There are four factors that determine the value of a diamond,
Carat-Weight, Color, Clarity, and Cut, collectively they are known as the four C's. The combination of the four C's
determines each diamond's value. Master these important facts, and you
will be prepared to make your purchase.
Carat-Weight
This is the
weight of the diamond measured in carats. One carat is divided into 100
points. So a diamond of 75 points weighs .75 carats. Two diamonds of
equal weight can look very different depending on their cut grade. A
diamond weighing one carat, but poorly-cut, will look inferior to a
three-quarter carat diamond that is well-cut; bigger is not always
better. A 1 carat round should be 6.5mm. A 1 carat diamond measuring
6.75 mm is to shallow and a 6.25 mm is cut too deep. Each carat - weight
has it's own parameters.
From one piece of rough, a diamond has been
cut to Ideal proportions, retaining a weight of one carat. The light is
totally reflected through the top. |
The second piece of rough has been "spread" in its
cutting, resulting in a diamond weight of approximately 1.40 ct. The
girdle is thicker, the table is much larger and the angles are
exaggerated, all at the expense of the diamond's ability to reflect
light. Therefore, the value of a diamond can vary as much as 40% in the
cutting alone. |
Color
Diamonds come in
every color of the spectrum, but the most popular gems are colorless.
Truly colorless, icy-white diamonds are extremely rare and therefore the
most costly. Stones are graded by color and given designations dependent
on how far they deviate from the purest white. Colorless stones are
graded D. Color grading continues down through the alphabet, with each
letter designating a yellower tint. The best way to see the true color
of a diamond is by looking at it against a white surface. Although the
great majority of diamonds come in shades of white, the gems also come
in a spectrum of majestic colors, from red and canary yellow to blue,
green and brown. These colorful diamonds, known as fancies, are valued
for their depth of color, just as white diamonds are valued for their
lack of color. A diamond with no color is graded a "D." The color scale
continues to a "Z" grade. A "D" is not necessarily the prettiest
diamond, it's just the most rare. Color is a matter of your own personal
choice. Color grades between D and J are virtually colorless.
Most diamonds,
although appearing colorless, actually have slight tones of yellow or
brown. As these tones become more apparent, the rarity and the cost
decrease. |
Clarity
A diamond's
clarity is affected by any external birthmarks and internal birthmarks
created by nature when the diamond was formed. Imperfections, such as
spots or lines, are called characteristics of the diamond. Although these
marks make each stone unique, the fewer the characteristics, the more
valuable the stone. Too many internal characteristics can interfere with
the passage of light through the stone, diminishing the sparkle and
value of the diamond. According to the quality analysis system of the
Gemological Institute of America, clarity is graded on a scale ranging
from flawless (FL or IF) to imperfect (I). To be graded flawless, a
diamond must have no inclusions visible to a trained eye under a 10x
magnification in good light. The only diamonds in which you can actually
see the inclusions are I1, I2, and I3 diamonds. So, when choosing your
diamond, remember that clarity determines price as a function of rarity;
a flawless diamond will not appear any different to the naked eye than an
SI1.
Practically all diamonds contain naturally occurring internal
characteristics called inclusions. The size, nature, location and amount
of inclusions determine a diamond's clarity grade and affect its cost.
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Cut
Each diamond is cut
according to an exact mathematical formula. The most common cut, the
round brilliant, has 58 facets, or small, flat, polished planes designed
to yield the maximum amount of light to be reflected back to the viewer.
This reflection, known as brilliance, is an extremely important factor
in evaluating the quality of a diamond.
A poorly cut diamond will actually lose light and appear dull. The
widest circumference of a diamond is known as the girdle. Above the
girdle of a brilliant cut diamond are 32 facets plus the table, the
largest and topmost facet. Below the girdle are 24 facets plus the
culet, or point. Cut is also used to describe the shape of a
diamond. In addition to the round brilliant, other popular cuts
include: emerald, marquis, pear, oval and square.
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The most modern cut of a diamond is the princess cut. Cut is
the only C in which man can effect the beauty of a diamond. Cut is the
skill with which a diamond is faceted; it determines the play of light
in a diamond. A well-cut diamond shines more brightly than a poorly-cut
diamond, which will look dim and lifeless. Cut is the primary factor to
consider when looking for a diamond, because it gives your diamond its
fire and sparkle. Variations in the remaining three C's are often not
visible to the naked eye; they are a function of a diamond's rarity. Ask
to see the Legendary Cleopatra Diamond from the Love Story Collection,
featuring 21st century technology, to give you the brightest diamond
money can buy. |
