Guide
Learn About diamondDiamond Anatomy & Cut Quality
Like a human fingerprint, every diamond mined from mother nature has a unique distinguishing characteristics. The globally accepted standards for assessing the quality of a diamond consists of 4Cs Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight. Combination of all these 4 Cs determine the value of a diamond.
Understanding the 4 C’s of Diamonds Shopping
Clarity
Diamond clarity is the assessment of small imperfections on the surface and within the stone. Surface flaws are called blemishes, while internal defects are known as inclusions. In most cases, a diamond’s beauty is not affected by these in any way since most inclusions can’t be seen with the naked eye. When referring to inclusions, gemologists often use the term “internal characteristics” instead of flaws. Internal characteristics are what give a natural diamond its character. It’s also important to note that diamonds with the fewest and smallest inclusions receive the highest clarity grades—and higher price tags to reflect that.
Cut
Have you ever noticed how many surfaces a diamond has? A diamond’s cut refers to how well-proportioned the dimensions of a diamond are, and how these surfaces, or facets, are positioned to create sparkle and brilliance. For example, what is the ratio of the diamond’s diameter in comparison to its depth? These small, yet essential, factors determine the diamond’s beauty and price.
Color
It is very rare to find a diamond that doesn’t give any color at all, many gem-size diamonds will have slight hues or coloration due to natural processes during the gemstone’s formation. In fact, diamonds are found in almost any naturally occurring color, including gray, white, yellow, green, brown and pink. As more diamond deposits have been discovered, certain colorful stones have gained popularity. These fancy colored diamonds, such as canary diamonds, are prized for their unique colors.
Carat (Size)
The term carat is often misunderstood. It refers to a diamond’s weight, not its size. Another misperception is that a larger carat weight is always better than a smaller carat weight. While it’s true that a big rock can be a status symbol (here’s looking at you, Hollywood), carat weight is not related to sparkle. Beautiful sparkle is the result of a well-crafted cut. In fact, a high carat weight diamond with a poor cut may look smaller than a diamond with a smaller carat weight and a very good cut.
