Nothing is more important to the brilliance and sparkle of a diamond than its cut, as it is responsible for around 40% of a diamond's price. A well cut diamond will reflect light from one facet to another and back through the top, creating a dramatic sparkling effect that only a diamond can emit. Only the most skilled diamond cutters can shape a diamond with exacting precision, to release its full brilliance, taking into account such factors as proportions, finish, and of course symmetry.
Colour
When examining a diamond, be sure to view it "loose" (unmounted) under a neutral light source, to get the best view of its colour. In the "normal colour" range, the colour of a diamond is rated on a scale that goes from D to Z, with D being the whitest diamond available, and Z being a tinted, light yellow colour. For most jewelry, a colour grade from G to J is usually best.
Why "D to Z?" Before this rating system was invented, diamond professionals used many other symbols (including liberal uses of "A" and "AA") to rate colour, so the creators of the new system started at D, to avoid any confusion with the outdated ratings systems.
There are also various coloured diamond choices available today, but when you are looking specifically at a white diamond, you should understand how this scale works, and where your diamond of choice is rated on the spectrum. Also, the mounting of a diamond can impact its appearance. A more yellowish diamond will appear whiter next to a gold setting, whereas a white gold setting will make the diamond look less pure if you compare the two side-by-side.
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond refers to the number and nature of inclusions or blemishes that are visible when you view it under a microscope. Some diamond professionals refer to clarity as "purity" or "quality," but neither of those start with "C," so we'll stick with clarity.
A blemish is an imperfection on the surface of a diamond, and an inclusion is a small spot contained within it. Diamonds with little or no imperfections such as these are rarer, and much more valuable. Five factors determine a diamond's clarity: the size, number, position, nature and "relief" of the inclusions. Relief describes the level of visibility of these imperfections. The clarity scale of a diamond is the easiest to understand: It varies from Flawless, to Internally Flawless, and from there goes to VVS, VS, SI and I. These are easy to understand and remember, because they stand for: Very Very Slightly included, Very Slightly included, Slightly Included, and Included. Each of these designations has varying levels as well, but getting a handle on these will help you understand the importance of clarity in a diamond's grading.
An "I" rated diamond will have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye, whereas even a skilled diamond expert would need a microscope to see the inclusions in an "SI" diamond. Because of this, diamonds rated "SI" usually represent the best value for your investment.
Important Note: Skilled jewelry makers often mount a diamond so as to mask an inclusion from sight, helping it appear more flawless. Before buying a diamond, be sure to examine it loose under a microscope to get a better idea of its clarity.
Carat
The last and most obvious characteristic that a diamond is measured by is its Carat (abbreviated "ct."). A carat is a measure of weight, and it takes 142 of them to make an ounce.
Interesting bits of trivia: You can mail 142 one-carat diamonds with just a single postage stamp (Not that you would want to)! The majority of diamonds used in jewelry weigh less than one carat.
Obviously, a diamond's carat weight can have a big effect on its value. When written, carat weights are expressed as decimal numbers: 1.00 ct., 0.48 ct., 1.57 cts., and so on. In a piece which has more than one diamond, often times you will see the total carat weight of the diamonds shown.
At Spence Diamonds, each and every diamond comes with an official Diamond Certificate, which will give you a detailed blueprint of your diamond. Now that you understand the "Four C's" of diamond grading, you'll have a better understanding of these certificates, which give you detailed info on all of the factors discussed above, including a "plotting" that shows the exact location of inclusions and blemishes.
To celebrate, to commemorate, to reward, to romance - there are many reasons to buy a diamond. When making an investment in jewelry, especially diamonds, it is important to employ the 4 Cs: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat weight to ensure value and appreciation. The Gemological Institute of America established the 4 Cs of diamond value to help diamond professionals describe and classify diamonds. When taken together, the 4 Cs help in evaluating a finished diamond.
Color Many people think of diamonds as colorless, but in reality, truly colorless diamonds are quite rare. Most diamonds used in jewelry are nearly colorless with faint yellow or brown tints. Such nearly colorless diamonds fall in the normal color range and are graded by their relative lack of color. In fact, a diamond that is considered to have "fine color" has little or no visible coloration. The grading system ranges from color "D," which indicates a rare colorless diamond, to color "Z," with yellow characteristics.
Diamonds outside the normal color range are called "fancy-colored" and come in virtually any color imaginable. Red and green are the rarest fancy colors, followed by purple, violet, blue, orange and pink. Yellow and greenish-yellow diamonds are more common, but still considerably rarer than diamonds within the normal color range.
Clarity Like color, clarity is a key factor in determining a diamond's value. Diamonds have internal features called "inclusions," as well as surface irregularities, termed "blemishes." Together, inclusions and blemishes are referred to as clarity characteristics. Clarity is the relative absence of clarity characteristics. Blemishes refer to the cuts or nicks on the outside of the diamond, while inclusions occur inside the diamond, such as mineral crystals trapped inside the diamond.
While some clarity characteristics may have a negative influence on diamond value, some can have a positive effect as well. Firstly, they help gemologists separate diamonds from lab-created diamond simulants. Secondly, because no two diamonds have exactly the same inclusions, they can help identify individual stones. And thirdly, they provide scientists with valuable information about how diamonds are formed.
Cut Many think of cut as the shape and style of a polished diamond, but it also refers to a value factor - the proportions, symmetry and finish of a diamond, often called "make" in the diamond trade. A diamond with a "good make" is bright, fiery, symmetrical and sparkles with the light. There is more than one way of cutting a diamond to make the most of its optical properties. Cutting a diamond to produce the maximum return of light depends on the relationship between three critical proportions - table size, crown angle and pavilion depth. Jewelry makers can combine these in a variety of ways to yield equally bright round brilliant cut diamonds. Bottom line: a well-cut diamond will direct more light through the crown, or top of the diamond.
Carat Weight The carat weight of a diamond has to do with the basic measuring unit of diamonds. One carat equals .200 grams (or 200 milligrams) Some weights are considered "magic sizes" - half carat, three-quarter carat. While visually there's little difference between a 0.99 carat diamond and one that weighs a full carat, the price differences between the two can be significant. The aspect of carat weight that surprises people is the relationship between rarity, weight and value. It is not always easy to understand why a 2-carat diamond might be worth more than twice as much as a 1-carat diamond of similar clarity, cut and color. The concept is pretty simple: Large diamonds are rarer than small diamonds. The scarcer a diamond is, the higher its worth. So a larger stone doesn't just cost more, it also costs more per carat.
Both Spence Diamonds & Ann Knapp are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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