Diamonds are unique, not one diamond is the same – and it is for that reason that they are the symbol for love and everlasting commitment.
When shopping for a diamond it is important to understand the four characteristics of the diamond before making a purchase. The four Cs of a diamond, together, create the price, rarity and sparkle of the diamond. It is important to get the diamond that speaks to you rather than worrying about the rarity or specs of a diamond.
The 4C’s of a diamonds are – cut, color, clarity, and carat.
The first C of a diamond is the cut.
The cut of a diamond is the most important characteristic of a diamond. This is because the cut is what makes the diamond sparkle. A well-cut diamond will reflect nearly all the light that enters the diamond, it will look to be the proper shape and have the correct proportions and polish.
The cut grades for a diamond are:
IDEAL CUT – This rare cut represents the top cut quality of a round brilliant diamond. A diamond with an ideal cut will reflect all the light that enters the diamond.
EXCELLENT CUT – This rare cut is the top cut quality for any fancy shape diamonds (emeralds, ovals, hearts, princess, etc.). A diamond with the excellent cut grade will reflect nearly all the light that enters the diamond.
VERY GOOD CUT – A diamond with a very good cut will reflect nearly the same amount of light as excellent or ideal cut but may be more shallow or deep.
GOOD CUT – A diamond with a good cut grade will reflect similarly to the very good cut but will have less brilliance to it.
POOR CUT – A diamond of the poor cut grade will look dull compared to others. The diamond will be deep and narrow or shallow and wide and will lose light out of the sides or bottom rather than reflecting out.
We suggest buying a diamond that is at least a very good cut.
The second C of a diamond is color.
The color is the lack of color A diamond possesses. The grading scale of color is on a scale from D to Z. The less color the diamond has – the closer to the D color grade it gets. Most diamonds naturally exhibit slight hints of yellow, brown, or gray. This color is caused by natural trace elements of nitrogen that were present when the diamond formed under the Earth’s crust.
It’s important to remember…
The color scale of a diamond is a scale of rarity – not necessarily of beauty. The closer to the D color grade a diamond gets, the rarer that it is. That does not mean that the diamond is more beautiful. Diamonds can be beautiful in any color. That’s why it is important to see and select your diamond in person.
We recommend buying the diamond that has the color that speaks to you.
The next C of diamond grading is the Clarity.
During a diamond’s “birth” or growing process, other elements may become trapped within the diamond. This gives each diamond it’s own unique identity or birthmark. All diamonds, except for the most rare, have inclusions. The clarity grade is base on the number, size, relief and position of the inclusions or birthmarks under 10x magnification.
Most Diamonds Are Imperfect
Because they’re made by nature, underground and in extreme conditions, most diamonds have small inclusions and blemishes. When referring to inclusions, we often use the term “internal characteristics” instead. Internal characteristics of natural diamonds are what gives the diamond its character and uniqueness.
Inclusion Examples:
- Clouds
- Feathers
- Crystals or minerals
- Knots
- Cavities
- Cleavage
- Internal graining
Blemish Examples:
- Polish lines
- Scratches
- Nicks
- Pits
- Chips
- Breaks
- Dark or light spots
- Fractures
The final C of a diamond is the Carat.
The Carat refers to the weight of the diamond – not its size. All diamonds, regardless of shape have 100 points in a one carat stone. The picture below depicts 1 ct diamonds in different shapes. The process that forms a diamond happens only in very rare circumstances, and typically found or made in small amounts. This means that a diamond that is larger in Carat is rarer and has a greater cost per Carat.
Diamond size is purely preference. We recommend you buy the diamond size you like best and it within your budget.
