Diamonds
The diamond is the official birthstone for the month of April. The quality of a diamond is assessed by using the 4C’s:
Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat-Weight.
Color
Although the majority of gem diamonds appear to be colorless, others can contain increasing tinges of yellow or brown, some of which are referred to as champagne diamonds. It is a totally colorless diamond that allows white light to pass effortlessly and be dispersed as rainbows of color. Rare stones of exceptional color – green, red, blue, pink, or amber – are known as “fancies.”
Color grading scale from totally colorless to light yellow. The difference between one grade and another are very subtle, as can be seen by the number of grades within any one category.
Color grading scale from totally colorless to light yellow. The difference between one grade and another are very subtle, as can be seen by the number of grades within any one category.
Cut
Out of all the 4C’s, cut is the one most directly influenced by man. The other three are dictated by nature. Diamonds are cut into a number of shapes, depending on the nature of the rough stone. The cut or make of a diamond will dramatically influence its fire and sparkle, for its the cutter’s skill that releases its beauty.
It is the cut that enables a diamond to make the best use of light.
Clarity
Almost all diamonds contain minute traces of non-crystallize carbon or small non-diamond crystals. Most are not discernible to the naked eye and require magnification to become visible. Called inclusions, they are nature’s fingerprint and make every diamond unique. Minute inclusions neither mar its beauty nor endanger its beauty; however, the fewer there are, the rarer the stone will be.
Carat Weight
As with all precious stones, the weight – and therefore the size – of a diamond is expressed in carats. The carat originated as a natural unit of weight: the seeds of the carob tree. Diamonds were traditionally weighed against these seeds, however, the system was later standardized and one carat was fixed at 200 milligrams (1/5 of a gram).
One carat is divided into 100 “points” so that a diamond of 25 points is described as a quarter of a carat or 0.25 carats. Size is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond, but two diamonds of equal size can have unequal prices, depending on their quality. Diamonds of high quality can be found in all size ranges.
