You Probably Already Know that each Diamond is qualified and priced according to the Four Characteristics (or commonly known as the 4 C's) of Diamonds (carat, color, clarity and cut).

Diamonds Are Graded

How do you know a diamond shown to you as G color and VS1 clarity is really a G color, VS1 clarity diamond?

Shop for a diamond that has been certified by the Gemological Institute of America or GIA. All diamond experts and jewelers know what a "GIA Certificate" is. The GIA's grading is undeniably recognized throughout the jewelry industry as the most accurate and unbiased opinion when it comes to grading diamonds.

     

Buying a diamond with a GIA certificate

The advantages are:

1. You will know exactly what you are buying. Every important factor you need to know about the diamond is described in the certificate.


2. You will avoid any misunderstandings in the future.


3. If a diamond comes with a GIA certificate, you do not have to worry about the possibility that you might be purchasing a fracture-filled diamond. These are diamonds that have surface cracks that can be artificially filled to appear as much better diamonds than they actually are. These are in essence, very low quality diamonds that look great to naked eyes. GIA does not certificate these diamonds.


4. If a diamond comes with a GIA certificate, you will not become a victim of buying a synthetic diamond.


5. Purchasing a GIA certified diamond will simply provide you with much more confidence and value.

The Four C's of Diamonds

Diamond Cut

When we speak of cut we are more interested in the proportions of the diamond as opposed to its shape (Round Brilliant, Oval, Pear, Princess Diamonds, etc.)

Every diamond, regardless of its shape, gets it brilliancy by cutting and polishing the diamond facets to allow the maximum amount of light that enters through its top to be reflected and dispersed back through its top.

A correctly cut stone disperses light properly back through the diamond's top facets. When a stone is cut too shallow or too deep the light that enters through the top is allowed to escape through the diamond's bottom and does not allow the maximum beauty of the diamond to be realized.

Diamond Color

The best color for a diamond is no color at all. A totally colorless diamond allows light to pass through it easily, resulting in the light being dispersed as the color of the rainbow. Colors are graded totally colorless to light yellow. The differences from one grade to the other are very subtle and it takes a trained eye and years of experience to color grade a diamond.

Diamond Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is determined by the amount and location of flaws, or blemishes, in the diamond when viewed under 10 power (10x) magnification. GIA rates clarity grades in diamonds from Flawless to Imperfect 3.

Most diamonds contain very tiny birthmarks known as "inclusions." An inclusion can interfere with the light passing through the diamond. The fewer the inclusions, the more beautiful the diamond will be.

Diamonds have the capability of producing more brilliance than any other gemstone. A diamond that is free of inclusions and surface blemishes is very rare.and therefore very valuable.

Diamond Carats

This is the weight of a diamond measured in carats. As the carat weight of a diamond increases so does its rarity and therefore its price.

The carat-weight of a diamond is the easiest measurement to determine. Most importantly, two diamonds can be of equal carat-weight, but their value can differ greatly due to their cut, color, and clarity.