A special occasion merits the timeless symbol of love - the incomparable diamond. Before you select your diamond, you need to understand what a diamond is and the criteria for its value.
Definition
The hardest transparent substance known in nature, the diamond is comprised of a single element, carbon. The diamond’s purity is the source of its unique brilliance when properly cut.
Quality and Value
Diamonds are appraised (judged and valued) based on the “4 Cs” - Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat Weight.
Cut
The cut of a diamond is a key factor in its brilliance and considered the most important criteria by many gemologists. The cut affects how light reflects throughout the diamond and, in turn, the diamond’s brilliance. The better the cut, the more valuable the diamond is.
The quality of the cut is evaluated based on several criteria:
- Proportion: A cut that is too shallow allows light to escape from the diamond’s bottom, and a cut that is too deep allows light to escape from the diamond’s sides.
- Polish: Polish grade means the smoothness of the diamond’s facets. Poor polish can dull a facet, reducing the diamond’s sparkle.
- Symmetry: Symmetry grade refers to the alignment of the diamond’s facets. Poor symmetry misdirects light through the diamond, reducing its sparkle.
Clarity
Clarity addresses how transparent the diamond is. The main criteria for clarity is the number of inclusions, such as scratches or trace minerals, present. The fewer inclusions, the more valuable the diamond is. A diamond’s clarity is evaluated on the following scale.
FL - Flawless
No internal or external flaws. Such diamonds are very rare. |
IF - Internally Flawless
No internal flaws, but may have some minor blemishes. |
VVS1, VVS2 - Very, Very Slightly Included
Very difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. |
VS1, VS2 - Very Slightly Included
Inclusions are not typically visible to the unaided eye. |
SI1, SI2 - Slightly Included
Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, and may be visible with the unaided eye. |
I1, I2, I3 - Included
These diamonds have inclusions that range from eye visible to very easily seen by the naked eye. |
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Color
Quite simply, color refers to the amount of color a diamond has. For white diamonds, the less color, the more valuable the diamond is. (Fancy colored diamonds are graded on a different scale.) The scale for color grade and its highlights are below:
| D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z |
| Colorless |
Near Colorless |
Faint Yellow |
Very Light Yellow |
Light Yellow |
|
- D: Absolutely colorless - The highest color grade, which is extremely rare.
- E: Colorless - Only minute traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist.
- F: Colorless - Slight color detected by an expert gemologist, but still considered a "colorless" grade.
- G-H: Near-colorless - Color noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades.
- I-J: Near-colorless - Color slightly detectable.
Carat Weight
A diamond’s carat weight is the most important factor in its price. Large gems are much rarer than small ones in nature, so the value of a diamond increases significantly with carat weight. Below is a diagram showing some common carat weights.
Although carat weight is important, it is critical to consider the other Cs to choose the best diamond investment.
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Diamonds