|
How to determine
the true value of a diamond.
Carat Weight
Color
Clarity
Cut
|
|
Carat Weight:
|
The weight of a diamond is measured in carats, making it the easiest of the four C’s to determine. As carats are a measure of weight and not necessarily of size, some diamonds of the same carat weight may actually appear to be different in size. Each carat is divided into 100 parts, called points.
So if a one-carat diamond = 1.00 carat or 100 points, a ¾ carat diamond = 0.75 carat or 75 points and so on. Remember, the value of a diamond can vary greatly from one of equal carat weight depending on the color, clarity, and most importantly, the cut.
| | |
|
Color:
|
Although most diamonds may appear colorless, they actually have subtle shades of yellow or brown. The closer a diamond is to having no color, the rarer and more expensive it is. The chart below is the industry standard for grading the color of diamonds:
D E F G H I J
Colorless Near Colorless | | K L M
Faint Yellow | N O P Q R
Very Light Yellow | S T U V W X Y Z
Light Yellow |
 | | | | | | |
| |  |  |  |  |  |
| |
D |
G |
I |
L |
Z |
Color Grading Scale
|
| AGS |
0 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
1.5 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
3.0 |
3.5 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
7.5 |
8.0 |
8.5 |
9.0 |
9.5 |
10 |
Fancy Yellow |
|
| GIA |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z |
Fancy Yellow |
| |
Colorless |
Near Colorless |
Faint Yellow |
Very Light |
|
| | |
|
Clarity:
|
Thanks to Mother Nature, every diamond is unique. But practically all diamonds contain natural internal characteristics or “birthmarks.” The size, location, and number of these characteristics determine the rarity of the diamond and influence its value. This chart should help when evaluating a diamond:
| I F | V V S1 - V V S2 | V S1 - V S2 | S I1 - S I2 | I1 - I2 |
|
| Internally flawless, no natural characteristics visible under 10x magnification. Extremely rare. |
Minute characteristics, extremely hard to see even under 10x magnification. Extremely rare. |
Very minor characteristics. Difficult to see even with magnification. |
Slight characteristics that can be seen under 10x magnification. |
Characteristics are visible to naked eye. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Clarity Grading Scale
|
| AGS |
0 |
0*** |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 | |
9 |
10 |
|
| GIA |
Flawless I F |
V V S1 |
V V S2 |
V S1 |
V S2 |
S I1 |
S I2 |
I |
1 |
I2 |
|
|
Cut:
|
The cut of a diamond is the only factor that man can control, and it is unquestionably the single most important factor in determining the beauty and value of a diamond. What’s unique about a diamond is how it plays with light, creating the sparkle, fire and brilliance. It’s all about light: how much is taken in, how it’s refracted around inside, and how much is reflected back to the eye of the beholder. The more perfect the cut, the more light a diamond returns, and the more beautiful it looks.
* Arrows on the diagram simulate the flow of light in the diamond
CORRECTLY PROPORTIONED: A perfectly cut diamond will reflect light* internally from one mirror-like facet to another, dispersing it through the top of the diamond.
TOO SHALLOW: When a diamond is cut too shallow, light* leaks out of the bottom, brilliance is lost and the diamond appears watery, glassy and dark.
TOO DEEP: When a diamond is cut too deep, light* leaks out the bottom, brilliance is lost and the center of the diamond will appear to be dark.
| | |
|
©Gemological Institute of America - Used by Permision
|
