DIAMONDS - the 4 c's
Carat, Clarity, Colour & Cut
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Carat
The size and weight of diamonds is measured in carets. Large diamonds are
more valuable and desirable because they are rare - and because the cut, colour
and brilliance of diamonds are most evident in larger stones.
As less than 1 in 20 diamonds are one caret or more, you will perhaps hear
of their size being referred to as so many 'points'. One caret = 100 points. So
a 10 point diamond is a tenth of a caret.
The value of a diamond will not solely be determined by its size and weight.
Other factors will be adjudged, such as the clarity, cut and colour of the stone.
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond affects its brilliance and its value.
When diamonds are formed they often contain tiny imperfections both externally
and internally. External flaws are called 'blemishes' and internal imperfections
are known as 'inclusions'.
Jewellers grade diamonds according to their clarity. Many flaws are invisible
to the naked eye, only detectable by viewing the stone through a magnifying instrument.
Flawless diamonds are extremely rare and highly valued. Blemishes and inclusions
interfere with light passing through diamonds, and the less flaws there are, the
less effect there will be on the stone's sparkle and brilliance.
Diamonds can be treated to improve their clarity. Lasering is a treatment
in which imperfections are removed by drilling into the stone using laser technology
to treat inclusions. A less permanent and somewhat controversial treatment is
called Clarity Enhancing. This method involves injecting material into a diamond
to temporarily enhance its clarity.
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Inclusions
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Grade
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Description |
| Flawless |
F
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Free from all inclusions or blemishes.
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Internally
Flawless |
IF |
No inclusions visible at 10x magnification
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| Very-Very Small
(Minute) |
VVS1 |
Inclusions that are extremely difficult
to locate at 10x
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| VVS2 |
Inclusions that are very difficult to locate
at 10x
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Very Small
(Minor) |
VS1 |
Minor inclusions that are difficult locate
at 10x
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| VS2 |
Minor inclusions that are somewhat difficult
to locate at 10x
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Small
(Noticeable) |
S1 |
Noticeable inclusions that are easy to
locate at 10x
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| S2 |
Noticeable inclusions that are very easy
to locate at 10x and some may be seen with unaided eye
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Included
(Obvious) |
I1 |
Obvious inclusions. Somewhat easy to locate
with unaided eye
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| I2 |
Obvious inclusions. Easy to locate with
the unaided eye
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| I3 |
Obvious inclusions. Very easy to
locate with the unaided eye
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Colour
The value and rarity of diamonds is affected by their colour or tint. Jewellers
grade diamonds on an alphabetic scale from 'D' (colourless) to 'Z' (tinted yellow).
Those graded at the 'colourless' end of the scale are the most highly valued.
Also highly valued are diamonds strongly tinted with a particular pure colour.
Each and every diamond is unique, with its unique colours, sparkle, brilliance
and personality. So each stone should be judged on an individual basis. A particular
tint may well bring out something special in a diamond, depending on other factors
such as the cut of the stone and it's clarity.
Cut
Diamonds are cut by expert craftsmen. How a stone is cut can greatly affect
its sparkle, brilliance and value.
Diamonds can be cut in several shapes, but it is the quality of the cut that
is vitally important. Stones that are undercut or cut too deeply will not have
the brilliance or sparkle than those cut at a better angle and in better proportion
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Poorly cut diamonds will lose light as it passes through the stone. A better
cut will allow the light to pass through the diamond and reflect in straight lines,
unhindered and the more brilliant for it.
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