In the world of fine jewelry, diamonds are the most popular gemstone. They are also the hardest and most durable natural minerals.
Diamonds come in various shapes and sizes, and they can be used to create beautiful pieces that will last for generations. Diamonds are also one of the most expensive stones on earth, and they can get very pricey if you want something special.
But what makes diamonds so special? Why do people love them so much?
It all comes down to the hardness of this stone and its ability to reflect light. The simple four C’s of diamond grading — cut, clarity, color, and carat weight — are all critical factors when buying a diamond for yourself or as a gift for someone special.
Let’s break them down in further detail below.
Cut
The cut of the diamond is perhaps the most crucial factor to consider when buying a diamond.
Cut refers to the shape of the stone and how well it reflects light. A well-cut diamond will reflect light to make it sparkle more than one that is not well-cut. Unfortunately, there is no official grading system used to measure cut quality, but there are some guidelines you can use:
The ideal cut has 58 facets (the number of faces of a diamond). If it has more than 58, it’s possible that the extra facets were added simply to increase its size without increasing its brilliance. However, the fewer the facets, the less brilliant a diamond will be because fewer facets mean less light is reflected into your eyes.
Symmetry is another crucial element in determining a diamond’s cut quality. A symmetrical diamond will reflect light equally from all sides so that your eyes are similarly drawn to all parts of the stone at once. When looking at an asymmetrical (uneven) diamond, your eyes will focus on one corner or edge over another because they are not receiving equal amounts of reflected light from different stone areas at once.
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond refers to the number of imperfections that you can see in the stone.
There are two measurements for clarity: the number of inclusions and the size of inclusions. Inclusions are tiny imperfections within the diamond, such as cracks or foreign material.
A diamond with very few internal flaws is said to be “eye clean” or “flawless,” while a diamond with many flaws will be graded as “included.” If you look closely at a diamond, you may see some faint lines running through it. These are called silk or cleavage planes, and they’re common in diamonds because they have so much internal pressure exerted on them during formation.
The amount of clarity affects how much light escapes from your stone and therefore affects its brilliance (how much sparkle it has). A more brilliant diamond will show flashes of white light, while a less brilliant stone will have more yellowish light coming off it.
There are nine different categories of clarity used by jewelers and gemologists: Flawless, Internally Flawless, Very Very Slightly Included (VVS), Very Slightly Included (VS1/SI1), Slightly Included (SI2/I1), Included (I2/I3), Partially Included or Imperfect / Piqué (PI1-3).
Color
When it comes to buying diamonds, there are many things to consider. One of the most important considerations is the diamond’s color. Diamonds come in a range of colors, from colorless to yellow and brown. The color of a diamond is not an indication of its quality, but it is an essential factor affecting its price.
Colorless Diamonds
The most desirable type of diamond is one that has no color or tint at all. These are often called white diamonds, and they are the most expensive type of diamond because they have the highest purity level.
White diamonds are graded on a scale from D-Z, with D being the whitest and Z being the least white. A D-color diamond (or near-colorless) will have very little tint when viewed under bright light or sunlight. In contrast, a Z-color diamond (or fancies) will exhibit a noticeable tint even under bright light or sunlight.
Yellow Diamonds
A yellow diamond can range from light yellow to deep brown and everything in between, depending on what type it is categorized as by GIA standards. Yellow diamonds are less expensive than white diamonds. You also don’t have to worry about them getting cloudy over time or turning brown when exposed to sunlight. But because they’re less expensive than traditional white diamonds, you might think they aren’t as valuable or durable. However, that’s not true.
Yellow diamonds come in all shapes and sizes and can be set in any jewelry design you like — from simple solitaires to more intricate settings with multiple stones. Some people even say that yellow diamonds look better than white ones because their color makes them more vibrant and lively in appearance.
Carat Weight
Carat weight is the most common way to describe the size of a diamond. The carat is the unit used to measure all gemstones. While many factors go into the price of a diamond, the most important one is the carat weight.
Carat refers to the weight of the diamond, which is measured in milligrams (mg). One carat is equivalent to 200 mg, while a half-carat equals 100mg. A three-quarter carat diamond weighs 150mg, while a half-carat stone weighs 50mg.
To put this in perspective, a 1-carat diamond weighs 100 grams (g), while a 2-carat stone weighs 200g. Assuming all other Cs are constant, a 2-carat diamond will always be more expensive than a 1-carat diamond because of its higher value per unit weight.
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The Final Word
Diamonds are one of the most popular gemstones, but they’re also one of the hardest to buy. With so many different diamonds available, it can be tough to know what you’re getting into when shopping for this precious stone.
Being well-informed about the 4 Cs of diamonds: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight can help you end up with a beautiful piece of timeless jewelry.