The Four C’s

Diamonds, the hardest of all gemstones, are graded by the “4Cs”: color, clarity, cut and carat weight. The esteemed Gemological Institute of America (GIA), where Lori was formally trained, created this International Diamond Grading System in 1953. The 4Cs are accepted by virtually every jeweler in the world as the standard for diamonds.

Diamond Shapes

Color

The best color for a diamond is none — it is absolutely colorless. The GIA color scale ranges from D, which is colorless, down to Z, which includes diamonds that are light yellow and brown in color. Diamonds that are outside this range and are more vivid in color (blue, pink, green, etc) are categorized by the GIA as colored diamonds and are known as “Fancy Colors.” Grading colored diamonds is done by highly specialized GIA gemologists, who examine the diamonds by comparing them with masters to ensure balance of color value. This rating system contains nine tiers, from Faint to Fancy Vivid.

Clarity

A diamond’s clarity is determined by viewing it under 10-power magnification. A flawless diamond has no natural birthmarks (inclusions) or irregularities (blemishes). The most valuable diamonds have no imperfections at all. Keep in mind that a higher clarity stone is not always the most beautiful. Inclusions not visible to the naked eye rarely change the look of the stone. Instead, they just add to its price and rarity.

Cut

The cut of a diamond refers to its proportions, finish, symmetry and polish. These factors determine the brilliance (or amount of light reflected to the eye) of the diamond. Of the 4Cs, cut is the only one that is influenced by people; the rest come from nature. The importance of cut is that it allows light to refract at an optimum level, making the diamond more beautiful in its brilliance. Diamonds are normally cut with 58 facets. The facets are the flat surfaces cut into the stone that let the light refract out of the diamond, which lets the diamonds sparkle.

Rose Cut Diamonds

We did not want to leave out “rose cut diamonds.” For centuries, jewelry makers have been captivated by the rare beauty of the rose cut diamond, which has less than the normal 58 facets. The romantic name arose from the cut’s resemblance to a small half-open rosebud. The rose cut diamond’s subtle fire is only surpassed by the perfectly chosen setting to complement the stone.

Carat Weight

The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats. The larger a diamond, the more it weighs. One carat is divided into 100 points. Therefore, a diamond weighing half a carat weighs 50 points or .50 carats. Points are not usually used to describe weights over 1 carat. The rarity of a diamond is greatly affected by its size. A 1 carat diamond is far more valuable than two .50 carat stones.