4Cs of Diamonds - Understanding Diamond Quality & Grading
Before you start your search for a diamond, you should learn about the 4 C's. It won't make you an expert, that takes years, but it will help you make an informed decision! Then if you want to know more Adamastar can help demystify the subject
Carat: As with all precious stones, the weight of a diamond is described in carats. The word carat originated in a natural unit of weight, the seeds of the carob tree. Diamonds were traditionally weighted against these seeds until the system was standardized and one carat was fixed at 0.2 grams. One carat is divided into 100 "points" so that a diamond of 0.50 (50 points) is described as half a carat.
Clarity: Almost all diamonds contain minute imperfections which are traces of the crystal’s natural formation. Most require magnification to become apparent and are not discernible to the naked eye. They are called inclusions, (not ‘carbon spots’ – diamonds are all carbon, so a spot of carbon in carbon isn’t factually correct). They are the gems fingerprint that make every diamond unique. The fewer there are, the rarer the stone will be. Clarity, therefore, indicates the extent to which the diamond you purchase is free of these natural phenomena.
Colour Although most diamonds appear to be colourless, others can contain increasing tinges of colour usually yellow and to a lesser extent, brown. The most valuable of all diamonds are the coloured diamonds, which can come in greens, blues, pinks, oranges, and reds. These are arguably the most rare and valuable of all precious stones, and the most stunning in brilliance and colour.
Cut (Make) Of all the 4 C's, cut is the one most directly influenced by man. The other three are dictated by the way they were made, either by being formed above or below ground. The cut or make of a diamond will dramatically influence its fire and sparkle, for it is the diamond cutter’s skill that releases its beauty. A good cut can increase a diamonds value up to 50% over a poorer cut of similar weight, colour and clarity. It is the cut that enables a diamond to make the best use of light. The proportions of a brilliant (round) cut diamond have been developed over 100 years to give a diamond its fire. Every facet must be within a certain tolerance. If a diamond is cut to ‘ideal’ or ‘Excellent’ proportions, then it will have fire as all the light coming into the stone is reflected back out at the viewer’s eye. If a diamond is cut too deep, some light will be lost through the opposite side of the pavilion or bottom. If the cut is too shallow, light escapes through the pavilion or bottom before it can be reflected.
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