Two diamonds that look alike at first may, in fact, be very different. Two diamonds of equal size can have very unequal values. The differences between them may be subtle indeed.

To understand these differences is to understand the 4C's:

  Cut  l  Color  l  Clarity  l  Carat Weight 

It is the different combinations of all these characteristics that determines the quality and value of a diamond.

Cut

Many people confuse cut with the shape of a diamond. Diamonds are cut into a number of shapes, depending on the nature of the rough stone. The most popular are round brilliant, marquise, oval, princess, pear, heart and emerald. The choice is largely a matter of personal preference. Whatever the shape, however, a well-cut diamond is the work of a master diamond cutter. When cut to good proportions, the diamond is better able to reflect light, creating more scintillation, more sparkle.

It is the cut that enables a diamond to make the best use of light. 1. When diamonds are cut to ideal proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the top of the stone. 2. If the cut of the diamond is too deep, some light escapes through the opposite side of the pavilion. 3. If the cut is too shallow, light escapes through the pavilion before it can be reflected.
 

Diamonds are found with a range of colors, from colorless to faint yellow or brown through to the very rare pinks, blues, greens and other colors known as "fancies." The most desirable color for a diamond is no color. It is the colorless diamond that allows white light to pass effortlessly through it and be dispersed and reflected out as a rainbow of colors.



Color grading scale from totally colorless to light yellow. The difference between one grade and another are very subtle, as can be seen by the number grades within each category.

Clarity

To determine a diamond's clarity, it is viewed under 10-power magnification by a trained eye. Most diamonds contain very small natural inclusions. The fewer and smaller the inclusions are, the less likely it is that they will interfere with the passage of light through the diamond and the more beautiful the diamond will sparkle. Diamonds, more than any other gemstone, have the capacity to produce the maximum amount of brilliance. A diamond that is free of internal/external inclusions is very rare and therefore more valuable. Where the inclusions lie, their size, and their type determine the value of the stone. Inclusions are rated as follows: