THE TIMELESS SYMBOL OF TRUE LOVE
Diamonds are the traditional symbol of love, not because of clever marketing from the 1940’s, but because they reflect the same qualities as your relationship: durable, rare, 100% natural, and full of sparkle that lights up the room. Let’s find yours.
At Jack Lewis, we’re the diamond experts for Bloomington-Normal and all of central Illinois. Since there’s a lot we could share about diamonds, we created this comprehensive diamond resource page. The information below is organized into handy sections for easier navigation. Hopefully it’s helpful as you do your research into buying a diamond.
See the Sparkle for Yourself
NATURAL DIAMONDS AT JACK LEWIS JEWELERS
SEE YOUR DIAMOND IN-PERSON
Buying a diamond is a unique experience. From ethical sourcing to the 4C’s to lab-grown synthetics, there’s a lot to consider, and it’s easy to get caught-up in diamond statistics and reports. But remember, you’re not buying a piece of paper. You’re buying a brilliant diamond that’s full of fire and life.
At the end of the day, just look at it.
- Is it beautiful to you?
- Does its sparkle make you smile?
- Do you love it?
In our experience, those are the questions that tend to matter most once a diamond is being worn everyday, and they can best be answered by seeing a diamond up close. That’s why, here on the Jack Lewis website, while you can buy other types of jewelry in our online store, you won’t find listings for our loose diamond collections. We want you to come experience your diamond in-person.
That said, since the Midwest’s premier diamond experts and gemologists are at Jack Lewis Jewelers in Bloomington, IL, there’s still plenty of diamond resources below to get you started. But ultimately, we hope you’ll make an appointment (or just drop by) to see our natural diamond collections for yourself.
Understanding Diamond Shapes
GETTING STARTED WITH DIAMONDS
UNDERSTANDING DIAMOND SHAPES
You’ve probably heard of the classic 4C’s (Color, Clarity, Carat, and Cut), but when it comes to natural diamonds, there are really 5C’s and an S. The 5th C is Cost (which is always important), and the S stands for Shape. New shoppers sometimes think a diamond’s “cut” and a diamond’s “shape” are the same thing, but they’re not.
Shape is simply about a diamond’s physical form while Cut is more about the quality of a diamond’s light performance (i.e. how much it sparkles). Let’s start with a quick overview of diamond shapes, because that’s often one of the most important things the recipient cares about, and therefore one of the first decisions the giver may need to make.
Think of diamond shapes in two categories: round and everything else. All the shapes in the “everything else” category are collectively known as Fancy shapes. (There’s nothing particularly “fancy” about them; the jewelry industry has just always referred to non-round shapes as fancy-shaped diamonds.) Below is a list of the Top 10 diamond shapes: round, and the most popular 9 Fancy diamond shapes.
Round (aka, Brilliant) Shape Diamonds
The round diamond shape is by far the most popular due to its timeless look and unique ability to deliver dazzling sparkle. All the diamonds in our four in-house diamond brand collections (Flame, Sizzle, Spark, and Sunray) feature round shapes. Many of the ready-to-wear engagement rings from our Get Engaged Tonight collection feature round center stones, and many of our designer engagement ring semi-mounts are also intended to be set with round diamond center stones. If you don’t know what to do, or if the recipient hasn’t expressed a preference,
a round diamond is the tried-and-true, can’t-miss choice.
Princess (aka, Square) Shape Diamonds
The princess shape shines with crisp square edges and vivid sparkle, blending modern style, bold brilliance, and everyday practicality.
Pear (aka, Teardrop) Shape Diamonds
Pears feature a striking teardrop shape with dazzling brilliance, offering unique style, asymmetry, and standout elegance.
Oval Shape Diamonds
Elongated ovals offer bright sparkle, a flattering look, and a larger appearance, blending classic brilliance with modern elegance.
Cushion Shape Diamonds
Cushions pair rounded corners with rich sparkle, delivering vintage romance or modern shimmer in a soft, stylish shape.
Marquise Shape Diamonds
Marquise diamonds feature pointed, elongated shapes that maximize size, sparkle, and dramatic, standout elegance.
Emerald Shape Diamonds
Emeralds have sleek step cuts and a “hall of mirrors” effect, highlighting clarity and elegance in a sophisticated, elongated look.
Asscher Shape Diamonds
Asschers feature a square, step-cut shape with trimmed corners, offering vintage style, clarity-focused sparkle, and architectural elegance.
Heart Shape Diamonds
Heart diamonds are a romantic, symmetrical shape with bright sparkle, making a bold, symbolic, and elegant statement.
Radiant Shape Diamonds
Radiant diamonds blend emerald shape elegance with round brilliance, offering sparkle, versatility, and a sleek, modern look.
Cut is the Most Important ‘C’
getting started with diamonds
CUT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ‘C’
While Carat weight grabs the attention (since it typically correlates with the diamond’s size), the diamond industry has long known that, of the traditional 4C’s, the Cut grade is the most important factor in describing a diamond’s beauty. Color and Clarity have their place, but unless those values are incredibly subpar (and they usually aren’t), nobody out in the real world will notice if those two C’s aren’t optimal.
What you, your friends, your family, and everyone else will notice about a diamond (other than its raw size, of course), is how much it sparkles–the mesmerizingly dazzling laser light show that hypnotizes you from across the room. That comes from the Cut, the undisputed champ of the 4C’s. At Jack Lewis, we generally encourage first-time diamond shoppers to save money on Color and Clarity, and put most of the budget into the Cut.
Jack Lewis Diamond Collections
CHOOSING YOUR DIAMOND: JACK LEWIS BRANDS
FLAME, SIZZLE, SPARK & SUNRAY DIAMONDS
The diamonds at other jewelry stores are usually provided by international suppliers and/or name brand designers (and we certainly have some of those collections, too, as you’ll see below). But at Jack Lewis Jewelers, what sets us apart is that we’ve created four of our own exclusive, in-house brands featuring hand-selected diamonds by our Bloomington, IL team.
Jack Lewis Flame
Your love burns brightest. Your diamond will too. Come burst into flames.
What is Jack Lewis Flame?
Jack Lewis Flame is an exclusive collection of natural, ideal cut, loose round diamonds hand-selected by our on-site Bloomington, IL diamond experts. To qualify as a Flame, a round diamond must receive a Triple Excellent cut grade from the GIA and qualify for an AGS Zero equivalent for light performance. This means Jack Lewis Flames are, without exaggeration, the best cut diamonds on earth.
At any given time, our collection of Flames will be uniquely diverse in color, clarity, carat weight, and cost, but the Triple Excellent GIA cut grade and the AGS Zero light performance equivalent is what they will always all have in common. That’s what it means to be a Jack Lewis Flame: the best cut round natural diamond that is certain to deliver the head-turning, jaw-dropping fireworks sparkle show everyone craves.
Why choose Jack Lewis Flame?
Like your relationship, Jack Lewis Flames are natural and light up the room, but here’s the clincher: since we select these ourselves without a middleman, a Flame is much more affordable than it probably should be.
Our diamond team is led by John Carter and Scott Davis, each nationally recognized diamond experts who happen to be rooted at a jewelry store in Bloomington, Illinois. Since we have the connections & resources to identify these diamonds ourselves, as well as the experience & talent to hand-pick only the best, you avoid paying the ‘name brand premium’ that often accompanies ideal cut round diamonds at other stores or online.
Jack Lewis Flames are real, durable, diverse diamonds connected by the most dazzling sparkle on earth. Just like you. It’s what makes them the perfect symbol of your relationship and the ideal center stone for your engagement ring. Come burst into flames at Jack Lewis Jewelers.
Jack Lewis Sizzle & Spark
What are Sizzle and Spark?
Think of Sizzle and Spark as cut-focused spinoffs of the Flame collection. Like Flames, Sizzles also receive a Triple Excellent cut grade from the GIA, but unlike Flames, Sizzles don’t quite qualify for the AGS Zero light performance equivalent. This puts Sizzles in the cut tier just shy of perfection. Likewise, Jack Lewis Spark is another step across the scale, as Sparks don’t qualify for the GIA Triple Excellent cut grade, but rather fall in the range starting with Very Good.
Why Sizzle?
Since Jack Lewis Sizzles still reach GIA Triple Excellent status, you’d choose Sizzle if you still want to prioritize Cut, but don’t necessarily need it to be the AGS Zero equivalent for light performance found in a Jack Lewis Flame. Many clients find that a Sizzle makes a worthy Flame alternative. This is why we strongly encourage you to look at diamonds in person, so you can decide for yourself after seeing it up close.
Why Spark?
Since Jack Lewis Sparks offer GIA cut grades starting at ‘Very Good’ on the scale, this collection gives you the widest range of cut choices among our in-house diamond brands. Despite our preference for Cut, you might choose a Spark if you still want an affordable diamond (because we selected it ourselves without the middlemen suppliers) but have other priorities for your diamond, like Color, Clarity, or Carat weight. That’s why Spark exists: to allow flexibility on Cut grade so you can still find a dazzling diamond that excels in whichever other area is most important to you.
Sunray Diamonds
Increasingly, modern technology has allowed expert diamond cutters to get creative with how they cut diamonds. Light performance is always the priority, but there’s still plenty of room for unique artistry when determining the patterns and facets of a diamond cut. Like a snowflake, the possibilities are endless–which prompted us to ask: given our love for diamonds, could Jack Lewis have its own proprietary diamond cut? The answer was yes, and we made it happen, partnering with an expert diamond cutter to create a signature, custom diamond cut, exclusive to Jack Lewis Jewelers. It features 120 facets and looks like a sunburst, so we call it the Sunray.
Jack Lewis Jewelers in Bloomington, IL is the only place in the world where you can get the Sunray diamond cut
Designer Diamond Collections
CHOOSING YOUR DIAMOND: LUXURY BRANDS
DESIGNER DIAMOND COLLECTIONS
Even though we’ve created our own in-house diamond brands, you might be looking for something that Flame, Sizzle, Spark, and Sunray don’t quite cover, particularly if you’re looking for a Fancy shape diamond. As diamond experts, we know the best when we see them, which is why we’re thrilled to partner with the luxury diamond designers below.
CHOOSING YOUR DIAMOND: DRAMATIC COLOR
desert diamonds
In a white diamond, you’re typically looking for as little color as possible. But sometimes, if your style seeks uniquely bold looks, you might purposely want a diamond that is full of color. Natural diamonds are available in more colors and shades than you might think, and Desert Diamonds reveal a variety of natural diamond colors shaped by the earth. It’s a stunning spectrum that stretches from pale cream and sunlit sand to golden honey, rich whiskey, glowing champagne, and deep sunset mochas.
These extraordinary diamonds capture the essence of the world’s most storied landscapes, turning the colors, textures, and energy of the desert into wearable art.
Shop Natural Diamond Jewelry
Sterling Silver PS 1/20cttw Diamond Emotion Pendant Necklace
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$229.00
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$229.00
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14K YG Diamond Cross Sparkle Chain Pendant Necklace
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$645.00
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$645.00
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14K YG 1/10cttw Diamond Oval Huggie Hoops
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$475.00
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$475.00
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14K YG Diamond Link Stackable Ring by Shy Creation
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$1,175.00
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$1,175.00
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14K YG Diamonds by the Yard Sparkle Chain Bracelet
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$495.00
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$495.00
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14K YG Half Pave & Half Polished Contour Band by Vlora
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$1,700.00
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$1,700.00
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14K YG Diamond & Beaded Chevron Double Contour Band by Vlora
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$1,825.00
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$1,825.00
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14K YG Pear Diamond Duo Pave Band by Vlora
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$1,925.00
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$1,925.00
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Diamond Resources & Education
DIAMOND RESOURCES AND EDUCATION
THOUGHTS ON LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS
At Jack Lewis Jewelers, we do not offer lab-grown or synthetic diamonds as center stones in an engagement ring. We proudly only offer natural, earth-formed diamonds. For almost 100 years, Jack Lewis Jewelers has prioritized what a piece of jewelry means. The heart of our store is centered around the real, natural, human emotions of love. In our view, the qualities of a natural diamond best reflect the durability and rarity of your relationship, which makes a natural diamond the perfect choice for an engagement ring. Your love is real. It’s not synthetic. It’s not manufactured. And it certainly wasn’t grown in a lab. Through it all, rise or fall, you’re 100% natural. At Jack Lewis, the diamond you wear forever will be too.
TOP 4 REASONS TO CHOOSE A NATURAL DIAMOND
Diamonds aren’t the traditional engagement ring gemstone because of a clever marketing campaign by DeBeers in the 1940’s. Rather, there are at least 4 great reasons why diamonds remain the best gemstone to symbolize ‘forever’ in your engagement ring.
- Diamonds are hard
- Diamonds go with any outfit
- Diamonds are rare
- Diamonds are sustainably and ethically sourced
Diamonds are Hard
Most women want to wear their engagement ring every day. Even after getting married, they still keep wearing it alongside their wedding band. This means the center stone needs to be extremely durable and capable of withstanding accidental blunt force trauma into the sink, table, or desk. The last thing you want is a ‘softer’ stone that looks amazing but unforgivingly cracks and scvratches the first time you accidentally shut your hand in the car door. Diamonds are the hardest gemstone on earth, and also extremely scratch-resistant, making them perfect for everyday wear.
Diamonds Go With Any Outfit
Often overlooked and underappreciated about diamonds is that they’re clear and white, which makes them incredibly versatile with any outfit you want to wear. That green emerald, blue sapphire, or red ruby engagement ring might sound like a fun idea at the time, but after awhile, it might occur to you that your big green, blue, or red center stone doesn’t really go with that amazing dress and shoes you want to wear to the party. Clear white diamonds go with everything, so you’ll never have to think about this point ever again.
Diamonds are Rare
When considering whether diamonds are “rare,” our CEO John Carter likes to remind people to look at the Moon. It’s big. You can clearly see that it’s full of Moon rock. There’s plenty of it. Now, if you use the logic often applied to diamonds, that means Moon rock isn’t rare. But that’s nonsense. Of course Moon rock is rare. Why? Because despite being able to clearly see that there’s tons of it available, getting to it, extracting it, and bringing it back to Earth seems like a pretty important part of the equation. The same holds true for diamonds. It’s not the presence of it, it’s the “getting to it” that drives rarity. Diamonds are formed in the mantle of the Earth over millions of years and require equipment, expertise and effort to sustainably and ethically extract. Just like Moon rock, that makes them extremely rare.
Diamonds are Sustainably and Ethically Sourced
The diamond industry has come a long way. We think it should get credit for that. At Jack Lewis, we’re the first to admit the diamond industry hasn’t always been a force for good in the world. But we’ve also had a front row seat to its massive evolution, and we’re proud to tell that story if you’ll hear it. This is important, so we ensure any diamond that reaches the Jack Lewis showcase is 100% ethically sourced and 100% sustainably extracted (in environmental terms).
Durable, versatile, rare, and responsible…just like the two of you. Those reasons, and how they parallel your relationship, are why diamonds remain the best choice for an engagement ring gemstone.
FINAL DIAMOND THOUGHTS
WHY natural DIAMONDS AT JACK LEWIS?
We believe diamonds are more than just a sparkly rocks, and more than just tradition; they’re the symbol that tells your story, and they’re the engagement ring gemstone that best captures all the reasons why you’re proposing, capable of reflecting the durability, rarity, beauty, and 100% natural qualities of your relationship with a dazzling laser light show that turns heads from across the room. If you share that perspective, we’re your jeweler.
Plus, when you shop for diamonds at Jack Lewis Jewelers, you’ll be working with a team of the most experienced, most knowledgeable diamond experts in Bloomington-Normal. Probably also across Peoria, Champaign, and Springfield. Maybe even all of downstate Illinois.
We love diamonds so much we started 4 of our own in-house diamond brands (described above) and sometimes even travel to Belgium to get them ourselves. Our CEO John Carter is the former President of the American Gem Society and knows pretty much everything there is to know about diamonds. Several members of our team aren’t far behind. We have a podcast devoted mostly to diamonds called CarterCast.
Further, all natural diamonds at Jack Lewis Jewelers are conflict-free and ethically sourced, and all suppliers are vetted to ensure the diamonds they provide are not from any country or region that would be in violation of current U.S. sanctions and laws.
Bottom line, diamonds are what we do. If you’re interested in purchasing a diamond and you’re anywhere in the Midwest, you will not find a better destination than Jack Lewis Jewelers.
