Sunday, March 16, 2008

How To Buy a Diamond: Know the Four C's

Cut
This is what determines sparkle; how well the diamond reflects light. A diamond cut to good proportions, reflects light throughout itself from one facet to another and out the top.

Color
Ranges from totally colorless to light yellow. The differences between one diamond color grade and another are very subtle and difficult to distinguish. Out of the 4 C's, color and cut are the two most important characteristics of a diamond. Do not compromise on color. An "H" color or better is usually best.

Clarity
The measure of a diamond's internal flaws and impurities. A diamond virtually free of interior or exterior inclusions (flaws) is of the highest quality because its reflection of light is unobstructed. Diamond clarity, is determined by a trained gemologist viewing the stone under 10 x magnification. Small inclusions do not inhibit a diamond's beauty or durability. A diamond can only be "flawless" if it has no visible surface cracks or other imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.

Carat
A diamond's weight is measured in carats. One carat is divided into 100 "points," so that a diamond of 75 points weighs 0.75 carats. Carat weight is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond. But two diamonds of equal carat weights can have very different prices, depending on their quality. Diamonds of high quality can be found in all size ranges.

Sources: http://www.memolink.com


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