Buying a Diamond: The Four C’s
As you begin your search for the perfect diamond engagement ring, it can be a bit overwhelming. Some basic information on how to choose a diamond can be very helpful.
Cut, color, clarity and carat are called the Four C's. These characteristics are the standards in determining the quality and price of each diamond. So, what do you need to know about the Four C's?
The best rating given to a cut is Ideal or Excellent. Others are Very Good, Good, Fair or Medium and lastly, Poor. Diamond descriptions list cut ratings as I or E, VG, G, F or M and P. When choosing a diamond, pay close attention to the cut. Cut may be the most important consideration. A diamond which has been cut well will reflect light more brilliantly than a lesser-cut stone.
Fancy colored diamonds are in a different category than white diamonds when it comes to color grading, although some light yellow or light brown gems fall under the white diamond scale. The scale begins with D which means colorless, and goes to Z where tint is obvious. Jewelers typically carry white diamonds graded from D to I. J to M have a faint hint of yellow. Diamonds from M to Z have increasing amounts of yellow or brown tint.
Natural diamonds are millions of years old. As diamonds were being formed deep within the earth, minerals and even other gemstones may have become imbedded in the diamond's structure. A special magnifying glass, called a jeweler's loupe, can be used to look deep inside the diamond. Flaws can be detected and classified on a scale from Internally Flawless to Included (seen with the naked eye. Abbreviations are given on a diamond's grading sheet for clarity. IF is the best and I3 is the lowest.
If a diamond has flaws, sometimes laser drilling and infilling treatments are applied to remove the flaw. These treatments should be revealed by the jeweler. A white diamond can have the color grade dropped by one level after treatment.
Carat is the weight of the diamond. One carat is 200 milligrams. This is where it gets tricky as the diamond's price is per carat. The seller takes all the other characteristics into consideration, determines the value, and sets the "per carat" price.
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