Diamond Grading: Four Cs
The value of a diamond is determined by its weight (carats) and its quality (colour, clarity and cut). Below, you will find some information on the Four C’s of diamond grading:
Carat. One carat equal to one fifth of a gram. Price increases with size, and tends to step up at the most popular weights such as 0.5ct, 0.75ct and 1ct.
Colour. Colour is graded from D (the best, perfect white) down to Z (severely discoloured). Beyond Z, diamonds are considred to be 'fancy coloured' and are graded from Light through Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, and Fancy Deep to Fancy Vivid. Fancy coloured diamonds may be red, pink, orange, yellow, brown, green, or blue.
Clarity. All diamonds contain natural imperfections within their crystal structure. Clarity is graded from IF (internally flawless) or LC (loupe clean), meaning that no inclusions are visible under a jewellers loupe (10x magnification), down through VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, S11, S12, I1, I2 to I3. Diamonds graded at S12 and above are considered to be eye-clean, meaning no inclusions should be visible with the naked eye.
Cut. ‘Cut’ is sometimes used to mean the shape of a diamond, but in diamond grading, the ‘cut’ refers to the diamond’s proportions, symmetry and polish. It is these factors that determine how well a diamond relects and refracts light. Simply put, a stone with a poor cut won’t sparkle as much as one with a good cut. Follow this link to learn about how diamonds are made.
At Ingle & rhode, we also insist on a fifth C: conflict-free, and are committed to only sourcing ethical diamonds.
We source individual diamonds to meet each client’s personal specifications and budget, and all of our diamonds of 0.3ct and above are supplied with diamond certificates.
If you'd like advice on how to choose the best diamond for your bespoke engagement ring or custom made jewellery, or you would like to view some loose diamonds, we would be delighted to help. Please feel free to contact us for a complimentary consultation.
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