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DIAMONDS THE FOUR : Cs
There's a lot to learn about diamonds, but the basic ABCs can be
narrowed down to just four Cs.
You're ready
to take the plunge. You're buying a diamond for that important someone
in your life, or maybe you've decided to buy one for yourself. Either
way, you've studied the diamonds in magazines, on television and
in jewelry store windows and they all look wonderful--sparkling,
fiery and beautiful. How can you distinguish which diamond is the
best for you in terms of quality and price?
You're ready
for Diamonds. In order to make an informed purchase, there are
some basics you need to know, and luckily they're not that difficult
to master. One of the most wonderful facts about diamonds is that,
like snowflakes, no two can ever be exactly alike even though
they may sometimes look identical. Determining factors for diamond
quality are known as the Four Cs -- cut, color, clarity
and carat. A basic understanding of each is critical for making
an informed purchase.
Four Cs: Carat
This word for the measurement of a diamond's weight is derived
from the carob seeds that were used to balance scales in ancient
times. Not to be confused with the "karat" weight of gold,
a gemstone carat is equal to 200 milligrams; there are 142 carats
to an ounce. For jewelry purposes, carats are further divided
into points; a one-carat stone equals 100 points. Therefore, a
half-carat stone may be referred to as "50 points," a quarter
carat, "25 points," etc. Because large diamonds are rare, they
generally have a greater value per carat.
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Four Cs: Clarity
A diamond’s
clarity is determined by any external irregularities and the number
of "inclusions" in the stone, imperfections created by nature
when the diamond was formed. Most diamonds do contain some inclusions,
but many are microscopic in nature and can be glimpsed only under
powerful magnification. When inclusions do not interfere with the
passage of light through the stone, they do not affect its beauty.
Inclusions such as spots, bubbles or lines are marks that make each
stone unique, but generally the fewer the inclusions, the more valuable
the stone. According to the quality analysis system of the Gemological
Institute of America, clarity is graded on a scale ranging from
"flawless" to "imperfect." To be graded "flawless," a diamond can
have no inclusions visible to a trained eye using a 10X magnification
in good light.
Four Cs: Color
Diamonds come
in every color of the spectrum, but the most valued are those with
the least color ("white" diamonds) a characteristic that
allows them to reflect and refract light.
Truly colorless, icy-white diamonds are extremely rare and
therefore the most costly. White diamonds are graded on a scale
that begins with "D," indicating total colorlessness, progressing
down the alphabet for lower qualities.
All stones are graded by color and given designations depending
on how far they deviate from the purest white. Interestingly, while
diamonds tinged with yellow or brown are regarded as inferior, diamonds
of vivid color are rare and highly valued.
Diamonds come in a spectrum of majestic colors, from red and canary
yellow to blue, green and brown. These colorful diamonds, known
as "fancies," are valued for their depth of color, just as
a white diamond is valued for its lack of color. |
Four
Cs: Cut
This is
a very important factor in the 4Cs because this is what gives
a diamond its fiery sparkle. Each diamond, regardless of shape,
is cut according to an exact mathematical formula. For example,
a round, brilliant-cut diamond has 58 "facets" -- small, flat,
polished planes that are designed to yield the maximum amount
of light to be refracted through the diamond and back to the
viewer. This refraction, known as brilliance, is an extremely
important factor in evaluating the quality of a diamond. The
widest circumference of a diamond is known as the "girdle."
Above the girdle are 32 facets plus the "table"-- the largest
and topmost facet. Below the girdle are 24 facets plus the
"culet" or point. The cut characteristic also deals with the
shape of the diamond. While cut is a technical quality, determined
by the skill of the diamond cutter, shape is a matter of personal
choice. After the round brilliant, the most popular shapes
are marquise, pear, oval, emerald and heart. |
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