Carat, Clarity, Colour and Cut
The value of a diamond is determined by four factors – Carat, Clarity, Colour and Cut. The higher on the grading scale across each of the 4 C’s, the higher the value of the diamond. Our love and understanding of all diamonds means we seek to source gems that are graded at the higher end of the scale in every area.
Diamond Carat
Diamonds are measured in terms of weight, not size. The heavier the diamond, the greater the carat. A carat is equal to 0.20 grams. Carats are allocated “points” in order to define their measurement. There are 100 points in a carat, so a half carat diamond is said to have 50 points, while a two carat diamond has 200 points.
As diamonds increase in weight, their cost will not necessarily increase proportionally i.e. the cost per carat goes up exponentially for each additional carat. Thus, a two-carat diamond can potentially cost four times as much as a one-carat diamond, rather than just twice as much.
The reason for this is it becomes more difficult to find the larger raw crystals needed to create larger carat diamonds. The higher the carat, the more rare and precious it is seen to be. Diamonds International stocks diamonds ranging from 0.05 cts upwards to 2.00+cts – as large as your budget allows.
Clarity
Clarity is an indication of a diamond’s purity. This is determined by a diamond’s naturally occurring internal characteristics. These characteristics are sometimes not visible to the naked eye and they are what make each diamond unique. The characteristics, or inclusions, may look like crystals, feathers, clouds or dark spots.
Diamonds with fewer and smaller inclusions generally are more brilliant, assuming that the colour and cut grades are also high
Due to the rarity of FL, IF and VVS diamond, many pieces of fine jewellery are made from VS diamonds, which are still of a superior quality. A large percentage of jewellery is made with SI quality diamonds. Diamonds International stocks diamonds ranging from SI2 and upwards.
Diamond Colour
While many diamonds may, at first glance appear colourless, or white, they can actually have subtle yellow or brown tones, caused by natural forces during the formation of the diamond in the earth.
Colourless diamonds are considered to be the rarest and most valuable of all. Because subtle colour variations dramatically affect the value of a diamond, a colour grading scale is used to categorize the shading differences from one diamond to the next.
At Diamonds International, we are known as the “Home of the White Diamond” for good reason. The majority of our stock ranges in colour from D through G colour grades. It is this quality that sets us apart from other retailers. We also have a wide selection of Fancy diamonds available in pink and yellow.
Diamond Cut
Diamonds mined from the earth look like tumbled gems or beach glass. To turn the diamond into a beautiful gem, the diamond is cut into a specific shape with precise facets, tiny polished faces. Popular diamond cuts include Round, Princess, Marquise, Pear and Emerald.
A well cut diamond will have an amazing brilliance and fire. This is caused by white light reflecting off the diamond’s surfaces and the mirrored depths of the pavilion. The key to desirable fire and brilliance is proportion. An Excellent Cut Diamond will carry light down into the stone and shoot it back out the top. This is what creates the “Brilliance”. Diamonds International prides itself on the number of Excellent Cut Diamonds we stock. Light striking a shallow cut diamond will fall out the other side and not reflect back to the top.
Diamond cuts are graded on a scale of Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. The score is based on the width of the table, height of the crown and the depth of the pavilion in each diamond.
