 Diamond Information For The Novice Buyer - Loose Diamonds And The 4
C's
Whether you're looking to buy a loose diamond, or simply need more diamond information when choosing the stone
for your engagement ring, you'll need to understand the "Four C's" that contribute to a diamond's quality and
price.
The Four C's - Cut, Clarity, Color, And Carat Weight
The appearance and durability of a diamond is dictated by what is referred to as the "Four Cs", or the
four most important factors in buying a diamond. The four Cs refer to the color of the diamond, the clarity, the
cut, and the carat weight.
The color of a diamond can be natural or it can also be modified by way of any number of
treatments. Be aware that the color of a diamond can be affected due to fluorescence, which is a "characteristic
that makes diamonds shift color in different lights."
The clarity of a diamond means the amount of flaws in the diamond and to what extent there are
flaws. A diamond that has perfect clarity (also known as clearness) is extremely rare. There are only a few hundred
completely flawless diamonds (or "FL" diamonds) made across the globe on an annual basis. The flaws in
diamonds must be observed by way of a jeweller’s magnifying loupe.
A clarity that is "IF" means that the diamond is a internally flawless and any external flaws
can disappear thanks to the process of polishing.
If the diamond is VVS1 or VVS2 then only a jewelry expert can see the flaws
with a 10X microscope. A VVS2 means that the flaw can be observed from the top of the diamond and a VVS1 can only
be observed from the bottom.
A VS1 or VS2 clarity means that it will take approximately ten seconds to see
the flaws under a 10X microscope while a SI1-SI2 can easily be viewed with a 10X microscope. It is
recommended that I2-I3 diamonds be steered clear of, as the flaws they have are visible to the naked eye.
Contrary to popular belief, the cut of a diamond does not refer to the shape of the diamond.
Instead the cut of a diamond is the proportions of the gem, which means its depth, width and the uniformity. These
are all elements that contribute to the beauty of the diamond as well as its brilliance and durability, as the
diamond is one of the hardest and toughest of all gemstones.
The carat weight of a diamond plays a significant role in the appearance of the diamond as well
as its price. A one-carat diamond is 200 milligrams in weight. The majority of diamonds sold weigh less than one
carat and therefore the carat is usually broken down into “points.” There are 100 points in a one-carat diamond
ring. In that way a diamond that weighed ¾ carats would equal a 75-point diamond.
Diamond engagement rings come in a variety of different settings. These include the prong setting, the
pave setting, the invisible setting, the bezel setting and the channel setting.
The prong setting is by far the most popular setting that most women desire as it features four
or six claws that carefully cradle the diamond, and allow the maximum of light to reach the stone and enter in.
This makes the diamond appear as big and brilliant as it possibly can be.
Other settings that are less common but still used are the bar setting, the tension setting, the gypsy
setting, the illusion setting, the flat-top setting and the cluster setting.
When it comes time to shop for a diamond engagement ring for your sweetheart, or any other type of diamond
jewelry for that matter, the wisest thing to do is to buy a loose diamond. This is the single best way to know
that you are getting top quality for your money.
In order to buy a loose diamond however you would first need to know what shape of diamond your sweetheart would
love. From there the two of you can later shop for the perfect ring setting to suit her taste.
The most common shapes for diamonds include round, marquise, oval, pear, heart, emerald, princess and
radiant.
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