A diamond is an expensive purchase, and you may have questions. For those who are unsure about what cut, color, and clarity signify when looking to purchase a diamond, here are some definitions to help you out. It's understandable that you'd want to know how diamonds are graded and what makes a better diamond than a bad one. When shopping for a large diamond, especially one weighing 0.25 carats or more, keep these four traits in mind (such as a center stone for a diamond engagement ring). Because of its size, a diamond that has been graded by a recognized lab like the Gemological Institute of America should be your first choice (GIA). When it comes to melee stones (stones weighing less than 0.2 carats), color and clarity are the most critical considerations. It's common for these stones to arrive without any kind of certification or grading assessment because of their modest size.
Diamond Diagram
Proportions are essential when it comes to determining a diamond's cut grade. Poorly cut diamonds are less efficient in capturing and refracting light than well-cut stones. A diamond's ideal cut is symmetrical and neither too deep nor too shallow. In most cases, diamonds are cut using lasers and polished with diamonds (because diamonds are the toughest substance on Earth, no other material can polish them) since diamonds are the hardest material on Earth. In the figure below, you can see how a well-cut diamond reflects and refracts light to produce the desired shine. Diamond cut is distinct from diamond form, as you should know (pear, round, etc.).
Diamond Depth
A diamond's clarity determines its color grade, which goes up the clearer the diamond is. An imperfectly clear diamond is less valuable than a flawlessly clear diamond. However, there are some exceptionally rare and precious diamonds that have a deep hue. "Fancy Colored Diamonds" are the GIA's term for these gems. A blue diamond is far rarer than Rihanna's beloved "yellow diamonds in the sky," and even then, most blue diamonds are exceedingly pale. Although she likes "yellow diamonds in the sky," a blue diamond is much rarer than a yellow diamond. The price of a dazzling blue diamond (like the Titanic's Heart of the Ocean gem) would be prohibitive! The alphabetical color grading system for diamonds is depicted in the figure below, from D to Z.
Diamond Color
A diamond's clarity grade is a measurement of the stone's flaws, both external and internal. Inclusions refer to imperfections deep inside the material, while blemishes refer to problems on the surface. Only a professional gemologist with a loupe at 10x magnification can identify a diamond's clarity grade. Size, type, amount, placement and relief of inclusions/blemishes all play a role in determining final grade. Using the diamond clarity chart below, you can see how the quality of a diamond ranges from flawless (FL) to visible inclusions (IV) (I). "Very, very little" to "very, very small inclusions" are classified as "slight inclusions," and only SI and I diamond inclusions may be seen with the naked eye.
Diamond Clarity
Diamonds with great clarity are normally sought after, but "salt and pepper" diamonds, which have a high density of defects and are prized for their imperfections, are becoming more popular. The Pink Panther Diamond, another well-known diamond with a reputation for flaws, is a work of fiction (from the Pin Panther films). A panther-shaped inclusion adorns this pink diamond (yes, it is fancy colored!).
The weight of a diamond is used to calculate its carat size, which is a unit of measurement for diamonds. To put it into perspective, a carat is roughly the same weight as a paperclip. James Packer proposed to Mariah Carey with a 35 carat diamond in his engagement ring. You've heard it right here, folks: Ring finger of steel Mariah Carey possesses. Keep in mind that the larger the carat weight of the diamond, the more crucial the clarity grade becomes. Despite the fact that diamonds are paid per carat, the price per carat rises as a person's weight grows due to the difficulty of finding
