GIA Diamond Essentials Exam
Questions With Complete Solutions
chemical element - Answerconsists of only one kind of atom
.mineral - Answerinorganic. most minerals are a combo of 2 or more elements
.diamonds form - Answerwithin 90-120 miles below earth's surface
.value factos - Answerfeatures used to judge the quality and value of stones - a
diamonds value is based on its combo of the Four C's
.inclusions - Answerclarity characteristic totally enclosed in a polished gemstone or
extending into it from the surface. affect value most
.blemishes - Answerclarity characteristic on the surface of a gemstone (surface
irregularity). includes scratches and knicks on a surface
.rarest diamond colors - Answerred, purple, green, orange- then pink and blue
.lab-grown - Answermanmade material with the same chemical composition, crystal
structure, and properties
.simulants/imitations - Answersimply look like naturals- not the same composition (can
be man made or natural) - cz, moissanite, glass, zircon, LG spinel
.Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Answerestablished by congress in 1914 to protect
consumers from unlawful business
.cut - Answerhow light performs in a stone- affects brightness, fire, and scintillation
.brightness - Answereffect of stone's internal and external reflections of white light
(brilliance)
.fire - Answerflashes of color in a diamond
.scintillation - Answerflashes of light and contrasting dark areas seen when the
diamond, light, or observer move
.crown - Answertop part of diamond- above firdle
.girdle - Answernarrow section between crown and pavillion- functions as the setting
edge
, .pavillion - Answerlower part- below girdle
.facets - Answerflat, polished surface
.culet - Answersmall facet at bottom of stone
.brilliant cut - Answercutting style with triangular or kite shaped facets that radiate from
the center toward the girdle
.standard round brilliant - Answer57-58 facets (full cut) - 58th facet is the culet if it has
one
.single cut - Answer17-18 facets
.fancy cuts - Answerany shape other than round brilliant
.step cuts - Answerlong narrow facets in rows parallel to girdle on both crown and
pavillion- usually in 3 or 4 rows
.mixed cuts - Answercut that combines brilliant and step cut styles - usually step facets
are on crown and brilliant on pavillion
.branded cuts - Answerstyle developed, named, and promoted by a specific
manufacturer
.carat - Answerunit of weight. one carat is 0.2 grams
.durability - Answergemstones ability to withstand wear, heat, and chemicals - 3
properties: hardness, toughness, stability
.hardness - Answerresistance to scratching and abrasion
.toughness - Answerresistance to breaking and chipping - diamonds are less tough
where the atoms are not bonded as tightly together
.stability - Answerability to resist chemicals and temperature changes
.Moh's scale - Answerranking of relative hardness of 10 minerals. Established 1822 by
Fredrick Mohs.
.Mohs scale order 10-1 - AnswerDiamond, corundum, topaz, quartz, orthoclase
feldspar, apatite, fluorite, calcite, gypsum, talc
.cleavage direction - Answerwhere atoms are farthest apart
Questions With Complete Solutions
chemical element - Answerconsists of only one kind of atom
.mineral - Answerinorganic. most minerals are a combo of 2 or more elements
.diamonds form - Answerwithin 90-120 miles below earth's surface
.value factos - Answerfeatures used to judge the quality and value of stones - a
diamonds value is based on its combo of the Four C's
.inclusions - Answerclarity characteristic totally enclosed in a polished gemstone or
extending into it from the surface. affect value most
.blemishes - Answerclarity characteristic on the surface of a gemstone (surface
irregularity). includes scratches and knicks on a surface
.rarest diamond colors - Answerred, purple, green, orange- then pink and blue
.lab-grown - Answermanmade material with the same chemical composition, crystal
structure, and properties
.simulants/imitations - Answersimply look like naturals- not the same composition (can
be man made or natural) - cz, moissanite, glass, zircon, LG spinel
.Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Answerestablished by congress in 1914 to protect
consumers from unlawful business
.cut - Answerhow light performs in a stone- affects brightness, fire, and scintillation
.brightness - Answereffect of stone's internal and external reflections of white light
(brilliance)
.fire - Answerflashes of color in a diamond
.scintillation - Answerflashes of light and contrasting dark areas seen when the
diamond, light, or observer move
.crown - Answertop part of diamond- above firdle
.girdle - Answernarrow section between crown and pavillion- functions as the setting
edge
, .pavillion - Answerlower part- below girdle
.facets - Answerflat, polished surface
.culet - Answersmall facet at bottom of stone
.brilliant cut - Answercutting style with triangular or kite shaped facets that radiate from
the center toward the girdle
.standard round brilliant - Answer57-58 facets (full cut) - 58th facet is the culet if it has
one
.single cut - Answer17-18 facets
.fancy cuts - Answerany shape other than round brilliant
.step cuts - Answerlong narrow facets in rows parallel to girdle on both crown and
pavillion- usually in 3 or 4 rows
.mixed cuts - Answercut that combines brilliant and step cut styles - usually step facets
are on crown and brilliant on pavillion
.branded cuts - Answerstyle developed, named, and promoted by a specific
manufacturer
.carat - Answerunit of weight. one carat is 0.2 grams
.durability - Answergemstones ability to withstand wear, heat, and chemicals - 3
properties: hardness, toughness, stability
.hardness - Answerresistance to scratching and abrasion
.toughness - Answerresistance to breaking and chipping - diamonds are less tough
where the atoms are not bonded as tightly together
.stability - Answerability to resist chemicals and temperature changes
.Moh's scale - Answerranking of relative hardness of 10 minerals. Established 1822 by
Fredrick Mohs.
.Mohs scale order 10-1 - AnswerDiamond, corundum, topaz, quartz, orthoclase
feldspar, apatite, fluorite, calcite, gypsum, talc
.cleavage direction - Answerwhere atoms are farthest apart
