The Diamond C's
Diamond C's are used together to grade, certify, and appraise diamonds. Gaining a better understanding of these diamond qualities will help you to identify the differences between a good diamond and a great diamond.
The diamond cut is often considered to be one of the most important diamond grade: The cut of a diamond refers to how much light the diamond reflects - this is where the brilliance and fire of a diamond comes from. Cut is also one of the most difficult diamond qualities for consumers to evaluate on their own.If a diamond is not cut to a high standard, the light of the diamond can appear dull. The cut is not the same thing as the shape of a diamond, and novice jewelers sometimes mistakenly refer to the diamond's shape as its cut. There are five categories of diamond cuts: the round brilliant cut, the modified brilliant cut, the step cut, the mixed cut, and the old world cut. For more info about these cuts check out understanding diamond cuts. The round brilliant cut is often considered to be the crème de la crème of cuts; this cut maximizes the reflective light qualities and brilliance of a diamond. It is this type of cut that the standard for the cut grade is based upon. Recently, some forms of step cut, mixed cut, and modified brilliant cut diamonds have been given their own standards of evaluation and grading. The most desirable diamond cut has a thin to slightly thick girdle, a culet which is either nonexistent to small, and the finish (including polish and symmetry) should be excellent.
Inclusions are flaws which harm the clarity of the inside of the diamond, and blemishes are flaws which harm the outside clarity of the diamond. The most common types of inclusions are caused by pressure cracks, bubbles, and small mineral deposits that occurred when the diamond was formed. Blemishes are most often caused by chips, scratches, and pits that occurred when the diamond was being cut or polished. On a diamond's grading report, all inclusions and blemishes are referred to as inclusions, and the clarity of a diamond is evaluated using a magnification of 10X. While large inclusions and blemishes can harm the beauty and strength of a diamond, smaller inclusions and blemishes that are not visible to the naked eye can serve as unique fingerprints which can be used to identify a diamond. They also prove that the diamond is authentic and not man made.
Colored diamonds are also called fancy colored diamonds. These diamonds are often rarer than colorless diamonds, and they include shades of blue, green, purple, bright yellows, oranges, greens, pinks, and the very rare reds. Colored diamonds have their own standards of grading separate from colorless diamonds. This is one of the most subjective diamond C's, as many consumers enjoy the soft look of lightly tinted colorless diamonds.
Larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds, and so a diamond's worth increases according to its size. While size is an important factor in determining the value of a diamond, each of the 4 C's of a diamond contribute to the diamond's overall grade and value. For example, a smaller diamond with a high quality rating of brilliance and light (cut) may be priced the same as a a larger diamond with a poorer cut. For more info on diamond engagement rings and wedding rings, check out diamond grading, and diamond certification.
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The diamond clarity refers to the visual quality of the diamond: Clarity is affected by flaws known as inclusions and blemishes.
The Diamond Color actually refers to the absence of any color: Most diamonds found in nature have some kind of yellow or brown tint to them. The precious and rare colorless diamonds have no color at all, and the grade of a diamond can be affected by any hint of yellow or brown shades.
The Diamond Carat is the weight (size) of the diamond: The carat of a diamond is measured in milligrams, and 200 milligrams equal one carat. The carat is not the same thing as the karat which is used to set standards for gold.