Diamonds- The 4 C’s

There are four factors that determine a diamonds value, rarity and beauty. These are commonly referred to as the 4 C’s, and are colour, clarity, carat and cut. If you are thinking about purchasing a diamond, it’s important to understand the difference between every individual diamond and how they can be valued differently, despite looking similar.

Colour

Naturally, diamonds vary in colour. Most of the diamonds you find on the market are sold as near colourless. Most diamonds will have subtle differences in their colour, though this is not always visible to the naked eye. The GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) Scale of Colour grades diamonds from D, which has the least colour and the rarest, right through to Z, which are a heavy yellow colour.

Fashion trends have led coloured diamonds to become popular, including black diamonds. Black diamonds are natural diamonds that have undergone specialist treatments to enhance the depth of colour and contrast.

Clarity

The inclusions of diamonds are ranked on a scale of perfection known as clarity. The fewer inclusions a diamond has, the greater the clarity, thus making it a more valuable diamond. It is common for diamonds to have natural flaws, and it is very rare to find a diamond that is perfect. The flaws present on diamonds often look like little crystals, clouds or feathers.

A diamonds beauty is not often affected by any inclusions, as they can often be hidden within settings or mounts. Conversely, a heavy inclusion in a stone can also have a deep impact of the appearance of a diamond, particularly if the inclusion is near the middle of the stone.

Carat

Diamonds are measured in carats. The carat of a diamond is measured by its weight, rather than its size. Carats are split into points where 100 points equal one carat.

½ carat diamond equals 50 points or 0.50 carat diamond
¼ carat diamond equals 25 points or 0.25 carat diamond

If a jewellery piece features more than one diamond, for example a diamond cluster ring, the stones are weighed together to find the pieces carat rather than individually.

The most important factor that determines the value of a diamond is the carat, but the colour, clarity and cut also plays a huge part.

Cut

The diamonds cut refers to its proportions and finish. Professional craftsmen can transform a rough diamond into a beautifully polished and shiny version.

Diamonds can be cut in many ways, including to be heavier and more valuable, or to hide any inclusions. The quality of a cut diamond is determined by symmetry, proportion and how polished it is, though these can hugely vary between diamonds. The ‘Cut’ is often under-valued in importance but a very well cut diamond which may be lower on the colour and clarity scale can look much brighter than a better colour and clarity diamond with a lower quality cut.

At Cuttings, we have a range of beautiful jewellery pieces that feature diamonds throughout, including this platinum diamond cluster ring and these 18ct diamond stud earrings.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to visit us at our Margateor Ramsgate branch or get in touch via our contact page.