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Diamond Characteristics

The 4C's (Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat) for certified diamonds.

Cut

The cut of a diamond determines how a diamond shines, the cut does not refer to the shape of the diamond. The master diamond cutter has created the facets on the diamond to allow light to internally reflect from one mirror-like facet to another and disperse and reflect it through the top of the stone in a display of brilliance and fire. So when we talk about diamond cut we are referring to the reflective qualities of the diamond which determines its ability to handle light, which leads to brilliance. 

As shown in the images below, when a diamond is well-cut, light enters through the table (top of the stone) and travels to the pavilion where it reflects from one side to the other. If the diamond is cut poorly like in the diagrams below, where one is cut too deep and one too shallow, the light will escape from below. But when the cut is ideal, such as in the example on the right, the light reflects back out of the diamond through the table and to the observer's eye. This light is the brilliance we mentioned, and it's this flashing, fiery effect that makes diamonds so mesmerizing.

Colour

The colour grading for white diamonds starts from completely colourless, the most expensive to a faint yellow colour. The colour in a diamond is produced from chemical impurities contained in it's composition. The whiter or colourless the diamond, the more brilliant it will be because it will allow more light to pass and be reflected back. Also the whiter the diamond, the more colours it will reflect back to achieve that desirable rainbow brilliance only a well-cut, colourless diamond can create.

The chart below shows the colour grading created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) which is the professional colour scale for white diamonds.

	D E F = Colourless
	G H I J = Near Colourless
	K L M = Very Faint Yellow
	N O P Q R = Faint Yellow
	S T U V W X Y Z = Light Yellow

 
Diamonds graded D - F are the rarest and most expensive, whereas the ones graded G - J are seeminly colourless to the untrained eye. The diamonds with grades K - Z are more noticebly yellower, however the choice always depends on the buyer's preference.

The colour grading for fancy coloured diamonds is very different from white diamonds, see other types of diamonds to learn more about coloured diamonds.

Clarity

A diamond's clarity is a measurement of the amount of blemishes (external flaws) or inclusions (internal flaws) a diamond contains. An inclusion can air bubbles, cracks, and non-diamond minerals found in the diamond.

The grading starts at F which is a completely flawless (internally & externally) and extremely rare diamond. The chart below is a  GIA clarity scale showing the different grades of diamond clarity.

	IF	Internally flawless	No internal flaws, but some surface flaws. Very rare.
	VVS1- VVS2	Very Very Slightly Included	Minute inclusions very difficult to detect under 10x magnification by a trained gemologist. VVS1 is slightly cleaner than VVS2.
	VS1-VS2	Very Slightly Included	Minor inclusions only visible under 10x magnification. VS1 is slightly cleaner than VS2.
	SI1-SI2	Slightly Included	Inclusions easy to see under 10x magnification but usually not visible with the naked eye. SI1 is slightly cleaner than SI2.
	I1-I2-I3	Included	Inclusions visible with the naked eye.

For grades F through SI, a diamond's clarity grade has an impact on the diamond's value, not on the unmagnified diamond's appearance. 

GIA certificates include what is known as a "plot" of a diamond's inclusions -- think of it as a "diamond fingerprint." Since no two diamonds are exactly the same, comparing the uniqueness of your diamond's clarity characteristics with the plot provided on the diamond certificate offers assurance that the diamond you pay for is the same diamond you receive. 

Carat

A carat is a unit of measurement for the weight of a diamond with one carat equaling to 200 milligrams, or 0.2 grams, also known as 100 points. Since larger diamonds are harder to find than smaller ones, the price of diamonds with respect to their carat weight goes up exponentially.

The image below shows an example of the change in carat weight with change in the diameter of a round diamond. But keep in mind that two diamonds of the same weight could have different sizes. Why? If a diamond is cut too shallow (or flat) it will have a larger diameter, but shallow depth and appear larger. Likewise, if a diamond is cut too deep (or pointed) it will have a smaller diameter and deep depth and appear smaller. This is why cut is so important.  




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About Buying Diamonds is a comprehensive guide explaining diamond characteristics like cut, colour, clarity & carat, as well as the different diamond shapes and types of diamonds. You can learn what to buy for your diamond jewellery needs such as diamond rings or diamond bracelets and how these grades will affect diamond prices. The process of buying diamonds online may be daunting to some, so throughout this site we offer advice and information on buying all types of diamonds including loose diamonds and wholesale diamonds and the reasons why you should always buy certified diamonds.