All About Diamonds Selection

Diamonds are graded for certification by  laboratories using grading criteria. Four of  these criteria are critical to understand when  making a diamond purchase or investment.  Known as the “Four C’s” these criteria are: color, cut, clarity and carat.

Color is the result of the composition of a  diamond and it does not change. When a jeweler is describing the color of a diamond  they are referring to the presence or absence  of color in white diamonds. Because a diamond with no color allows maximum light  to pass through, colorless diamonds are  preferred for their sparkle. 

Cut refers to a diamonds reflective quality. Most diamonds are cut with 58 facets. The  brilliance of diamonds is heavily dependent  on the cut. The different angles and the finish  of a diamond determine its ability to reflect  light and cause its brilliance and fire.  Remember that the cut of a diamond can  have an impact on its durability as well as its  beauty. Some cutting faults can make a  diamond prone to breakage. A diamond  that is cut too thin can also cause light to  leak out of the back and the diamond will  lose some of the sparkle and appear not  to shine. So, as you can see the Cut is  probably the most important of the Four C’s.

During the formation process, inner flaws, or  inclusions occur in most diamonds. The  number and size of these inclusions  determine what is referred to as the clarity  of a diamond. Diamonds that are clear  create more brilliance and therefore are rarer  and highly priced. To be considered “flawless”, a diamond must have no surface  or internal imperfections visible upon being  viewed by a skilled diamond grader using  10 power magnifications. 

Carat is the unit of weight by which diamonds  are measured. One carat is equal to 200  milligrams. A carat is divided into 100  segments called points. 150 points would  equal one and a half carats.

When you go to the store to make that all  important diamond purchase, do not be shy!   Ask questions, get the answers needed to  make an informed purchase. Shopping for  certified diamonds enables you to make an  informed selection. Knowing the “four C’s”  allows you to comparison shop and purchase  the best diamond at a fair price.  But, before  making a purchase, shop around and decide  what shapes and styles really appeal to you.  Enjoy your diamond for years to come