Diamonds The 4 C’s
Every diamond has unique characteristics; to determine the quality of a diamond they are graded using the 4 c’s, carat, clarity, colour and cut.
When buying diamond jewellery asking to see the different graded stones next to each other will help you make a selection.
CARAT
Refers to the weight of a diamond, rather than the actual size.
COLOUR
Diamond Colours are graded from D that is colourless to Z that has hints of yellow/brown.
| Diamond Colour Grading | |
|---|---|
| D-F | Colourless |
| G-J | Near Colourless |
| K-M | Faint |
| N-R | Very Light |
| S-Z | Light |
CLARITY
When diamonds are formed imperfections in the structure can form and mineral impurities become trapped inside the stone. Flawless diamonds are exceptionally rare and valuable. When diamond grading clarity Refers to the Absence of Inclusions and Blemishes in the diamond.
Inclusions
This refers to the internal characteristics of the stone
Blemishes
This refers to the external characteristics of the stone.
| Diamond Clarity Grading | ||
|---|---|---|
| FL | Flawless | No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification |
| IF | Internally Flawless | No inclusions visible under 10x magnification |
| VVS1 | Very, Very Slightly Included | Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification |
| VVS2 | ||
| SI1 | Very Slightly Included | Inclusions are observed with effort under 10x magnification, but can be characterized as minor. |
| SI2 | ||
| I1 | Included | Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification which may affect transparency and brilliance. |
| I2 | ||
| I3 | ||
CUT
Cut refers to the shape and the quality of the cut.
A diamond’s cut grade refers to the diamond’s reflective qualities. The higher the grade the better it is at reflecting the light, achieving more brilliance, sparkle and fire. If the diamond is cut too deep or shallow the light will travel through the diamonds and out through the sides making the stone appear dull.
The cut grades are defined as Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor
We hold a large stock of certificated diamonds. Certificated diamonds are evaluated by independent industry recognised laboratories, so you can be confident of the stones quality
To see a few examples of our jewellery go here
Finally if you would like more information on buying diamonds go to this comprehensive guide from the GIA