The Diamond and the 4C’s
Diamonds are not all equal. In fact, there are significant differences in quality and value. To evaluate a diamond, the professional uses the famous “ 4C’s” (Color, Clarity, Carat & Cut).
Let me introduce you briefly to this method of judging diamonds!
Let me introduce you briefly to this method of judging diamonds!
Color
Most diamonds used in jewelry appear colorless. True, colorless diamonds are rare, as are strongly colored ones. Rare in this case means very, very expensive.
Many stores here in the US also use milky diamonds. Stay away from those!.
Diamonds are found in a range of colors, from faint yellow or brown, to the rarer pinks, blues, greens and even dark red. These diamonds are known as “Fancies”.
The Gemological Institute of America grades diamonds for their color as follows:
Many stores here in the US also use milky diamonds. Stay away from those!.
Diamonds are found in a range of colors, from faint yellow or brown, to the rarer pinks, blues, greens and even dark red. These diamonds are known as “Fancies”.
The Gemological Institute of America grades diamonds for their color as follows:
Clarity
Clarity means absence of inclusions. Diamonds may show tiny traces of other minerals trapped during the crystallization process. They typically show up as minute black or white marks. Light passes most optimally through a diamond that has no inclusions. Nature makes nothing absolutely pure and perfect. There are, however, diamonds that at 10x magnification show no inclusions. These are called “Flawless”. At the other end of the scale are diamonds that show impurities that are easily visible to the naked eye. The scale used simply ranges from the most difficult to the easiest to see at 10x magnification. The clarity of most diamonds available on the market falls between these two extreme values.
Carat
Diamonds are weighed in carats. One carat is the equivalent of 0.2 grams, or about 0.007 ounces. For practical reasons, carats are broken down in decimals called points. There are 100 points in one carat.
The most common sizes in the jewelry trade range from 0.01 to 3.00 carat. Larger stones are more rare, and therefore tend to be more valuable. However, size often is the least important factor in determining a diamond’s ultimate value. A poor cut, leaving extra material to save weight, will sacrifice the diamond’s ability to reflect light.
The most common sizes in the jewelry trade range from 0.01 to 3.00 carat. Larger stones are more rare, and therefore tend to be more valuable. However, size often is the least important factor in determining a diamond’s ultimate value. A poor cut, leaving extra material to save weight, will sacrifice the diamond’s ability to reflect light.
Cut
A well-cut and well-proportioned diamond allows the maximum amount of light to enter, reflect and return to your eye. Any variation of these optimal proportions allows “light leakage”, and diminishes the value of the stone. Cut refers to whether a diamond is properly proportioned. It should be your most important consideration, even though cut is the least talked about component of diamond value. Differences in color or clarity may be detectable only by experts, and might even be invisible to the naked eye. Differences in cut can result in dramatic differences in appearance. It is the cut that provides a diamond with brilliance, and brilliance is what diamonds are all about.
Unless you have unlimited funds, buying a diamond requires a series of compromises. Finding the diamond you want may involve choosing a lower color and clarity, or lowering your desired carat weight for a finer quality stone. Both these compromises are rational, but you should never sacrifice on quality of cut. Here at A Jour we pride ourselves in providing top to very well cut diamonds to all our customers.
Unless you have unlimited funds, buying a diamond requires a series of compromises. Finding the diamond you want may involve choosing a lower color and clarity, or lowering your desired carat weight for a finer quality stone. Both these compromises are rational, but you should never sacrifice on quality of cut. Here at A Jour we pride ourselves in providing top to very well cut diamonds to all our customers.
1. Ideal cut. All the light gets reflected.
2. and 3. Due to the wrong cut, light is lost.
The nice reflection and sparkling is also called the “fire of the diamond.“
The Belgian, Marcel Tolkowsky, calculated in 1919 what he believed were the ideal cutting angles and proportions to allow the best balance between brilliance and dispersion. Here is a graphic of his calculations.
The “Round Brilliant Cut,“ with its 58 facets, is still the most popular cutting style for diamonds today.
What Should the Educated Customer Know?
These gradings are used to determine the price of diamonds.
2. and 3. Due to the wrong cut, light is lost.
The nice reflection and sparkling is also called the “fire of the diamond.“
The Belgian, Marcel Tolkowsky, calculated in 1919 what he believed were the ideal cutting angles and proportions to allow the best balance between brilliance and dispersion. Here is a graphic of his calculations.
The “Round Brilliant Cut,“ with its 58 facets, is still the most popular cutting style for diamonds today.
What Should the Educated Customer Know?
These gradings are used to determine the price of diamonds.
