|
 |
|
This text is replaced by the Flash movie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Diamonds 101 |
The 4 C's: Put simply, there are four universally accepted characteristics that all diamonds are graded by. They are known as The 4 C's, and they are Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight. It is the combination of these "4 C's" that determines a diamond's value. By changing any of the characteristics, you can dramatically affect the diamond's value, all other factors being equal.
| Cut |
 The cut of a diamond, its roundness, its depth and width, the uniformity of the facets, all determine a diamond's brilliance. Many gemologists consider cut the most important diamond characteristic because even if a diamond has perfect color and clarity, a diamond with a poor cut will have dulled brilliance.
The width and depth have the greatest effect on how light travels within the diamond, and how it exits in the form of brilliance.
Too Shallow: Light is lost out the sides causing the diamond to lose brilliance.
Too Deep: Light escapes out the bottom causing the diamond to appear dark and dull. |
| |
| Color |
The most important thing to know about color when it comes to diamonds is, in general, the less color a diamond has, the more valuable it is, all other factors being equal. Diamonds are found in nature in a wide range of colors, from completely colorless (the most desirable trait) to slightly yellow, to brown. So-called "fancy color diamonds" come in more intense colors, like yellow and blue, but these are not graded on the same scale.
The color grading system for diamonds uses the letters of the alphabet from D through Z, with "D" being the most colorless and therefore the rarest and most valuable, and "Z" having the most color within the normal range, and being the least valuable, all other factors being equal. A diamond's color is determined by looking at it under controlled lighting and comparing them to the Gemological Institute of America's color scale, which is based on a set of diamonds of known color. Here is a diagram showing how a diamond's color is graded:
|
| |
| Clarity |
Another vital grading characteristic in diamonds is their clarity. This refers to the number, position and size of the inclusions that occur naturally inside diamonds. The fewer and less obvious the inclusions, the more valuable the diamond. Here is an illustration that shows the clarity grading scale that has been established by the world's foremost authority on diamonds, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Contrary to popular belief, higher clarity does not always mean more beautiful. If the inclusions are not visible to the naked eye, a higher clarity does not really improve the appearance of a diamond but rather the rarity and price. A higher clarity is more desirable and valuable, but knowing that you have selected the right clarity for the right reasons is most important.
|
| |
| Carat |
A diamond's weight is measured in what is known as a "Carat", which is a small unit of measurement equal to 200 milligrams. Carat is not a measure of a diamond's size, since cutting a diamond to different proportions can affect its weight. (The word "Karat" is used to express the purity of gold, and is not used in relation to diamonds.) Here is a diagram that shows the relative size of various carat weights in a diamond that is cut to the same proportions:
Note: the diamonds illustrated are not shown actual size.
The most important thing to remember when it comes to a diamond's carat weight is that it is not the only factor that determines a diamond's value. In other words, bigger does not necessarily mean better. All 4 C's - Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight - must be balanced in order to arrive at a diamond that fits your budget. None of the 4C's is mutually exclusive, nor is any one more important than the others.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
