The Ultimate Diamond Guide: The 5Cs of Diamonds
The cut, color, clarity, and carat, alias the 4 C' of a diamond, all contribute to a diamond's beauty. Understanding how each of these categories is evaluated and graded will give you an idea of the diamond's quality and, by extension, what the diamond is worth.
Cut, color, clarity and carat interact within the diamond to determine its structure, quality, and overall appeal.
Evaluating a diamond's quality without the 4 C’s can prove daunting. Any unscrupulous dealer could claim a diamond is of higher quality and charge a boatload of money for it.
With an objective diamond guide like the 4 C’S of Diamonds, it becomes easier for you to determine the quality of a diamond. Additionally, you can decide which quality is of utmost importance to you and which one you can compromise on to avoid splurging on a quality that will go unnoticed.
This comprehensive diamond guide will detail each of the 4Cs of a diamond to help you make an informed purchase the next time you shop for a diamond.
Cut
If beauty is the most important aspect you're looking for in a diamond, then pay close attention to the cut.
The diamond cut refers to the quality of the stone's symmetry, angles, and finishing details. In addition, the cut will determine the overall aesthetic of the diamond and its ability to sparkle.
An experienced craftsman knows how to position the angles so when light passes through the diamond, it’s directed to the crown hence the brilliant sparkles.
If the stone doesn't sparkle, the angles weren't positioned correctly. The diamond ended up with a depth too shallow or too deep. As a result, light escapes through the bottom or sides of the stone and not the crown.
Color
The highest-grade diamond takes on an icy white or colorless hue. Usually, these brilliant stones appear colorless in any setting. On the other hand, lower-grade stones take on a light yellow tone or are sometimes colorless with noticeable tints of brown and yellow.
The pricing of the diamond will directly correlate with the color. So, for example, an icy white color stone will cost you a pretty penny, while tinted stones will go for much less.
Because it can be difficult to tell the color grades apart, always compare your diamonds side by side.
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond speaks to how clean the stone is from blemishes and inclusions. Additionally, blemishes and inclusions can take away from a diamond's beauty and brilliance. This is because they interfere with the refraction of light within the diamond.
And as with a poorly cut diamond, the light will escape through the sides, not the crown, making the stone dull.
On the other hand, a flawless stone is free from any imperfection. Additionally, It's the rarest, hence the most expensive.
Although you could spot some blemishes with the naked eye, others are harder to spot, so getting confirmation from an expert would be best.
Carat weight
Contrary to popular belief, carat weight doesn't indicate a diamond's size; rather, it refers to the weight of a diamond. One carat diamond equals 0.2 grams or 200 milligrams.
It's important to note that how the stone is cut and the shape determines how big the diamond is.
The carat weight also doesn't contribute much as far as the aesthetics of a diamond go. Other qualities, such as color clarity and cut, highlighted in this diamond guide, determine the beauty and brilliance of a stone.
Certification
Tis may come as a surprise but a high proportion of the value of the diamond is its certification. There are different bodies which certify the legitimacy and ownership of a diamond.
Talk to Expert Jewelers
Whether you want to buy jewellery for a specific occasion or get an expert opinion on everything jewellery, contact LE - DIAMANT. We offer the best jewellery available and craftsmanship honed through generations.