The 4 C’s of Diamonds

Color

Color grades are determined by comparing diamonds to a master set and then giving a letter grade representing a range of color. The GIA color grades start at D, for colorless all the way through the alphabet to Z, light brown or yellow. Most of the diamonds used in jewelry are nearly colorless with a tint of yellow or brown. Of course, the less color in a diamond, the more valuable it is.

Clarity

Inclusions are small markings inside a stone and they determine the clarity. There are eleven clarity grades, ranging from Flawless to Included. Diamonds have internal and external characteristics that are a result of the heat and pressure that helped formed them. It is very rare to find a diamond that is without any of these characteristics, but the less markings in the stone the more valuable a stone is.

Cut

A diamond’s cut is most important to it’s beauty. The better the refraction of light in and out of the stone, the better the overall fire and brightness. The cut is graded from Excellent to Poor.

Carat

The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. For 1 Carat there are 100 points, 50 points is considered.50 (1/2) carat, 75 points is .75 carats, etc. Size is important, but cut, clarity and color are very important factors in determining the value of a diamond also.

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