DIAMOND EDUCATION
Understanding Quality & Value
Every diamond is unique, but understanding what makes one diamond different from another doesn’t have to be complicated. The 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight are the internationally recognized standards used to evaluate a diamond’s quality and characteristics.
Cut is what brings a diamond to life.
A diamond’s cut describes how precisely its facets have been shaped and proportioned to interact with light. An expertly cut diamond reflects light beautifully, creating the brilliance, sparkle, and fire diamonds are known for.
Even a diamond with exceptional color and clarity can appear dull if it is poorly cut. That’s why cut is often considered one of the most important factors when choosing a diamond.
With diamonds, less color is generally more desirable.
The GIA grades diamond color on a scale from D to Z. A D grade diamond is completely colorless, while diamonds further down the scale gradually display more noticeable yellow or brown tones.
Clarity measures a diamond’s natural imperfections.
Diamonds form under extraordinary conditions, and most contain tiny internal characteristics called inclusions or external characteristics called blemishes.
Higher clarity grades are rarer, but many inclusions are microscopic and cannot be seen without magnification.
Carat measures a diamond’s weight, not simply how large it looks.
One carat equals 200 milligrams, but two diamonds with the same carat weight can look noticeably different depending on their shape, proportions, and cut.
As carat weight increases, diamonds generally become more valuable because larger diamonds are considerably rarer. However, carat is only one part of the equation.
A slightly smaller diamond with an exceptional cut can often appear more brilliant and sometimes even more impressive than a heavier diamond with less desirable proportions.
