How to Select a Beautiful Diamond

The first basic "four C's" of Carat, Clarity, Colour and Cut will be enough to prepare you for your search. Jewellery junkies, engineers and physicists might like to continue into the full tutorial.

You see, this tutorial is all about the way diamonds look. I am known world over as Aka the "Cut Nut". My crusade to improve the cut quality and beauty of diamonds has been quite effective and involves the world's leading researcher scientists in the field.

When I first opened Holloway Diamonds (originally called Precious Metals) in 1976 with little diamond and jewellery experience (I trained as a geologist) I found it hard to understand why badly cut lifeless diamonds were often more valuable than sparkling beauties! Cut is the Cinderella of the 4 C's; most diamonds are ‘Cut for Carats' not for beauty.

Even if you have no intention of shopping with us, we hope you will learn to avoid some pitfalls, and buy a beautiful diamond.

Garry Holloway FGAA Dip DT JAA Appraiser

Graduate in gemmology and diamond technology, Gemmological Association of Australia. Past national convener of the Diploma of Diamond Technology and local jewellery trade lecturer. One of the Cut Group founders who are changing the way diamonds are cut around the world.

» Carat Weight » Clarity » Colour » Cut

» Learn about Coloured Diamonds