The 4 Cs
Hi there. If you're watching this, then you are probably thinking about buying a diamond or a piece of diamond jewelry. If you're like most people, then you are probably feeling a little overwhelmed by all the choices.
Don't worry! Relax, because you're not alone.
There is a quick and simple way to help you figure out how to select the best diamond. It's called the 4 Cs.
It's possible that you've even heard of the 4 Cs when you began your search for diamonds because just about every diamond dealer uses them. The 4 Cs are pretty basic and anyone can remember them — Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat. It's that simple.
The 4 Cs are the most important and relevant points when determining the quality of a diamond. As long as you have a basic idea of what each of the 4 Cs means, you are well on your way to making an informed decision when choosing a diamond.
Let's start with Carat and you probably already have an idea of what carat means. The carat is actually the unit of mass used to express the weight of the diamond, just like pounds or kilos for the weight of other objects.
A carat is equal to 200 milligrams. This unit of measure was established in the beginning of the 20thcentury and has been used ever since. The origin of the word “carat” actually comes from translations of the carob seed, which was used to weigh diamonds in ancient times.
Like the other Cs, the carat has a large impact on the final price of the diamond. Although all 4 Cs affect the price, the more carat weight a diamond has, the more it will tend to cost.
For example, if you had two diamonds with the same cut, clarity, and color, the larger of the two would cost more. This is simply because larger diamonds are so rare.
The next C is Cut. With the cut, there is no hidden meaning — it simply refers to the cut of the diamond. The cut of the diamond brings out its full light potential based on the shape.
When diamonds are discovered, they are in the rough. It is up to a skilled diamond cutter, also known as a diamantaire, to study the rough diamond, cut it, and then polish it. This is critical, because if the diamond cutter makes even the smallest mistake, the diamond could fracture or end up with a dull and lackluster appearance, ruining its quality.
Once the shape is determined, the stone is meticulously molded into the finished product. The overall cut grade is assigned on a scale from Excellent to Poor and depends on the proportions, angles, polish and symmetry of the facets. If any one feature is out of line the entire cut grade is affected. An excellent cut grade is preferred as it maximizes the diamond's light performance. A low cut grade is often assigned to diamonds that are too shallow or too deep which results in lower shine.
There are 3 main types of cut — the brilliant, mixed, and step-cut. The type of cut is chosen when the cutter studies the rough diamond to see what cut would suit it best. The diamond cutter measures the stone to plan each facet for the cut. Diamond cutters also take into account the requests of the diamond owner.
Now we have our next C — color. The most important thing when shopping for a white diamond is to make sure that you have as little color as possible in the stone. The prismatic light coming off the diamond is OK, but what you don't want is the stone itself to be distinctly tinted with color. The color scale is easy to follow as it ranges in alphabetical order from D, which is colorless, to Z which is distinctly yellow/brown.
A diamond with good color will basically appear to be colorless, so it will appear to be either clear or white. These stones usually have a color grade of H or higher. Diamonds graded I and lower on the grading scale become progressively more tinted as they approach Z.
Just remember there are some fancy diamonds out there that do have color, like pink and blue diamonds. Their color is not considered a negative.
The final C is Clarity. Clarity is also a pretty basic idea — it is the number and nature of the inclusions or flaws in the diamond as seen under 10x magnification. The lower the number of inclusions the easier it is for light to flow through and off a diamond, which creates a more lively appearance. Clarity is rated on a scale from flawless (F) to inclusions visible (I), with additional grades indicating very very slight (VVS), very slight (VS), or simply slight inclusions (SI).
The amount of flaws in and on a diamond, as well as the color and location of the flaws affect its clarity grade. Most flaws on the outside of a diamond are scratches or raised bits of mineral. In most cases, you may not even see these with magnification let alone with your naked eye. However, these problematic external flaws are what are known as blemishes.
Inclusions are the flaws found inside the diamond which may include trapped minerals from when the diamond formed or internal fractures due to the diamond's structure. No matter where the inclusion came from, they can prevent the free flow of light through the stone.
The fewer and smaller the flaws, the higher the diamond's clarity, for example an IF, or internally flawless, diamond has no inclusions visible under 10X magnification. It is a good idea to remember that in many cases, a single large flaw is worse than numerous small ones when it comes to clarity.
Well, those are the basics of the 4 Cs of diamonds. As you probably have assumed, there is much more to each of them, as you may choose to discover on your own, but this overview should give you enough information to make a more informed decision when choosing a diamond or piece of diamond jewelry.
Just always remember that the better a diamond is in each of the 4 Cs, the higher the price will be. So, as you shop for your ideal diamond, think about which of the 4 Cs are most important to you and which you won't mind compromising on to save some money.
For example, if carat weight is the most important to you, choose a diamond with a lower clarity, color, or cut, or maybe even all three.
Hopefully, this brief introduction to the 4 Cs of diamonds has lessened any apprehension you may have concerning choosing a diamond. You should now feel a little more comfortable searching for that perfect diamond!
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