Why You Need to Know the Four C’s of Diamonds

It should be no surprise that she is expecting a diamond ring that will knock her socks off. So you must pay special attention to choosing the perfect diamond. And the only way to pick right is to do your homework. You should become well acquainted with the four C’s: color, clarity, cut, and carat, to make the right decision. Color. This is a fairly straightforward aspect of diamond. Diamonds are graded on a scale of D (the highest quality) to N or lower (lower-quality diamonds). Diamonds of a high grade (like the rare D grade) are colorless to the naked eye and absolutely brilliant. Higher color grades are your best option if you want a perfectly colorless diamond. Diamonds that are rated further down the scale contain a slight tinge of color. Color Grades K-N take on a slightly yellow hue but are also less expensive. For something unique, you might consider a colored diamond. Diamonds can be pink, blue, or even black, but these colors are rare and not without a considerable price tag. Clarity. A perfect diamond will have a clarity grade of Flawless. Most diamonds, except the rare flawless, contain imperfections (called inclusions) in the interior of the stone. Don’t panic! These inclusions can’t normally be seen unless under 10x magnification at the jewelry store. That is, unless you buy a diamond with a poor clarity rating, which is definitely not recommended. Diamonds are graded with a wording scale (Flawless, Very Slightly Included, Included, etc.). Note that picking diamonds that are only Very Slightly Included or Included is a smart choice. You won’t be able to see the inclusions, and they are cheaper than Flawless diamonds. Cut. The cut is all about the shine of the diamond. It’s the most important thing to consider! But don’t be confused with the shape of the diamond, like a princess cut stone versus a round diamond. The cut really refers to symmetry and proportion. It’s the most important aspect of the diamond. Stay away from diamonds that are too shallow or too deep. Since the cut directly relates to the diamond’s shine, go for an ideal cut. If the cut is shallow light will escape from underneath the diamond. And a deep cut will cause light to spill out of the sides of the stone. An ideal cut is the way to go because the facets will reflect the light, giving it high brilliance (or fire). Cut is graded with a wording scale such as Excellent, Very Good, or Good. These diamonds have quality cuts and are a good value for your money. Don’t bother with anything below Good quality, since the diamonds won’t sparkle. In fact, a quality diamond retailer won’t sell a stone that is not Excellent, Very Good, or Good. Carat. The carat is the measure of a diamond’s weight, with one carat totaling 200 milligrams. Or, a point system is used in a case of smaller diamonds. 100 points relates to one carat. If you plan on buying a large carat diamond, prepare to drop some serious cash. Smaller diamonds are much more abundant than larger diamonds. Also, if your bride to be has smaller fingers, you can use this to your advantage! For example, a one carat diamond looks much larger on a size 4 finger than a size 6 finger. The smaller the finger, the larger the diamond will appear. You’ll definitely impress her with the right engagement ring—thanks for the four C’s! For more information please check www.25karats.com.