10 Things to Know About Astor by Blue Nile™

All diamonds dazzle, but Astor by Blue Nile™ diamonds blaze with a brilliance that is truly exceptional. Read on to see what really makes these diamonds really sparkle.

Exceptional Rarity

Astor by Blue Nile™ diamonds are sourced only from the highest quality raw diamonds and are hand selected and guaranteed to have no inclusions visible to the naked eye. Because we start with the finest raw materials possible, only 1 in 1,000 stones qualify to be called an Astor by Blue Nile™ diamond.

Brilliance

The amount of bright white light that is reflected out of the diamond is also known as brilliance. It is those flashes of white light that contribute to the overall sparkle of the diamond. Astor by Blue Nile™ diamonds are cut specifically to maximize brilliance.

Graded and Certified

Astor by Blue Nile™ diamonds are graded for quality by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and are certified by either GCAL or GemEx for unmatched light performance. GIA, GCAL and GemEx are well regarded, independent and unbiased, gemological labs.

Superior Cut

Cutting a diamond from its raw form is the most crucial step in creating a diamond with extraordinary sparkle. Every Astor by Blue Nile™ diamond ranks as an Excellent cut from the Gemological Institute of America, which assesses the angles, symmetry, and proportions of a diamond.

Ideal Proportions

The proportions of a diamond affect the way that light travels through it. If a diamond is cut even slightly out of proportion, whether too shallow, wide, deep, or narrow, it will restrict the amount of light that can reflect out of the diamond. Every Astor by Blue Nile™ diamond is cut to ideal proportions to reflect light and ensure maximum sparkle.

Exceptional Symmetry

The facets of a diamond act as a mirror. Precise symmetry ensures that each facet of the diamond is evenly aligned to reflect the maximum amount of light, otherwise light entering the diamond is misdirected, causing it to sparkle less. Astor by Blue Nile™ diamonds are cut to achieve precise symmetry for maximum sparkle.

Light Performance

Every Astor by Blue Nile™ diamond is specifically cut to gather and reflect the most light possible. Light Performance Certification measures light performance by three factors: brilliance, fire, and sparkle. Every Astor by Blue Nile™ diamond receives the highest grade for each by either GCAL or GemEx, leading gemological laboratories specializing in light measurement.

Fire

Fire is the measure of colored light a diamond emits. As light enters and then bounces out from the diamond, the diamond’s cut angles split the various hues, creating flashes of vibrant colored light.

Sparkle

As a diamond rocks back and forth, each individual facet comes alive with flashes of both brilliance and fire. This combined display is known and measured as sparkle. Only diamonds whose brilliance and fire receive the top grade of “Very High” from GemEx, the leader in light measurement, qualify as Astor by Blue Nile™ diamonds.

Shapes

The extraordinary sparkle of Astor by Blue Nile™ is available in popular round, princess, and cushion cuts.

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