Carat, Color, Clarity, Cut: The 4 Things You Must Know About Diamonds

April 09, 2019

The 4C's of Diamond Quality

Whether you are looking to purchase your first piece of diamond jewelry or you need a refresher on how diamond quality is assessed, it is important to consider the "four C's" of diamonds: carat, color, clarity, and cut.

 

Carat Weight

The first “C” is the carat size, which is the weight or mass of the diamond and is measured in carats. What exactly is a carat? A carat is a measurement of weight (200 mg) where the unit of weight is based on the carob seed. Most carob seeds are supposed to be of a consistent size and weight. The United States (following the lead of many other countries) adopted the metric carat definition on July 1, 1913. The metric carat is now the world standard for diamond weight.

Carob Seeds and PodsCarob Seeds and Pods (Source Link)

 

Cut

The next “C” is the cut grade. A diamond's shape is sometimes called the “cut”. The cut grade describes the precision with which the diamond has been cut. The symmetry, the proportions, the angles, and the overall quality of the execution is known by jewelers as “the make” of the diamond.

Terms like “ideal” are used to describe diamonds that have superior cuts. There are tools for a novice to use to help determine how good the cut of a diamond is. However, it can still be confusing for the everyday buyer to determine whether or not the diamond of their choice is "ideal". Fortunately, organizations like the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.) came along to set up standards for grading the cut of a diamond. The G.I.A. assigns a grade for cut on their grading reports.

Beauty, however, is in the eye of the beholder as many stones are not cut to these “ideal” proportions. Some can have more or less dispersion (the prismatic colors) and more or less brilliance (white light reflections), because this may appeal to some people. The “ideal” is supposed to provide a balance, so it is a safe bet for most diamond lovers.

Crisscut - Patented Diamond CutCrisscut - Patented Diamond Cut (Source Link)

 

Clarity

Most diamonds have what are called "inclusions" or external features that affect what is called the “clarity” of the diamond (or gemstone). These are imperfections that can be seen with the aid of a microscope or a ten-power loupe, although some can be seen with the human eye. The G.I.A. has established what is considered by most to be the standard for diamond clarity grades (besides all other aspects of grading).

Below is the scale from the Gemological Institute of America:

  1. Flawless (FL) - No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification
  2. Internally Flawless (IF) - No inclusions visible under 10x magnification
  3. Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) - Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification
  4. Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) - Inclusions are observed with effort under 10x magnification, but can be characterized as minor
  5. Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) - Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification
  6. Included (I1, I2, and I3) - Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification which may affect transparency and brilliance

 

Color

The G.I.A. has also established a standard for the grading of diamond color. The scale begins at D color and goes to Z. D is colorless, and Z is light yellow in the "fancy" range. Diamonds that go outside of the range can also have contributing colors other than tones of yellow. Various depths of grey and brown are also possible. Diamonds can also be in shades of red, orange, pink, blue, green, purple, etc. Some established colors have descriptive names for them such as the term “canary” for a bright and intense yellow color, “champagne” for a brownish-gold color, and “cognac” for brown to deep brown colors.




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