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Understanding Diamonds

Diamonds are captivating marvels of nature, coveted for their exquisite beauty and timeless allure. These precious gemstones have held a special place in history, symbolising love, strength, and luxury. But beyond their sparkling facade lies a wealth of information that every diamond enthusiast should know. Join us as we explore the intriguing world of diamonds and uncover the secrets that make them truly extraordinary.

inspecting diamond under a magnifying glass

The 4 C's of Diamonds

When it comes to evaluating a diamond's quality, the 4 C's—Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight—are essential factors to consider.

Colour

Diamonds come in various shades, ranging from colourless to fancy vivid colours. The less colour a diamond has, the higher its value.

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The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed a colour grading scale to classify diamonds based on their colour appearance, ranging from colourless to light yellow or brown. The GIA scale begins with the letter D, representing colourless, and progresses through the alphabet to Z, representing diamonds with noticeable colour.

 

  1. Colorless (D-F): Diamonds in this range are considered colourless and highly valued for their rarity. They exhibit little to no colour and appear icy white.

  2. Near Colorless (G-J): Diamonds in this range have slight traces of colour that are typically difficult to detect to the untrained eye, especially when mounted in jewellery.

  3. Faint Yellow (K-M): Diamonds in this range exhibit a faint yellow hue that becomes more noticeable as you move down the scale. However, this colour may still not be easily visible when the diamond is mounted.

  4. Very Light Yellow (N-R): Diamonds in this range have a noticeable yellow or brown tint, which may be more apparent to the naked eye, especially in larger stones.

  5. Light Yellow (S-Z): Diamonds in this range have a more pronounced yellow or brown coloration, which can significantly impact their appearance and value.

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Carat Weight

Carat weight is a measure of a diamond's size, with larger diamonds typically being more valuable.

  1. Size Perception: Generally, as carat weight increases, so does the perceived size of the diamond. However, other factors such as cut quality can influence how large a diamond appears.

  2. Price: Carat weight significantly influences the price of a diamond. Larger diamonds are rarer and thus command higher prices per carat.

  3. Increments: Diamonds are often priced per carat, so even small differences in carat weight can affect the price significantly, especially at certain "magic sizes" like 0.50, 1.00, etc.

  4. Fractional Carat Weights: Diamonds are commonly measured to the nearest hundredth of a carat. For example, a diamond might be described as 0.75 carats, meaning it weighs three-quarters of a carat.

  5. Total Carat Weight: In jewellery pieces with multiple diamonds (like engagement rings with a center stone and side stones), the total carat weight refers to the combined weight of all the diamonds in the piece.

When choosing a diamond, it's essential to balance carat weight with other factors like cut, colour, and clarity to find the stone that best suits your preferences and budget.

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Cut

Diamond cut refers to the way a diamond is shaped and faceted to enhance its brilliance, fire, and overall appearance. It's one of the most critical factors influencing a diamond's beauty and value. A well-cut diamond can maximise its optical properties, whereas a poorly cut one may appear dull and lacklustre.

 

The cut of a diamond is not the same as its shape (e.g., round, princess, emerald); rather, it refers to the diamond's proportions, symmetry, and polish. A diamond's cut grade is determined by how well it interacts with light, which is evaluated based on several factors:

 

  1. Proportions:  The proportions of a diamond, including its depth, table size, crown angle, and pavilion angle, affect how light travels within the stone. Ideal proportions result in optimal light reflection and refraction, enhancing the diamond's sparkle and brilliance.

  2. Symmetry:  Symmetry refers to the alignment and evenness of the diamond's facets. Well-balanced facets ensure that light is evenly distributed throughout the diamond, contributing to its overall beauty.

  3. Polish: Polish refers to the smoothness and quality of the diamond's surface. A high-quality polish enhances the diamond's clarity and brilliance by minimising surface imperfections that could interfere with light reflection.

  4. Cut Grade: The overall quality of the diamond's cut is typically assessed by gemological laboratories, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society (AGS), which assign cut grades ranging from Excellent to Poor.

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Clarity

Clarity refers to the presence of imperfections within the diamond, known as inclusions. The fewer inclusions, the higher the clarity grade.
 
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed a clarity grading scale to assess the clarity of diamonds, ranging from Flawless (no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification) to Included (inclusions visible to the naked eye). Here's a breakdown of the GIA clarity grades:

  1. Flawless (FL): No inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification.

  2. Internally Flawless (IF): No inclusions visible under 10x magnification, but minor blemishes may be present.

  3. Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2): Extremely difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification.

  4. Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2): Minor inclusions visible under 10x magnification, but typically not visible to the naked eye.

  5. Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2): Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification and may be visible to the naked eye.

  6. Included (I1, I2, and I3): Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification and may affect transparency and brilliance.

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