WHAT MAKES DIAMONDS DAZZLE?
Choosing the right diamond shouldn't be daunting. So we've put together a handy scale to clue you up on the difference between Colour, Clarity, Carat and Cut.
THE DIAMOND SCALE (AKA THE 4Cs)
Commonly referred to as the 'Four Cs' the internationally recognised diamond scale measures the four distinct characteristics of any diamond.
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This scale is the same for natural and man-made diamonds.
COLOUR
Actually meaning lack of colour, a chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue, like the purest drop of water. The purer the diamond, the higher value. The degree of colorlessness is assessed by comparing a stone under controlled lighting and precise viewing conditions against 'master stones' of established colour value.
CARAT
Put simply, carat measures how much a diamond weighs. Each carat is subdivided into 100 ‘points', allowing for very precise measurements. A diamond's price increases with its carat weight because larger diamonds are rarer and more desirable. However, two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different values (and prices) depending on the other scale factors.
CLARITY
Natural diamonds are the result of carbon exposed to heat and pressure deep in the earth. This process can result in a variety of internal characteristics called ‘inclusions'. The fewer inclusions, the better the clarity. To determine the best possible clarity of a diamond, remember that no diamond is perfectly pure, but the closer it comes to purity, the better its clarity.
CUT
We often think of a diamond’s cut as its shape (round, heart, oval, marquise, pear etc), but what diamond cut actually means is how well its facets interact with light. Achieving the best cut for a diamond affects the stone’s ability to shine. The diamond cut scale for standard round brilliant diamonds grades them from 'Excellent' to 'Poor'.