One of the most important things to take into consideration when buying diamond jewellery is the 4C’s. They stand for cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. The 4C’s are a standardised system used to evaluate and describe the quality and characteristics of a diamond, and the higher grade these four features are, the more expensive the diamond is likely to be.
The most well-known of the diamond 4C’s is carat weight. Carat weight refers to the size of the diamond with one carat equalling 200 milligrams. Larger diamonds are typically more valuable, but keep in mind that a larger carat does not always mean a better quality diamond, as cut, colour and clarity should also be taken into account.
The cut of a diamond is how well the gemstone has been shaped and faceted. A well-cut diamond will have a wonderful brilliance and sparkle, and it largely determines the stone’s overall beauty. The cut grade takes into account aspects like the diamond’s proportions, symmetry and polish. It’s worth noting that cut grade is only available on round brilliant cut diamonds and is based upon a five-point scale ranging from Excellent to Poor.
A diamond’s quality is also largely based on the colour. Diamonds can go from being completely colourless to having visible hints of yellow or brown. The less colour a diamond has, the more valuable since colourless diamonds allow more light to pass through which in turns grants a brighter sparkle. Diamonds are graded on a scale from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
Finally, a diamond is also graded on its clarity. Clarity denotes the presence of internal or external flaws, also known as inclusions or blemishes. Once again, there is a grading scale for clarity. Flawless diamonds have no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification while Included diamonds have inclusions and blemishes visible to the naked eye. Diamonds rated Flawless or Internally Flawless are typically more valuable.
When buying a diamond, it is essential to consider how its cut, colour, carat weight and clarity will affect its overall appearance. You may find that some factors are more important to you than others which will help you find the perfect diamond for your preferences and budget.