DIAMONDS - Diamonds are a mineral composed essentially of carbon crystallized at extremely high temperatures and pressure. In nature, diamonds form at depth of ninety to one hundred and twenty five miles or more below the surface of the earth. Throughout time the diamonds are forced closer to the surface through the movement of the ground. A diamond forms in a cubic or isometric crystal system, to create the hardest natural substance known to man.
The four essential items to look at while looking for a diamond are Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat. These four characteristics are also known as the 4 Cs. All four have an impact on the value of the diamond equally.
Normal - Color diamonds are graded by their lack of color. A "fine color" diamond has little or no visible coloration. The less color the higher the value. The color scale is an alpha scale from D to Z, with D being the best. The scale was brought about by the Geological Institute of America to standardize the classification of the color of a diamond. Throughout the world this scale is used to determine the color of a diamond.
When you think of cut, you probably think of the overall shape and style of polish. But actually the cut refers to the proportions and angles. The cut is also referred to the "make" of the diamond. A good cut will speak itself to you through its bright, fiery, symmetrical, sparkle of light.
There is more than one way to cut the diamond to get the desired optical properties. One main factor is the pavilion depth. If it is too deep or too shallow the light will be reflected through the sides or bottom of the diamond. The perfect depth will reflect the light back up through the table of the diamond. But the pavilion depth also has to work with the size of the table and crown angle. All three must be proportioned to create a bright brilliant cut diamond.
CARATS - Carat is the physical weight of the diamond. A carat is a metric carat abbreviated as "ct". One metric carat is just over seven thousands
(0.007) of an ounce. One ounce could contain 142 carats. Most often a diamond is weighed to a thousandth of a carat, and then rounded to the nearest hundredth. The weight can also be referred to as points, with 100 points being 1ct.or ¾ ct being 75 points.
All four Cs combined equate to the value of the diamond. It is possible to have a 3ct diamond cost less than a 1ct diamond, due to the other factors, such as clarity. The 1ct could be flawless and the 3ct could be an I3. So while shopping for a diamond, remember the 4 Cs, they will be your friends to help you select the right diamond for you.
