HR Jewellery Designs 4c's Diamond Guide
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Each and every diamond is truly unique.
A diamonds Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight determine its beauty, rarity and value.
In the middle of the Twelfth Century GIA created the 4C's Diamond grading which is now universally known and used.
This means that customers can know exactly what they were about to purchase when buying a diamond.
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Using this guide you can know why two diamonds that may look the same to the naked eye are actually not and are valued differently.
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It’s important to remember that a diamond’s value is determined using all of the 4Cs, not just carat weight.
Colour
A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue.
The GIA ((Gemological Institute of America) diamond grading scale of colour is from D-to-Z along the alphabet and measures the degree of colour in a diamond. D, being colourless, through the alphabet to Z, which would have a tainted yellow colour.
Truly colourless diamonds (D) are treasured for their rarity and are of higher value.
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This grading takes place under controlled conditions by skilled diamond graders. Every diamond that has been graded by GIA and other diamond institutes will come with a certificate.
If you would like a GIA certified diamond HR Jewellery Designs would be happy to help you get the perfect stone.
Clarity
Inclusions within a natural diamond are carbon from when the diamond was being formed by tremendous heat and pressure deep in the earth.
The size, nature, relief and position of these inclusions can affect the brilliance of a diamond and also its price.
It is fairly common for diamonds to have natural flaws (inclusion) by HR Jewellery Designs will endeavour to spend time with you to get the best possible diamond for your budget.
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Very, very slightly included
Very slightly included
Slightly included
Included
Cut
The cut of a diamond refers to its proportion, symmetry and polish to deliver its intense sparkle by reflecting light through its angles.
Skilled craftsmen can transform a rough diamond into what you see at HR Jewellery Designs.
Well cut and proportioned facets on a diamond will reflect the light, allowing it to be dispersed from one facet to another giving the diamond its renowned sparkle.
A well cut diamond can transform the way it sparkles and this is taken into consideration when cutting each and every diamond.
Some are cut to minimise inclusions, where as others can be cut to maximise spread.
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Carat
Diamonds are measured in carats, which denotes weight, rather than the size. Diamonds can also be expressed in points. One Carat equals 100 points.
So 1/2 carat diamond is 50 point or 0.50ct.
And 1/4 carat diamond is 25 point or 0.25ct. ​
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If all of the other C's are equal, diamond price increases with diamond carat weight because the larger the diamond the more rare and more desirable they are.
However two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different prices depending on the other three C's - 4Cs: Clarity, Color, and Cut.