COLOR. Diamonds that are absolutely without color are very rare and extremely valuable, even if they contain slight imperfections. Those of pale blue shades are sought after and are highly desirable, while tinges of yellow , brown or black will reduce a stone's value.

CUT. Most diamonds are cut to have fifty-eight facets, transforming them into a prism that breaks up light into all the colors of the spectrum. A perfectly cut diamond will reflect all the light upwards for maximum brilliance. Cut also refers to shape and is a matter of personal preference. Eight distinct diamond shapes are shown below. They are: the trillion, heart, princess, round ( or brilliant ), pear, marquis, oval, and the emerald.

CLARITY. A flawless diamond is extremely rare. The absence of natural imperfections, or "inclusions", determines the degree of clarity. The "inclusions" are to be expected. What is important is whether or not they affect clarity or brilliance. At Marshman we will assist you in this determination.

CARAT. This is the unit of weight used for diamonds. One carat equals one-fifth of a gram. There are 100 points to the carat. Fifty points would be a "half-carat".

CONFIDENCE. Confidence in your jeweler.... Because our goal is to serve you for a lifetime, your best interest is always the starting point for all of your fine jewellery purchases. At Marshman we will let you examine your diamond under the powerful magnification of special equipment and will assure you of a wise investment.