DIAMONDS

The 4 C’s

Color

Diamonds can vary in colors. Diamonds can be green, red, purple, blue, brown, yellow, and even black. Brightly Colored diamonds are called "fancy color diamonds." The most valuable diamonds are the colorless ones although   "fancy color diamonds” can also be very expensive.  Colorless diamonds are rare and the ones with a faint yellow tint are more common.  Colorless diamonds are more valuable because of the way it reflects the light back through the diamond. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) developed a system for grading colors of diamonds. The system uses alphabetical letters ranging from D to Z+ to identify all the colors. If you compare prices then the color D is the more expensive over color Z. Diamonds that are yellow enough to receive the rating of Z+, are considered fancy and are priced in a different manner. Fancy colored diamonds prices increases with the intensity of their color. Diamonds with a grade between D, E and F are very rare and therefore, the most expensive. The difference between a D, E and F graded stone is a matter of transparency, where D is the most transparent. D, E and F stones are colorless to the naked eye. Diamonds in the grading G though J is called near colorless. A near colorless diamond can also be relative expensive. A normal person will not even notice the yellow tint. Diamonds in the range K through M are called faint yellow and have a slightly noticeable yellow tint. These stones are more common and less expensive. Diamonds that have been graded N through to Z have a noticeable yellow color and are therefore much less expensive.

Cut

Cut is a very important characteristic of a diamond. A very well skilled master craftsman is needed to unleash a diamonds true beauty, color reflection or brilliance. The intense sparkle of the diamond is determined on how good in proportion a diamond is cut. A poor cut diamond will result in a less intense sparkle and will be dull. The width and depth have the greatest effect on how light travels within a diamond. The diameter of the diamond determines how well the light will reflect. There are a couple of well known cuts that we must mention: Excellent / Ideal cut: Reflects nearly all light that enters the diamond. This is a very exquisite and rare cut. Very good cut: Reflects nearly as much light as the ideal cut. Good cut: Reflects most light that enters. Fair cut: A quality diamond, but a fair cut will not be as brilliant as a good cut. Poor cut: This includes all diamonds that do not meet the proportion standards of a fair cut. These diamonds are deep and narrow or shallow and wide and tend to lose most of the light out the sides and bottom. Diamonds can be cut in different shapes. The most popular shapes are Round Brilliant, Emerald, Pear, Marquise, Heart, Asscher, Oval and Radiant.

A typical Ideal/Excellent Cut

 

 

Typical Diamond Shapes

Clarity

Clarity is also very important characteristic of a diamond. The greater a diamond's clarity, the more brilliant the diamond will be. It will also be more valuable and rare. All natural formed diamonds contain identifying characteristics or inclusions as we call it. Many are invisible to the naked eye and sometimes under a jewelers 10X-magnifying loupe or microscope, inclusions may be seen. These are unique spots in the diamond and are s nature's birthmarks. Diamonds that are categorized as internally flawless show no inclusions at all. Flawless diamonds are the top diamonds money can buy and are treasured for their rarity and beauty. Diamonds with very, very small inclusions are graded as VVS1 or VVS2. Diamonds with very small inclusions are graded as VS1-VS2. Noticeable Inclusions are graded as S1-SI2. Obvious inclusions are graded as I1-I2-I3 and can be noticed with the naked eye. Diamonds with larger the inclusions is on a lower the grade, less rare and also cheaper.  

Carat

A diamonds size is measured in carat. Carat weight is the physical weight of the diamond. A carat is a unit of weight measurement for diamonds and all colored gemstones. One carat is divided into 100 points; with each point equaling 1/100th (.01) of a carat (ct.).Also remember that 1 carat is equal to 0.2 grams (1.00ct. = 0.2gr.).

** Sizes from the above picture may vary from the real sizes due to screen resolution