 Cut | Color | Clarity | Carat |
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Put simply, there are four universally accepted characteristics that
all diamonds are graded by. They are known as the 4 C's, and they
are Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight. It is the combination of
these "4 C's" that determines a diamond's value. By changing any of
the characteristics, you can dramatically affect the diamond's value,
all other factors being equal.
The cut of a diamond, its roundness, its depth and width, the uniformity
of the facets, all determine a diamond's brilliance. Many gemologists
consider cut the most important diamond characteristic because even
if a diamond has perfect color and clarity, a diamond with a poor cut
will have dulled brilliance.
The width and depth have the greatest effect on how light travels
within the diamond, and how it exits in the form of brilliance.
Too Shallow: Light is lost out the sides causing the diamond to
lose brilliance.
Too Deep: Light escapes out the bottom causing the diamond to
appear dark and dull.
The most important thing to know about color when it comes to diamonds
is, in general, the less color a diamond has, the more valuable it is, all
other factors being equal. Diamonds are found in nature in a wide range
of colors, from completely colorless (the most desirable trait) to slightly
yellow, to brown. So-called "fancy color diamonds" come in more intense
colors, like yellow and blue, but these are not graded on the same scale.
The color grading system for diamonds uses the letters of the alphabet
from D through Z, with "D" being the most colorless and therefore the
rarest and most valuable, and "Z" having the most color within the normal
range, and being the least valuable, all other factors being equal.
A diamond's color is determined by looking at it under controlled lighting
and comparing them to the Gemological Institute of America's color scale,
which is based on a set of diamonds of known color. Here is a diagram
showing how a diamond's color is graded:
Another vital grading characteristic in diamonds is their clarity. This refers
to the number, position and size of the inclusions that occur naturally inside
diamonds. The fewer and less obvious the inclusions are, the more valuable
the diamond. Here is an illustration that shows the clarity grading scale that
has been established by the world's foremost authority on diamonds,
the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Contrary to popular belief, higher clarity does not always mean more
beautiful. If the inclusions are not visible to the naked eye, a higher clarity
does not really improve the appearance of a diamond but rather the rarity
and price. A higher clarity is more desirable and valuable, but knowing that
you have selected the right clarity for the right reasons is most important.
A diamond's weight is measured in what is known as a "Carat", which is
a small unit of measurement equal to 200 milligrams. Carat is not a measure
of a diamond's size, since cutting a diamond to different proportions can
affect its weight. (The word "Karat" is used to express the purity of gold,
and is not used in relation to diamonds.) Here is a diagram that shows the
relative size of various carat weights in a diamond that is cut to the
same proportions:
The most important thing to remember when it comes to a diamond's carat
weight is that it is not the only factor that determines a diamond's value.
In other words, bigger does not necessarily mean better. All 4 C's - Cut,
Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight - must be balanced in order to arrive at
a diamond that fits your budget. None of the 4C's is mutually exclusive,
nor is any one more important than the others.