Before you shop for diamonds, you need to know diamond quality before you decide whether your purchase is a good one or not. Price is based on quality but you must first understand what to look for. The most important thing when you judge a diamond is to understand the four Cs. They are cut, color, clarity and carat.
In order to judge quality, you must examine the diamond in question. Once you have selected a suitable gem, be sure to maintain its quality through proper care and cleaning.
Diamond Cut
Shape and make comprise the diamond cut component of quality. While a variety of shapes are available, the round brilliant cut is usually considered the best. Made with fifty-eight facets, this cut provides the diamond with a brilliant look. Other highly desirable shapes include marquise, princess and radiant.
A diamond cut’s make determines the quality or craft of the workmanship performed. Therefore, if a diamond has a better make, it has better sparkle and fully brings out all of the diamond’s best qualities. This heavily influences a diamond’s beauty.
A Diamond’s Color
Diamonds don’t just come in the sparkling clear color we all think of when we think of diamonds. In fact, diamonds come in a range of colors. These colors are denoted by an alphabetical list, which ranges from D to X. White diamonds denoted by a “D” label represents the palest color. Yellow fancy diamonds are still high quality and are given an “S” label. Diamond colors E and F have excellent and beautiful qualities while J to M encompass desirable colors for diamonds that are larger. Diamonds that are blue, red, pink, green and brown usually denote diamonds that have been treated with radiation.
Clarity Of A Diamond
Clarity is a major factor in the determination of diamond quality. In face, the most precious diamonds will be flawless and perfectly clear inside and on the stone’s surface. Internally flawless diamonds with minor blemishes on the surface are next in line for quality. Lower clarity results when diamonds exhibit inclusions that are considered as less clear and those in which inclusions can be seen without assistance by the naked eye.
Diamond Carat Weight
Diamond size is measured in carats. Out of all the four Cs, carat should be the last thing you consider. Sometimes, though, that’s all we seem to think about. However, clarity, cut and color play a greater role in determining the gem’s appearance although carat weight does influence the price of diamonds as well.
Carats are usually measured in points. Therefore, one carat is given 100 points, while half a carat is given 50 points, and so on. This means that a diamond’s price can vary greatly for as low as 5 to 10 points. That’s why you must know just how big a diamond is in exact carats and therefore points.
Understanding the four Cs of dertimining diamond quality will enable you to be a smart shopper and find the best diamond value for your money. You’ll be able to get a lot of quality at a fair price.