Various characteristics of diamonds are graded and categorised by the diamond industry. These are the “four Cs” of diamonds which are considered the most important aspects of diamonds, and are very important to know when choosing your diamond ring.
- Cut
- Clarity
- Color
- Carat weight
Cut
Cut is probably the most important of the four Cs to understand. The brilliance of a diamond depends heavily on its cut. There are five types of cut, Ideal, Premium, Very Good, Good, Fair & Poor.
Clarity
Most diamonds contain some inner flaws, or inclusions, that occur during the formation process. The visibility, number and size of these inclusions determine what is called the clarity of a diamond. Diamonds that are clear create more brilliance, and thus are more highly prized, and priced.
The various types on offer include:
- F
Flawless: No internal or external flaws. Extremely rare. - IF
Internally Flawless: no internal flaws, but some surface flaws. Very rare. - VVS1-VVS2
Very Very Slightly Included (two grades). Minute inclusions very difficult to detect under 10x magnification by a trained gemologist. - VS1-VS2
Very Slightly Included (two grades). Minute inclusions seen only with difficulty under 10x magnification. - SI1-SI2
Slightly Included (two grades). Minute inclusions more easily detected under 10x magnification. - I1-I2-I3
Included (three grades). Inclusions visible under 10x magnification AS WELL AS to the human eye. We do not recommend buying diamonds in any of these grades.
Color
Colorless diamonds are the most desirable since they allow the most refraction of light (sparkle). Off white diamonds absorb light, inhibiting brilliance. The scale runs from D to X, with D being the clearest color.
Carat Weight
A carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. Because large diamonds are found less commonly than small diamonds, the price of a diamond rises exponentionaly compared to its size. Not to be confused with the carat rating of gold, which is used to determine it’s purity.
