceting, Emerald shaped diamonds show inclusions much more easily than any other cut. As a result, couples will need to select higher clarity grades in order to obtain an “eye clean” appearance. As it is harder to see flaws on smaller Emerald cut diamonds than larger ones, couples may find a smaller stones with lower clarity grades still look “eye clean.” Larger gems, however, tend to show inclusions more readily. The clarity chart below provides general guidelines for picking a clarity rating for your Emerald, based on your inclusion tolerance.

Important Note: Our clarity table gives guidance, but it is imperative in Emerald cuts to actually view the diamond to confirm eye clean appearance. The GIA Certificate is not enough. Every time a customer purchases an engagement ring from us, our gemologist checks to ensure the diamond is “eye-clean” and informs the customer if it isn’t.