DIAMONDS 101

The 4 C’s of Diamonds

The box that will soon be in your hands holds more than just a precious stone, it will hold a precious memory. Each diamond is just as unique as the experiences they possess. It’s important to understand what makes a diamond a diamond. There are four distinct characteristics that define each stone—color, clarity, cut and carat weight.

Color

Diamonds are unique stones that possess beautiful characteristics and much like snowflakes, no two gems are alike. Their one of a kind quality makes them a popular gem for a wide variety of pieces. Despite common belief, not all diamonds are colorless. Their hue ranges from crystal clear to a subtle yellow or brown.

The universal GIA Diamond Color Scale is commonly used to determine the grade of each diamond. You will find that due to their rare nature, colorless diamonds are higher in price. Stones on the lower end of the scale are less in price. As you go into the market for the perfect diamond, be aware of the color you wish to purchase.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is dependent upon the amount of flaws or lack thereof. These imperfections can be found both internally and externally. As it is rare to find a colorless diamond, it is also rare to find a diamond that is without subtle flaws. This is due to the amount of extreme heat and pressure a diamond undergoes during the shaping
process.

On the GIA Clarity Scale, diamonds at the highest mark are flawless while diamonds listed under the lowest mark of I3 are flawed. When a diamond is located on the lower end of the scale, imperfections are apparent to the naked eye. Experts suggest finding a diamond that has flaws that are unnoticeable. These can be found on the higher or middle sections of the chart.

Cut

Before a diamond is cut, it is in a raw and natural form. It has to be transformed into its future shape. Characteristics such as brightness, fire and scintillation play a role in the diamond having the correct dimensions needed to produce an ideal shape. Brightness refers to the white light that is reflected by the interior and exterior faces of the diamond while fire is the color that can be seen. Scintillation is the array of colors that are emitted when the diamond is in movement or under ideal lighting.

A diamond’s proportions will have a direct effect on its performance. The higher quality of symmetry and polish accompanied by intricate proportions will increase the sparkle.

Carat Weight

The carat weight of a diamond is essentially the size of the stone. Diamonds under a carats are divided into 100 points. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams in weight. The cost of the diamond will be factored into the size of the gem. Thus, the larger the diamond, the higher in cost it will be.