A Diamond Education
24/09/2014
Choosing the perfect diamond can be a daunting task for anyone, and with countless combinations of cut, shape, colour and more, it’s enough to make the mind boggle!
To make it that little bit clearer, we’ve outlined the six factors to take into consideration that determine a diamond’s value, including the 4 Cs; Colour, Cut, Clarity and Carat.
COLOUR
The GIA grades colour found in white diamonds from D to Z. Diamonds graded D-F are considered "colourless"; these are the rarest and therefore the most expensive. Stones graded G-J are "near-colourless" and have only a slight colouration that’s invisible to the naked eye. K-M diamonds are "slightly coloured" and those graded N-Y have a distinctly noticeable yellow or brown tinge.
The colour in a stone comes from facets in the diamond acting as a prism, reflecting and refracting the light to create flashes of spectral colour – known as fire. If colour from chemical impurities is present in the diamond, it acts as a filter that lessens the impact of the fire. A perfectly pure diamond should be completely transparent with no trace of colour.
White diamonds with a slight hue are less rare than colourless diamonds. However, diamonds with intense colours such as yellows, pinks or blues are often known as “fancy”, and are very rare and valuable.
Fancy coloured diamonds have their own grading system. They are graded firstly on their basic hue e.g. pink, yellow, blue, green, etc. and secondly on the intensity of the colour. The more vivid and intense the colour the more expensive the diamond is likely to be.
When talking about a diamond’s cut it’s important not confuse the term with a description of the stone’s shape. While shape describes the outline of the stone when viewed from above – for example, round, oval, or square - cut refers to a diamond’s proportions and its ability to disperse and reflect light. The way a diamond is cut determines its brilliance and so is often considered to be one of the most important characteristics.
The proportions of the diamond are measured precisely to encourage the light to bounce about and refract inside the stone, increasing its brilliance. A stone that is cut too shallow looses light through the bottom; one that is cut too deep looses light from the sides and may appear darker. A stone cut to the ideal proportions allows the light in, and then reflects it back up through the crown of the stone to the viewer’s eye.
Clarity is an important factor governing the price and quality of diamonds and it refers to the visible purity of the stone. Regardless of the shape or colour of your diamond, if the clarity is poor then the overall effect might be dull and cloudy. The purer the diamond, the clearer it appears, the more sought-after it becomes, and the more expensive it will be.
Imperfections that affect the stone’s clarity are known as inclusions. These can be mineral traces, cracks and fractures, or other natural imperfections that hinder or block the light as it passes through the stone – so lessening its sparkle.
DIAMOND CARAT
The last of the four all-important Cs after clarity, cut and colour, carat weight does not indicate the diamond’s quality but the actual size of the stone.
One carat is equal to 1/5 of a gram and is divided into 100 parts. Larger diamonds are more rare and in higher demand than small diamonds, so their price is much higher.
A one carat diamond ring is nearly always more expensive than one made up of similar, smaller diamonds even when their total weight adds up to more than one carat. However, two diamonds with the same carat weight will not always have the same value once all of the stone's characteristics are taken into account.
When thinking about the shape of your diamond, don’t confuse this term with a diamond’s cut. While cut is all about facets, angles and symmetry, shape refers to the outline of the diamond when viewed face on – imagine looking down on it when it’s on your finger, or mounted in a necklace or earring. Each shape has its own unique characteristics so choose carefully to fit the design you have in mind. Both cut and shape are important because they enhance the diamond’s brilliance (reflected white light) and fire (flashes of spectral colours) to differing effects.
The most popular diamond shapes include the round brilliant, rectangular emerald and radiant cut, square princess cut and rounded cushion cut.
Also referred to as a diamond grading report, diamond dossier or diamond quality document, the certificate contains a detailed analysis of the diamond’s size, cut, colour, clarity, florescence, finish and other relevant characteristics.
different labs use different processes and techniques when testing the stones for quality and may produce a different set of results if asked to grade the same stone.
Well known certification labs include The GIA, AGSL, GEM and BGI
Article isn't rated yet.
Latest Posts
_1.png)
.jpg)
_1.png)
