Diamonds are assessed and graded by experts within the diamond industry according to the “four Cs”: cut, clarity, colour and carat (weight). If you may soon be visiting a jewellery store to shop for diamond rings, it can be helpful to know a little about these criteria.
Cut
Contrary to popular belief, the ‘cut’ of a diamond refers to its reflective qualities rather than its shape. The brilliance of a diamond depends heavily on its cut, so the angles and finish of any diamond are the key factors in its ability to negotiate light. A good cut gives a diamond that magical brightness that seems to emanate from deep inside itself.
Clarity
Most diamonds contain some minor imperfections that have occurred during their formation. Industry experts call these imperfections ‘inclusions’. The number, size and visibility of these inclusions are what determine the overall clarity of a diamond. Diamonds rings which are free of inclusions are fantastically brilliant and so are very highly sought after.
Colour
A colourless diamond allows more light to pass through it than a coloured diamond and so creates a greater sparkle. Completely colourless diamonds are rare so the more “white” a diamond’s colour is, the greater its value.
Carat Weight
A carat is the unit of weight by which diamond jewellery is measured, with one carat being equal to 0.2 grams (200 milligrams). Larger diamonds have a greater value per carat as they are discovered much less frequently than smaller diamonds.
