HOW to SELECT DIAMOND
Carat weight: The weight/size of a diamond is measured in carats. One carat is divided into one hundred segments called "points." As in the decimal system, one hundred and twenty five points equals one and a quarter carats.
Clarity: This is the degree to which a diamond is free of inclusions. Where the inclusions lie, their size, and their type determine the value of the stone. Inclusions are rated as follows:
FL = Flawless
IF = Internally Flawless — minor surface blemishes
VVS1-VVS2 = Very, Very Small inclusions
VS1-VS2 = Very Small Inclusions
SI1-SI2 = Small Inclusions
I1-I2-I3 = Imperfect — inclusions visible to the eye
Slight inclusions, although they reduce the value of a diamond, do not take anything away from its beauty.
Color: This is another aspect where scarcity determines value. Colorless diamonds are extremely scarce in nature. Gradations from high white to beginning yellows are not easily perceptible to an unpracticed eye. The exceptions to high value equaling colorless stones lie in the bright-colored diamonds, i.e., amber, red, blue, etc.These diamonds, in the larger sizes, command enormous prices and are quickly snatched up by collectors worldwide.
Cut: Today the art of diamond cutting has been refined to precise mathematical formulae. Most diamonds are cut with 58 facets. A good cut is determined by the stone's light-reflecting properties and its light dispersion. The cut you finally choose, however, is a matter of personal taste.
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