The 4 C's of Diamonds

 

Cut

Regardless of color and clarity, the brilliance and sparkle of a diamond depends mainly on the cut, or the facets created during the cutting process. The cut is not the shape of the stone- it refers to the symmetry, proportioning, and polish of the stone.

Color

Because they are natural, there is no such thing as perfectly clear diamond, so they are rated on a scale from D to Z.

D to F : colorless

G-J : near colorless

K-M : faint yellow

N-R : very light yellow

S-Z : fancy canary yellow

Diamonds also come in a rainbow of colors, created naturally through irradiation or lab created.

Clarity

You will Inclusions in just about every natural stone, whether they are white feathers only seen by magnification, or darker spots that can be seen by the naked eye. Diamonds are graded as follows:

FI-:flawless

F- internally flawless

VVS1 & VVS2 : very very slightly included

VS1 & VS2 : very slightly included

SI1 & SI2 : slightly included, but usually not visible to the naked eye

I1, I2, & I3 : inclusions are visible to the naked eye

Carat Weight

Size for size, diamonds weigh 20% less than sapphires and rubies because of their density. The cost of a diamond increases tremendously with even small weight differences because it is so rare to find larger stones.