Becoming an educated consumer is not such an easy matter when dealing with all the variables related to the purchase of a diamond. Literally no two are the same; and size is only one consideration in determining the value. No matter how large or small the diamond of your choice, you’ll want it to be the best quality you can afford.

Below is a summary to simplify the process of selecting a diamond by explaining the four factors, known as the 4C’s, Cut, Clarity, Carat-weight, and Color involved in determining the value of a diamond.

Cut:

The first thing that comes to mind when talking about “cut” is actually shape. The most popular are round, marquis, oval, pear, heart, emerald, brilliant and princess. Shape is essentially a matter of personal choice. However, cut involves much more than just shape. A master diamond cutter must understand how light is refracted and reflected by cut stone. When a diamond is cut to the right proportions, light will dance from one facet to another and disperse through the crown of the stone. If the cut is too deep or too shallow, light will escape through the sides or the bottom. This will cut down drastically on the sparkle of the diamond.

Clarity:

Flawless diamonds are extremely rare and expensive. Most diamonds contain small flaws known as inclusions. Obviously, the fewer and the smaller the inclusions, the more valuable the stone. Inclusions can interfere with a diamond’s ability to handle light and, therefore, cut down on the brilliance of the stone. A diamond must be viewed under 10-power magnification by a trained eye to determine it’s clarity. Above is a chart for rating diamonds according to their clarity.

Carat-Weight:

Bigger is not always better and this certainly holds true with diamonds. Diamonds are measured in carats; one carat being 100 points. A diamond of 75 points weighs .75 carat. It is very easy to measure the size or carat weight of a diamond, however, this alone does not determine it’s value. Two diamonds of the same size or weight can vary drastically in value depending on the cut, color and clarity of the stones. Purchasing a diamond can be a very gratifying experience if one is armed with at least a basic knowledge of how diamonds are graded.

Color:

The word color is a bit misleading since one is actually looking for a lack of color, in the stone itself that is. Diamonds can range from pale yellow to the very rare pink, blue or green in color. However, it is the colorless or white diamond that, just as a prism, allows light to pass effortlessly through and be broken into a rainbow of colors. It is the reflected color that makes a diamond more desirable.