Diamonds – Understanding the Four C’s

Understanding

Diamond are one of the world’s most valued natural resources, not to mention one of the most highly desired gemstones. Diamond are naturally made with an enormous variety of characteristics, making each individual diamond unique. The many possible combinations of these characteristics determine the overall quality and value of a diamond. Recognizing the need for a universal grading system, GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, regarded as the world’s most respected institute of gemological research, developed the Four C’s. The Four C’s stand for Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. This internationally accepted diamond grading system has revolutionized the diamond trade and today is used by nearly every professional in the industry and diamond enthusiasts across the globe 結婚戒指. Because individual diamond vary so immensely in quality and price, it is vital for consumers to be familiar with the Four C’s as well. We’ve outlined the basics of this grading system below, to help give consumers the resources they need to make educated purchases.

Cut

The cut of a diamond may be one of the most important of the Four C’s, and can enhance the overall quality, value, and beauty of that diamond. There are many different cuts, each having a specific effect on the following three attributes:

* Brightness – the amount of light the diamond reflects

* Fire – the various colors of the spectrum that a diamond gives off

* Scintillation – the sparkle and brilliance that is produced when a diamond is moved

In a well cut diamond, the light which enters through the table (the top flat facet) and travels through to the pavilion is then reflected and dispersed through the crown, creating a desirable effect. Unfortunately, in a poorly cut diamond, some of the light leaks out the girdle, which dramatically reduces the diamond’s sparkle.

The quality of a diamond cut is based primarily on symmetry and polish, as well as the proportions of the table size, crown angle, and pavilion depth to one another. In most cases, the more facets a diamond has, the more brilliance and sparkle it will have. However the depth of the pavilion also has a huge impact on this. When the depth of the pavilion is either too much or not enough, the light can be lost out the sides of the stone instead of being directed through the crown.

The brilliant round cut diamond is by far the most common of the diamond cuts, although many others are gaining popularity. The brilliant round cut was designed specifically for use on diamond, and with it’s 57-58 well proportioned facets, it’s brilliance and sparkle is more noticeable than on most cuts. Yet with so many variations of diamond cuts, many combinations of proportions are possible, directly affecting the beauty of a diamond, and therefore also the value.

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