THE 4 C’s The four factors that influence the value of a diamond:
Color Grading Scale
It is surprising to learn diamonds are also available in a variety of colors including red, purple, pink, green, orange, yellow, blue, brown and black. These extremely rare and unique diamonds are termed "Fancy Colors" and are graded based on the hue, tone and saturation of their color. The more intense the color, the higher the rarity factor, and of course the higher the price. The rarest of the fancy colors is red.
The color scale below reflects how closely a diamond approaches the colorless range.
Clarity Grading Scale
The clarity grade is the degree to which the diamond is free of inclusions and blemishes. Most diamonds have internal birthmarks known as inclusions, and external characteristics called blemishes. These characteristics are evaluated under 10X magnification by trained diamond graders, the diamond is graded based on the number, nature, size, location and color of each characteristic. Clarity characteristics are also used to distinguish one diamond from another. A diamond's inclusions are like fingerprints, making each diamond a one-of-a-kind. Diamonds that are flawless are extremely rare and command the highest prices, but most diamonds have minute inclusions that cannot be seen without the aid of magnification, that reduce the cost of the diamond without detracting from its beauty or durability.
Carat
Diamonds are weighed on a scale of metric carats, abbreviated "ct." It is equal to approximately 1/5 of a gram (or 1/142nd of an ounce) . A carat is broken down into 100 points, just like a pound is broken down into 16 ounces. When you see a diamond weight of 1.45 carat, that means one carat and 45 points.
The larger a diamond is, the rarer it is. Diamonds are bought and sold on a pricing concept known as "per carat." As diamonds get larger, the price per carat increases due to the rarity factor. This means that a diamond that weighs 2 carats will be worth more than twice as much as a 1 carat diamond.
Cut
Did you know that the term diamond cut does not refer to its shape? When gemologists say "cut," they are talking about a diamond's proportions, such as its depth, diameter and the uniformity of its facets. These are all the characteristics that control brilliance, durability and other features we look for in a diamond.
Good cut is essential to a diamond's beauty. Even a diamond with outstanding color and clarity will not display the sparkle and beauty that diamonds are famous for if its porportions don't interact with light as they should.
