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Cut is the most important factor of the four C's, and refers to the angles and proportions of the diamonds facets. Cut is the only factor which dramatically affects the sparkle and scintillation. The better the cut the more the diamond will sparkle. It is also the only factor that man has any control over.
Based on scientific formulas, a diamond that is cut to ideal proportions will reflect light from one facet to another and then disperse it through the top of the stone. The light refracted externally will amplify and disperse the refracted light from within to provide a myriad of colours and an even concentration of light, brilliance and lustre. Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow lose or leak light through the side or bottom, resulting in less brilliance and ultimately, value.
Cut also refers to shape-round, square, pear, or heart for example. Since a round diamond is symmetrical and capable of reflecting nearly all the light that enters, it is the most brilliant of all diamond shapes and follows specific proportional guidelines.
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In diamonds colour refers to the lack of colour. While many diamonds appear colourless, or white, they may actually have subtle yellow or brown tones that can be detected when comparing diamonds side by side. Diamonds are graded on a colour scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) which ranges from D (colorless) to Z.
Truly colourless stones, graded D, are rare and very valuable. The closer a diamond is to being colourless, the rarer and more valuable it is. By international grading standards, the Colour H is considered to be the base white, anything less is considered to be a tinted colour. Coloured diamonds such as Pink, Blue, Cognac and Champagne, do not follow this grading chart.
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Cut - Colour - Clarity - Carat
Many people are confused as to how the 4Cs affect price. The best explanation is that asking for the price of a diamond is like asking for the price of a house.
A real estate agent can't quote you a price for a house without knowing its size, condition, location, etc. This is true for a diamond as well. Specific preferences in cut, clarity, carat and colour will affect a diamond's price.
When you begin searching for a diamond, it is helpful if you have an idea of those characteristics that are most important to you.
A diamond's beauty, rarity, and price depend on the interplay of all the 4Cs-cut, clarity, carat, and colour. The more rare the diamond's characteristics the higher the price.
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Clarity is the term used to describe the size and number of inclusions in a diamond that can be seen with a 10x magnifying loupe. Almost all diamonds contain minute traces of non-crystallised carbon, the element from which they were born, they may look like tiny crystals, clouds or feathers. These inclusions are nature's finger print and make every diamond unique. Most are not discernible to the naked eye and require magnification to become apparent.
The position of inclusions can affect the value of a diamond. Some inclusions can be hidden by the setting, thus having little effect on the beauty of a diamond. An inclusion in the middle or top of a diamond could impact the dispersion of light, sometimes making the diamond less brilliant.
Large inclusions interfere with the dispersion of light and therefore the diamond's brilliance. The larger or more numerous the inclusions the less valuable the diamond. The fewer the inclusions, the rarer the stone. Each diamond will have its own unique inclusions in various positions within the diamond. VVS, VS and SI inclusions are not visible to the naked eye; they are only visible through magnification. There are very few flawless diamonds found in nature, thus these diamonds are much more valuable.
Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection, known as clarity, which was established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The clarity scale, ranging from F (Flawless) to Included (I), is based on the visibility of inclusions at a magnification of 10x.
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The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. One carat is divided into 100 points, so that a diamond of 25 points is described as a quarter of a carat or 0.25 carats.
The larger the diamond (and therefore the rarer) the more expensive per carat it will be. For example, a 1ct diamond costs much more than two 1/2ct diamonds and one 30 point diamond costs much more than 30 one point diamonds.
The Carat measurement of a diamond is actually a measurement of the Diamond's weight rather than its size or diameter. This is important to remember as depending upon the proportions of the Cut of the diamond, some diamonds may appear to have a larger top surface area ("table") than an ideal cut diamond but the diamonds may be of the same carat weight. Diamonds are sometimes cut in shallow proportions (see below) to make a diamond look bigger but this sacrifices the brilliance and life of the diamond and makes them less valuable. |
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