The 4 C's

 

Cut
 
 
 
 The cut of a diamond is the most important part of the 4 C's and is the only aspect that is not controlled completely by nature. Unlike color and clarity, the cut of a diamond is the remarkable result of a highly skilled craftsman and / or computer. The brilliance and shine we see in a well cut diamond are the result of light being refracted off the facets and though out the stone, and exiting though the table or top part of the diamond. A stone that is cut to "ideal" proportions will allow the most light possible to exit though the table of the diamond resulting in the breathtaking brilliance and shimmer we see in an ideal cut diamonds. When a stone is cut too shallow, or too deep, a significant amount of light exits through the sides and bottom of the stone resulting in a lack of brilliance and scintillation.
The cut is usually the most difficult aspect for consumers to compare. In the industry, the word "Ideal" is the most abused, and misleading word used by salespersons. For a diamond to be Ideal there are multiple factors that have to be in place to be a true "Ideal cut diamond". Many salespeople will lead you to believe a diamond to be Ideal cut if only one of the proportions of the diamond falls into ideal proportions. However all aspects need to be in place for the diamond to be a true Ideal cut stone.
 
Ideal Cut
 
 
  • Table Diameter: 52.4% to 60%
  • Crown Angle: 33.7 degrees to 35.8 degrees
  • Girdle Thickness: Thin to Slightly Thick (.51% to 2.95%)
  • Pavilion Angle: 40.2 degrees to 41.25 degrees
  • Culet: None (Pointed) to Medium
  • Total Depth: 56.88% to 63.92%
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An "ideal cut" diamond is one that has been cut to EXACT proportional dimensions. The diamond industry has yet to agree upon one true dimension allowing a 5-7% variance in table percentage. The table percentage is calculated by dividing the table diameter, by the overall average diameter for the diamond. The depth percentage is calcualted by measuring the distance from the culet (The point of the diamond ) to the top of the table, then dividing this measurement by the overall average diameter. The above angles and percentages have been accepted as an average compilation of the various diamond grading laboratories.
 
 
Clarity
 
 
 Each and every diamond has its own imperfections called inclusions. These defects can alter the light path throughout the diamond diminishing its brilliance and shimmer. The clarity scale determines to which extent the diamond is free of imperfections. Naturally, fewer inclusions results in a brighter more beautiful diamond reflected by an increase in price and demand. Commonly, most diamonds contain inclusions only visible through 10x magnification. It is the size, position, nature and color of the inclusions that establish a clarity grade. The clarity of diamonds is an aspect that is easy to compare once you understand what you are looking at. Most consumers look at diagrams like the one above and assume that they need to buy a diamond that is VS-2 clarity or better. In reality you are able to buy a larger diamond for your budget if you are looking at a true SI-1 or possibly a true SI-2. A true slightly included diamond does have in-perfections that are in the stone however these inclusions are not visible to the naked eye.
 
Color
 
 
 Diamonds are consequently graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). Most diamonds may appear colorless to the eye, however they likely contain yellow or brown tones that can negatively affect their value. Most diamonds bought and sold through large box chain stores are likely to be graded as "I" or "J" while diamonds graded "G" and "H" are most sought after for the fact that they are still considered white to the naked eye. Diamonds are priced based on a number of factors, as mentioned above, the cut, clarity, color and weight of the stone will have a direct reflection of the price. Increasing or decreasing any one of these factors will have a direct change in price. Once you have determined a budget, it is our job at Diamonds Fine Jewelry to help you find the best stone in the parameters of your choosing for your budget.
 
Carat Weight
 
Carat weight is one of the most commonly misrepresented aspect of the four C's. We need to remember that carat weight is a weight measurement, not a size measurement. When we are comparing diamonds we tend to use the weight of the stone as one of the major factors in choosing a stone. In reality, the weight of the stone should be one of the least important factors when making the final decision.