You may have heard over and over again the importance of 4C’s in making an informed
decision before purchasing diamonds. Now, most jewellers also agree that a 5th C
is also vital. That is Certificate.
When shopping for diamond rings, loose diamonds, diamond bracelets etc, it is important
to have a little knowledge about the C’s. This will make you an informed buyer and
ensure you are not paying top dollar for a supposed “flawless” diamond. Let’s look
at the C’s in greater detail.
Carat
The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats. Most people confuse this with size
but it is not the case. It is also the most obvious factor in determining the value
of the diamond.
To put it simply how the sizes are expressed, one carat can be divided into 100
points. Therefore, a diamond weighing one quarter of a carat can also be referred
to as being 25 points or 0.25ct.
When obtaining a description for a ring from our collection, I always justify each
diamond so customers know the carat weight for each diamond. Beware of other descriptions
that only show the Total Carat Weight (CTW). After all, the major part of the price
of your purchase is the largest stone.
Colour
The colour of a diamond is verified by a colour scale starting with D (colourless)
and ending with X (yellow/brown), determining how white the stones are.
Colour is the result of the composition of a diamond and it does not change. When
a jeweller is describing the colour of a diamond they are referring to the presence
or absence of colour in white diamonds. A diamond with no colour allows maximum
light to pass through, and that is why colourless diamonds are preferred for their
sparkle.
The price of the diamond can significantly change from colour to colour (as this
goes with the rest of the categories). Colour D Diamonds are the rarest and most
valuable which also increases the price of the diamonds. Diamonds in the colourless
range are also the most beautiful as they allow the most refraction of light (sparkle).
The most common and widely sold is the Near Colourless range. They are also more
affordable.
Diamonds that get a Z rating are the rarest and most expensive diamonds in the world.
These colours include Pink, Canary Yellow, Blue, Green, Red, Brown, Purple, Orange
and even Black. The more intense the colours are the rarer and more expensive they
become.
Clarity
Clarity is an important aspect of a diamond, and it is important to know how to
grade the clarity of a diamond before you buy one. It is actually quite easy to
learn how to grade the clarity of a diamond. There are basically two things that
you must understand: Diamonds with visual inclusions and blemishes, and those that
are ‘eye clean’ meaning that there are no inclusions or blemishes that can be seen
with the naked eye. From there, the clarity of a diamond is further broken down
into subcategories.
Many people mistakenly think that diamond clarity refers to how clear it is. This
isn’t so. Clarity actually refers to the internal and external imperfections of
the diamond. The best diamonds, of course get a grade of FL or IF – Flawless or
Internally Flawless – meaning that it is perfect. A grade of I-1, I-2 or I-3 means
that the diamond is imperfect, with a grade of I-3 being the worst.
Other grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which means that the diamond is very, very slightly
imperfect; VS1 and VS2, meaning the diamond is very slightly imperfect; SI-1 and
SI-2, which means that the diamond is slightly imperfect.
Some of my customers believe that if they get a FI/IF diamond, that they are getting
the best because it would sparkle the most. It does not necessarily mean that they
are getting the best diamond but would be buying a rare diamond and is not the end
all and be all of all the other categories put together. This will be explained
further in the Cut category.
Cut
A diamond must be cut, and then polished before it actually becomes a thing of beauty.
Diamonds are cut with saws, into round shapes. From the rounded shape, other shapes
may be cut, such as heart shapes – but the shape is less important than the quality
of the cutting that is being performed. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose
light, and it will not sparkle and shine very well. Each facet of the diamond must
be carefully cut into the geometrical shapes that allow the diamond to sparkle and
shine, only then the entire diamond is cut into a specific shape, such as an emerald
cut or a princess cut diamond.
However, in the diamond industry, the cut of a diamond does not refer to its shape
at all. Instead, this is a reference to the stone’s depth, width, brilliance, durability,
clarity, and other aspects of the diamond. Common cutting problems include a missing
or off centre culet, misalignment, a diamond that is too thick or too thin, cracks,
or broken culets.
Certification and Conclusion
First, only deal with reputable jewellers, and when you find a reputable jeweller,
stick with them. Ask to see the certificate for the stone. If no certificate exists,
walk away. A diamond grading certificate should be provided from an independent
and recognised grading laboratory to ensure an unbiased evaluation of a diamond.
We believe in our jewellery and diamonds which is why we offer a free valuation
from a third party upon purchase of the finished product. The customer is more than
welcome to get a second valuation, in fact, we support it. We pride ourselves for
our honesty which is why our customers come back. 90% of our clients are repeat
customers.
When choosing the diamond, I always ask my customer what their budget is and I like
to work backwards because I try to get the best quality diamond according to what
they can afford. After reading this article, you should ask yourself what is important
to you when buying a diamond and go from there.
Enjoy your diamond for years to come!