These are the major characteristics required to know the diamonds better. Commonly known as the 4C's , they are used as the basic guideline to differentiate between numerous varieties of diamonds. Find more at www.fascinatingdiamonds.com
Diamond Education: The 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity & Carat
1. The 4Cs of a Diamond
CUT, COLOR, CLARITY & CARAT
2. • Ideal/ Excellent (EX):
-The light performance is
excellent. The light
entering the diamond is
reflected back to the
maximum.
- A diamond with this cut
will be extremely
beautiful and rare.
It is advisable to go for diamond with Ideal/ Excellent Cut.
Diamond Cut.
Cut is the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond. .
• Very Good (VG):
-It has very good light
performance. It reflects
back almost all of the
light that enters the
diamond.
-Diamonds with Very
Good cuts are of
outstanding value.
• Good:
-Diamonds with ‘Good' cut
have good light
performance. They reflect
most of the light that
enters but less than
diamonds with ‘Very
Good' cut.
-Good diamond cuts are
far less priced than Very
Good cuts.
• Fair:
- These diamonds are
not as brilliant as
diamonds of Good cuts
or above grade but still
are considered as good
quality diamonds.
• Poor:
- Diamonds cut either too
shallow or too deep causing
much of the light to leak out
of the diamond's sides and
base are categorized as
‘Poor' cut diamonds.
3. • K-M:
• Diamonds under
this grade are of
Faint Yellow color
with the color being
noticeable.
• Some diamonds
in this range can be
stunning and
Beautiful.
Diamond Color.
• N-Z:
• Diamonds in this
grade range varies from
very Light to Light
Yellow color.
• These diamonds are
not appropriate to be
used as
gemstones, unless one
would like to have a
diamond with an amber
color.
• ‘Fancy Diamond' are
categorized into a
separate section known
as ‘Z+
• D:
• They are 100%
colorless.
• This is the
highest color
grade a diamond
can obtain.
• D graded
diamonds are
extremely rare
and very
expensive.
• E, F:
•E-F graded diamonds
are colorless and
extremely transparent.
• It is tremendously
difficult to detect
traces of color in this
grade of diamond.
• These diamonds are
also rare and
expensive.
• G, H:
• They are practically
colorless.
• Unless the diamond
is compared with a
master stone of higher
color grade, its color is
nearly undetectable.
• These diamonds are
rare, but slightly less
expensive and are
considered of a good
value.
• I, J:
• These grade
diamonds are almost
colorless.
• The color in these
diamonds is slightly
visible.
• The slight amount
of color is
unnoticeable by the
unaided eye.
• These diamonds
are of superior value
and less costly.
It is advisable to go for diamond with least amount of color.
Color means the transparency or colorlessness of a diamond.
4. • Flawless (FL) Diamonds:
- No internal or external inclusions or
blemishes.
• Internally Flawless (IF) Diamonds:
- Slight or insignificant
impurities, removable by polishing.
- No internal flaw.
It is advisable to go for diamond that does not have any inclusions.
• VVS1/ VVS2 Diamonds:
- Very Very trivial inclusions or
impurities hard to detect even
under 10x magnifications by
trained professional.
- The diamonds are rare, of
excellent quality and equally
expensive.
•VS1/ VS2 Diamonds:
- Contains minor
inclusions, detectable under
10x magnification but invisible
to naked eyes.
- Less expensive compared to
above mentioned grades.
• Sl1/ Sl2 Diamonds:
- Such diamonds include
slight impurities easily
visible under 10x
magnification .
- At times visible to
unaided eyes too.
- Considered as good
quality and less costly.
• I1/I2/I3 Diamonds:
-Diamonds comprising adequate
number of inclusions clearly noticeable
by the trained professionals & even
visible to naked eyes.
-These flaws may negatively affect the
transparency or brilliance of a
diamond.
Diamond Clarity.
Clarity refers to the internal defects, impurities or blemishes present within a diamond.
5. It is advisable to go for diamond according to the taste, budget & setting style.
Diamond Carat.
Carat refers to the unit denoting the weight of a diamond. 1 carat (1ct) is equal to 200 mg/ 0.2 grams.
-The size of a diamond is proportional to the carat weight of a diamond.