4C’s of Diamonds
Cut
Cut refers to a finished diamonds proportions, polish and symmetry. These factors help determine the level of fire, brilliance, and scintillation a diamond emits. Cut is the most important factor to a diamonds beauty regardless of the color, clarity and carat. There are many measurable factors that determine the final cut grade of a diamond (see Cut image). The cut grade has the most influence in determining the value of a diamond.
Color
Color as in relation to a white diamond represents the inherent body color ranging from colorless to light (hints of yellow); the color scale runs from D-Z (D equaling colorless). The higher on the scale the more rare the diamond therefore the more expensive.
Clarity
Clarity is the presence or absence of internal and external characteristics of a diamond viewed at 10x magnification. The rarest grade being (FL) Flawless and the least rare being Included 3 (I3); as with color the higher on the clarity scale the more rare and expensive the diamond.
Carat
Just as a dollar is divided into 100 pennies, a carat is divided into 100 points which means that a diamond of 50 points weighs 0.50 carats. With that said two diamonds of equal weight can have entirely different values based on their unique combinations of clarity, color and cut; no two diamonds are exactly the same.
