Diamond News
The four Cs of diamond quality
Essential knowledge for purchasing diamonds
The four Cs of a diamond are the most important characteristics to take into consideration when purchasing your stone. The four Cs, which are, carat, cut, colour and clarity, are the primary determining factors when it comes to figuring out exactly what the quality of the diamond you’re interested in is. This guide will give you an idea of what factors are accounted for when resolving the quality of a diamond.
First factor of diamond quality – Carat
A carat refers to the weight value in which diamonds are measured. 1 carat also equals 100 points. This point measurement system can be misleading. While it is true that larger diamonds are worth more than smaller diamonds, on average, the carat, or point value, of a diamond is not the only determining factor when working out a diamond’s value.
In other words, bigger is not always better. A 12 carat diamond that is poorly cut, or otherwise of substandard quality, will not be as beautiful or as high quality a diamond as a smaller stone with a better cut, clarity or colour.
One of the reasons for the high value of diamonds is the fact that in order to get just a single one carat diamond, almost 250 tons of ore must be mined and processed.
Second factor of diamond quality – Cut
Often referred to as the shape of the diamond, the cut is actually the craftsmanship that was applied in the cutting of the facets of the stone. The diamond cutter’s job is that of making the best use of the light that strikes the diamond.
Some examples of diamond cuts are:
round diamonds
princess cut diamonds
marquise cut diamonds
oval diamonds
pear-shaped diamonds
emerald cut diamonds
radiant cut diamonds
heart-shaped
asscher cut diamonds
The cut of a diamond is possibly the most important of the four Cs as it is the cut that truly determines the sparkle of the stone. A poorly-cut diamond will appear less valuable as it will lack the brilliance and scintillation associated with these stones.
Third factor of diamond quality – Colour
The factor determining diamond quality on which humans have no impact or influence whatsoever, the colour of a diamond is a purely natural occurrence.
As a general rule, the closer a diamond is to clear and colourless, the more valuable it is. However the more fantastic colours, which are very rare indeed, are considered the most valuable. These colours include very distinct hues such as pink, green or even canary yellow. Diamonds of these colours make great showpieces.
fourth factor of diamond quality – Clarity
Tiny traces of natural elements are often trapped within the rough diamond that has been unearthed. These elements, called inclusions or “birth marks” reduce the clarity, and therefore the value of the diamond.
When cutting diamonds, artisans painstakingly endeavour to cut in such a way as to reduce the number of these inclusions in the finished diamond. These inclusions are often invisible to the naked eye and so special equipment is needed to spot and reduce their presence.
Which of the four Cs is the most important?
All-in-all, the importance assigned to each of the four Cs is based entirely on personal preference, what you look for and want in a diamond. However, the cut of a diamond is the factor most responsible for the ultimate beauty of the stone, no matter the size, colour or clarity. Even so, your own eye is the final judge on the factor that impresses you the most. It is your choice. Just ensure it’s an educated choice.