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The
Four C's
The price of a diamond varies depending on the four C's:
cut, color, clarity and carat weight.
Cut: When a diamond is a cut to ideal proportions,
light will reflect from one mirror like facet to another
and disperse through the top of the stone, resulting in
brilliant display. Diamonds that are cut too shallow or
deep will lose light through the sides and bottom of the
stone and may have dark center.
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THE
IDEAL CUT
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When
a round brilliant diamond has been cut to "Ideal"
proportions by a master cutter, it is a splendor to
behold.
The Ideal Cut Diamond describes a round brilliant
diamond that has been cut to exact and mathematically
proven proportions. It's symmetry, with 58 exactly
placed facets, produces the ultimate in luster and
beauty.
When a diamond is cut to the ideal proportions, all
of the light entering from any direction is totally
reflected through the top and is dispersed into a
display of sparkling flashes and rainbow colors.
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PROPORTIONS
OF THE IDEAL CUT
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A
Premium Cut diamond demonstrates subtle variations
from the Ideal Cut. Although dimensional differences
affect a diamond's reflection of light, a Premium
Cut still achieves a harmonious balance between its
proportions and the display of brilliance.
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PROPORTIONS
OF THE PREMIUM CUT
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IDEAL
/ VERY FINE
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RANGE
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| TABLE |
51.4%
- 62% |
| CROWN
ANGLE |
32.2
- 36.8 DEGREES |
| CROWN
HEIGHT |
13.1
- 16.2% |
| GIRDLE |
VERY
THIN TO THICK |
| DEPTH
PERCENTAGE |
59
- 63% |
| PAVILLION
% |
41.7
- 44.8% |
| CULET |
NONE
TO MEDIUM |
| FINISH |
VERY
GOOD - EXCELLENT |
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Color: Diamond color is graded on a scale
from D to Z. Truly colorless stones are rated D and are
extremely rare. Value starts to drop significantly at
grades L, M and N, and then increases again at the very
end of the spectrum, which includes fancy diamonds that
can be yellow, blue, pink or other color.
Clarity:
Virtually all diamonds have some type of inclusions, or
flaws. The difference in the clarity of stones depends
on the naked eye or only when magnified 10 times under
a microscope .The location of the flaws also are important.
Clarity is a graded on a scale with flawless (F) or internal
flawless (IF) at the top, followed by VVS1 and VVS2 (very
slight inclusions), SI1 and SI2 (very slight inclusions),
and I1, I2 and I3, which means inclusions are visible
to the naked eye. The smaller the number, the fewer the
inclusions. Diamonds any lower on the clarity scale are
not considered gemstones and used mainly for industrial
purposes.
Carat weight: The carat is a unit of weight
derived thousands of years ago from the relatively constant
weight of the carob seed. Carats are divided into 100
points. The carat weight is the size of the stone and
has no bearing on the color and clarity of a diamond.
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