Diamonds Education and 4Cs
When choosing a diamond, four crucial factors are to consider—the 4Cs: colour, cut, carat, and clarity. Each of these aspects affects the diamond’s beauty. Below are some tips for choosing the perfect diamond.
When choosing a diamond, the stone will be as nearly colourless as possible. To the naked eye, it can sometimes be difficult to see much of a difference in colouring. As determined by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the colour grading scale ranges from D (totally colourless) to Z (light yellow). A colour grading of F-H is optimum for maximum beauty.
Clarity
Perfectly clear diamonds with no fractures, scratches, or trace minerals are considered flawless and are the rarest in the world. However, the majority of diamonds found have some sort of natural flaw, which can normally be seen through a jeweller’s 10x magnifying loupe. Flaws may not always be visible to the naked eye but can still affect the brilliance of the diamond.
- FL (Flawless)- stones with no imperfections internally or externally when viewed under a 10x magnifying loupe
- IF (Internally Flawless)- stones with o inclusions under a 10x magnifying loupe
- VVS1, VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Imperfect) – stones have minor flaws which are still very difficult to see under a 10x magnifying loupe
- VS1, VS2 (Very Slightly Imperfect) – stones have minor flaws which are considered slightly challenging to see under a 10x magnifying loupe
- SI1, SI2 (Slightly Imperfect) – stones have flaws which are easily seen under a 10x magnifying loupe and may be seen with the naked eye
- I1, I2, I3 (Imperfect)- stones with flaws which are easily seen with the naked eye
- I1, I2, I3-Imperfect
Cut
The brilliance of a diamond is determined by its cut. A bad cut can diminish the beauty of even a near-perfect stone in terms of colour and clarity. If a diamond is cut too deep, it may appear dark and dull. Too shallow, and light may be lost at the bottom, diminishing the brilliance.
Carat
The carat is the measurement used to determine the weight of a diamond. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams (0.2 grams). It takes 142 carats to total one ounce. The size of a diamond plays a huge determining factor in the price of the stone—the larger the diamond, the more it will cost. This is not only because it is more extensive but also because larger diamonds are rarer and carry a higher value.
Coloured Diamonds
Coloured diamonds are rarer than traditional clear or white diamonds. They are available in a variety of colours and shades and can be set in any piece. They are available in shades of Gray, pink, green, orange, yellow, red, and brown and are priced based on the same criteria as white diamonds—the 4Cs.
Certificate Sample
