Prepared by the Imperial Cushions editorial team. Laboratory terminology is retained where a report is cited; historical context and dealer judgment are identified as interpretation.
Experienced dealers begin with documentation and then ask a different question: does the stone remain compelling after the grades are known?
Presence
Presence is the relationship between scale, outline, transparency and light. It is why two diamonds with similar reports can produce very different reactions.
Facet rhythm
Broad flashes, smaller scintillation, contrast and the movement of light across the stone should form a coherent pattern. Antique irregularity can be beautiful when it feels intentional and balanced.
Trade-offs
One stone may have a stronger outline but lower clarity; another may be technically cleaner but visually less distinctive. A dealer’s role is to explain those trade-offs plainly, show the stone honestly and help the client decide which qualities matter.