Grading a Diamond with the Four C's

Diamonds are graded by four criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. Diamonds come in all shapes, sizes, weights, and colors. Many factors of the quality of a diamond are not always visible with the naked eye. Many diamond shoppers with little knowledge buy a diamond that is overpriced and may have problems that cannot be seen. With a little basic knowledge, shoppers can speak the same language as the salesman and deal on a more even base. Then you will know what you are getting into and be ensured of getting a good price for the diamond you buy.

A diamonds color is graded from colorless to light yellow. Diamonds also come in other colors like pink, blue, grey, orange, and red. The scale goes from colorless to light yellow and is represented by letters of the alphabet starting at D. Letters D-F are considered colorless diamonds. G-J are near colorless and K-M are faint yellow. N-R are very light yellow and S-Z are light yellow. A completely colorless diamond is very rare and very expensive. The more color a diamond has the less it is worth, generally speaking. Color does not affect the beauty of the diamond; it is mostly a matter of taste.

Clarity refers to any defects in the diamond. Clouding, crystal structure variance or dark spots are all called inclusions. Most of the time, these cannot be seen without the help of a magnifying lens. Knowledge of the five categories of clarity is essential when diamond shopping. FL stands for flawless and is the best in diamond clarity. IF is internally flawless and is in the same category as FL. The next category is very, very slightly imperfect, or VVS. It has two levels VVS1 and VVS2. The third category is very slightly imperfect, or VS. There are also two categories here. Slightly imperfect, SI is the fourth category and has two levels. I, or imperfect, is the final category and has three levels.

Carat is the weight of the diamond. One carat is 200 milligrams. Diamonds that have different cuts or shapes may look unequal in size, but the carat grade is about how much it weighs not how big it is. The cut of a diamond is the final criteria. There are two parts to cut: the shape of the diamond and how the cutting was executed. Cuts are designed to reflect as much light as possible. The cuts that are made determine the diamond’s fire, or the rainbow colors that show when the diamond reflects light.

Vanna K is a new generation jewelry designer specializing in micro pave settings. She is entirely in sync with the sensibilities, taste, and vision of timeless beauty her customers share. Vanna K unique engagement rings are made to last a lifetime and beyond.