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Diamond 4C's

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How To Value a Diamond?

The criteria used to determine the beauty and rarity in a transparent diamond are the 4c’s; Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. The grading system for Colour, Clarity, and Cut is subjective.
 
Note: a separate set of criteria is used to determine the value of Colored Diamonds.
 
 
It’s critical to see your diamond loose before buying. Jewelers and unscrupulous retailers can take advantage of the unsuspecting public by exaggerating claims and issuing false documents.
 
Carats’ diamonds are graded by gemological laboratories recognized and respected throughout the industry. These laboratories ensure every diamond is examined and graded accurately.
 
We provide you with official certification on any diamonds you purchase.
 
Read more about Carats’ certifications now!
 
If you're not satisfied for any reason, you can return your diamond within 30 days for a full refund guaranteed! Read more about our shipping and return policy here.
 

Diamond Chart

The following are the main points you need to consider when determining the beauty and rarity of your diamonds.
 
 
Carat
• Carat is a simple measurement of weight.

• There are five carats in a gram; each is broken into smaller units of measurements called points.
 
• The easiest way for you to think of points is the same way you think of percentages. 25 is a ¼ carat, 50 is a ½ carat, 75 is a ¾ carat and so on.
 
Clarity

• The clarity of diamond is less critical for colored diamonds, unless inclusions directly affect the look of the diamond and the sparkle. At the retail level, clarity is often one of the more talked about components of a diamond and the most over rated.
 
• The diamond clarity chart refers to the presence or the absence of particles caught in the stone during its formation.
 
• It’s always important to see the diamond loose. Jewelers will hide things like inclusions, chips in the girdle and cracks under the claws or settings.
 
• Viewing the stone loose will help you notice anything that may detract from the diamond’s reflective beauty. Any inclusion that you can see with the naked eye makes the diamond an ‘imperfect’ grade.
 
• A true SI clarity diamond to Flawless won’t display any blemishes to the observer. The only difference is going to be the price.
 
• We recommend staying between SI to Low VS range. You will gain better value for your dollar on a component of the diamond that adds beauty or size.
 
 
Cut
• Cut seems to be the most talked about component of owning a diamond. It’s also the most embellished, misunderstood and misrepresented.
 
• Diamonds work like a prism. Light reflects easily into a well-cut stone. The light will bounce around and produce fire, brilliance and scintillation.
 
• If a stone is cut too deep or too shallow, light will escape instead of dispersing through the top of the stone. Incredible sparkle comes from beautifully cut diamonds.
 
• Carats’ cuting technique has been modified over the years in order to achieve perfect cut allowing for light to be pass through easily and reflect the most luminescent sparkle and scintillation.
 
Color (Transparent Diamonds)
 
• Color in Transparent Diamonds are graded on a scale by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).

D, E, F colourless
G, H, I, J near colourless
K, L, M faint yellow or brown
N, O, P, Q, R very light yellow or brown
S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z light yellow or brown
 
• The most valuable Transparent diamonds are found on either end of the scale because of their rarity.

• Almost all natural diamonds contain small traceable quantities of nitrogen atoms that displace the carbon atoms within the crystals lattice structure. Nitrogen atoms dispersed throughout the stone create their yellow appearance. The lower the amount of nitrogen present within the diamond the whiter it will be.
 
 
How is the Value of Color in Fancy Colored Diamonds Graded?
The value of colored diamonds are based on rarity of color; followed by color intensity. The sharper the color, the more valuable the natural colored diamond is.
 
Some colored diamonds are so rare and beautiful that their market value is ultimately determined through a bidding process, as occurs with fine art and antiques.
 
In the case of pink diamonds sold at the Argyle Pink Tender, they are literally one-in-a-million of the total diamond production from the Argyle Diamonds Mine in Australia.
 
Red is the rarest color, followed by purple, pink and blue. Pure green and orange diamonds are extremely rare. Yellow and olive diamonds are very rare. Champagne, black diamonds and silver are more plentiful, but still rare.
 
Colour is the most important consideration in terms of beauty in your stone.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) system for color-grading is based on the attributes of hue, tone and saturation.

Hue refers to primary or characteristic color.

Saturation refers to the strength or weakness of the primary hue or color, while tone is the amount of light or dark coloration present in the diamond.

Grade - Under controlled conditions, a grader determines the stone’s color from one of 27 hues, such as red, pink, blue and green through to brown and black.
 
The fancy grade describes the stone’s tone and saturation in this order: Faint, Very Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Deep, and Fancy Vivid. In contrast to the color grading scale for transparent diamonds, the best color grade for color diamonds is Fancy Vivid as the highest grade of colored diamonds.

 
How To Clean a Diamond for Maximum Sparkle
Following these simple steps will ensure that your diamond always remains sparkling:
 
  1. Prepare a bowl of warm, sudsy water with Mr. Clean (yes, Mr. Clean!) since diamonds have a great affinity to grease and oil, you need a soapy agent to cut through the grime.
  2. With a pair of tweezers (your eyebrow tweezers are fine, but make sure the tips are covered in cheesecloth or a rubber band so it doesn't scratch the metal) and swish your jewelry in the warm sudsy water.
  3. Using an "Ultra-Sonic Toothbrush" (ultra sonic technology is a jeweler's secret) gently brush only around the diamond or diamonds ensuring that you get under the settings to clean out all of the built up grime. Try not to brush the gold it can easily scratch, rinse off soap with warm water.
  4. Rinse under warm running water (make sure the water is always warm). And don't forget to plug the sink! Repeat the steps to ensure a sparkling diamond.
  5. Now hold the piece in the steam of a boiling kettle for about 30 seconds or under a hair dryer to insure that water marks are off your diamond. Wait until it cools, and then enjoy your beautiful clean jewelry.
 
Diamond Education FAQ's
 
Q: What is fluorescence? Is it something I should be concerned about?

A: Fluorescence is a common phenomenon in diamonds and other gemstones. The fluorescence that occurs naturally in a diamond arises from submicroscopic structures within the diamond when it is exposed to UV light. Blue is the most common color of fluorescence, but other colors are also possible.
 
Some jewelers believe that fluorescence is an undesirable characteristic. However, the gemological institute of gemology's research indicates that fluorescence is not necessarily negative and, in some cases, actually has a positive effect by making a diamond appear whiter.
 
Q: What are HPHT-treated diamonds?
 
A: HPHT, which stands for high pressure/high temperature, is a laboratory process that can permanently alter the color of some diamonds. Scientists began to experiment with this technique in the 1990s. HPHT treatment can decolorize certain types of diamond or give others a variety of attractive colors such as pink, blue, green, or yellow.

Did we answers all your questions? If not, see the main FAQ's page now!