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The
4 'C' of Diamond is - Cut, Clarity,
Color and Carat
Cut
The
cut of a diamond determines how it reflects light, which is responsible
for its sparkle or brilliance. A well-cut diamond is cut by a
skilled professional to the best proportions possible so that
light will be reflected from each of its mirrorlike facets and
disperse through its top. Too shallow a cut will let light escape
through a diamond's bottom, causing it to appear dull, while too
deep a cut will allow light to be lost through a diamond's sides,
making it appear dark.
Because
a diamond with perfect color and clarity could nevertheless have
poor brilliance if it is not well cut, many gemologists consider
this to be the most important property to note when choosing a
diamond. Diamonds can carry cut grades of Excellent, Ideal, Very
Good, Good, or Fair.
Clarity
No
two diamonds are alike. A diamond's most distinguishing characteristics
are its inclusions, marks that are often invisible to the naked
eye. However, under a jeweler's magnifying loupe or microscope
they can look like crystals, tiny rivers, or clouds. A diamond's
clarity is determined by the presence or absence of inclusions--fewer
inclusions mean better clarity--and how visible they are. The
greater a diamond's clarity, the greater its brilliance and value.
A diamond categorized as internally flawless will have no inclusions,
but this is extremely rare.
Diamonds
with very, very small inclusions are graded as VVS1 or VVS2. Those
with larger inclusions are considered lower-grade. Diamonds with
inclusions that are visible with the naked eye are graded I1 to
I2.
Color
Though diamonds come in a wide range of colors, colorless diamonds
have traditionally been considered the most valuable. Most diamonds
are graded on a scale using the letters of the alphabet, from
D (colorless), the best grade, through Z (a light yellow). It
is difficult for the untrained eye to notice such variations in
color unless stones are being compared side by side. The comparatively
rare colored diamonds are known as fancy-colored and are also
quite valuable. They range in hue from the more common yellow
(also graded Z+ on the alphabetic scale) to pink, blue, green,
red, and even black and white.
Diamonds
that are graded D, E, and F tend to be the most expensive because
of their rarity. However, any diamond you buy should have a good
balance of cut, color, and clarity, so as to impart the most brilliance
and dazzle possible
Carat
A
diamond's weight is measured in carats, with one carat being equivalent
to 100 points. You will often see a diamond referred to as a 3/4-carat
stone or a 75-point diamond. Larger stones are often more highly
valued, but size should not be the only consideration--high brilliance,
which varies according to clarity, cut, and color grade, is highly
desirable in a diamond.
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