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Diamonds lend a romantic aura to every piece of jewelry, the feeling of forever. But they are also intimidating because of the science, and the price, behind their fantastic beauty.

We created a guide with the main characteristics and information to consider when purchasing a piece of diamond jewelry, so you can make the best decision.

The 4 C

The characteristics that prove the beauty and, implicitly, the value of a diamond are known as The 4 C :

• Clarity,
• Color,
• Carats,
• Cut.

The diamond grading scale has been established by GIA, Gemological Institute of America, the most important and strict authority when talking about diamond evaluation. Other such authorities are IGI (International Gemological Institute), AGA (American Gem Society), and EGL(European Gemological Laboratory).
The diamonds we use, which have more than 0.22 carats, are accompanied by a Certificate issued by GIA, IGI, AGA, or EGL.

When buying a diamond, you should consider all four characteristics so that you can select the best diamond within your budget.
As a starting point, we recommend consideringthe cut as the essential characteristic in deciding the beauty of a stone since it directly impacts its brightness. Color and carat come second, and clarity is on the third.

1. Cut

It represents the way the diamond facets have been polished toreflect the light as beautifully as possible. The cut encompasses more than just the shape (round, square, oval, etc.). Regardless of the shape, the diamond can have a better or more inadequate cut, and, as such, it can shine more or less spectacularly.
The facets can be understood as tiny mirrors that reflect the light, and their scale and angle are essential.
https://youtu.be/NAhKjvsimcE
According to GIA, the grades for cut quality in round diamonds are:

• excellent,
• very good,
• good,
• satisfactory,
• unsatisfactory.

We recommend you always pick an excellent cut diamond.

2. Carats

This measuresthe weight of the diamond. A carat is the equivalent of 200 milligrams.
The bigger the size, the rarer the diamond. This is why the prices increase exponentially with the carats. A 1-carat diamond will be more expensive than 4 0.25 carat diamonds, all other characteristics being the same.
Carats matter, but a bigger diamond is not necessarily a more beautiful one. This is why we recommend you always take into account all the stone’s characteristics into account, of which the cut is the most important.
Here are some examples so that you can get an idea of diamond size based on carats:

• a round diamond with a 4 mm diameter has approx. 0.24-0.25 carat.
• a round diamond with a 5 mm diameter has approx. 0.44-0.45 carat.
• a round diamond with a 6.2 mm diameter has approx. 1 carat.

3. Color

In nature, diamonds come in all sorts of shades: yellow, red, green, blue, white, gray.
Darker diamonds (brown, black, gray) affect how the light is reflected inside the stone, which is why white diamonds remain the most popular. We are not discussing here the diamonds in unique colors, such as orange, pink, blue. There are in a category of their own.
White diamonds or diamonds in shades of white are classified from D to Z:

Why does the classification start at D and not A?

Before GIA (Gemological Institute of America, the most important authority in diamond evaluation), jewelers used A, AA, AAA, etc., to describe the shades of white diamonds. When setting up their classification, GIA wanted to avoid confusion with other systems and thus decided to start with D.

What color of a diamond should I choose?

The most beautiful diamonds are rated D to F. The price confirms that, as well.
If your budget is limited, diamonds rated G to I are also satisfying in quality.
An untrained eye will barely notice the difference between diamonds 3 or 4 shades away and will see no difference between two stones a shade away.
Diamonds rated J to Z have an apparent yellow shade, but this is not necessarily bad. It all depends on what you are looking for!

Carats and color

The bigger the diamond, the more pronounced the yellow shade. As an example, let’s consider a 0.3-carat diamond and a 3 carats diamond, both rated as J for color. The yellow tint will be easier to notice in the 3 carats diamond and almost invisible in the 0.3 carats

Brightness and color

Color does not affect a diamond’s brightness. The cut is the main factor influencing brightness.

Shape and color

The shape of a diamond can influence the perception of its shade. For example, the elongated shapes (oval, marquise) show a stronger yellow tint where the shape becomes narrower.

Colored diamonds

Diamonds intense enough to pass Z grading on the color scale are considered colored diamonds (fancy color). These are rare and extremely expensive.

4. Clarity

Diamonds can showinclusions (slight irregularities) and/or surface defects, such as scratches or chips. The clarity of the diamond increases with the decrease of these defects (in number or visibility).
Please note, though. Clarity does not have a substantial influence on a diamond’s brightness. The cut is the main factor influencing brightness.
Diamond grading by clarity:

• FL (Flawless – Perfect clarity)– No inclusions or defects visible under a 10x magnifying glass. These are extremely rare and very expensive.
• IF (Internal Flawless – Perfect interior) – No inclusions. They might show slight surface defects, which can be detected only by a professional using a 10x magnifying glass. These are rare and very expensive.
• VVS1 & VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included – Very, very few inclusions) – Inclusions are very difficult to notice using a 10x magnifying glass. The beauty of the diamond is not affected.
• VS1 & VS2 (Very Slightly Included – Very few inclusions) – Inclusions are pretty challenging to notice using a 10x magnifying glass and usually do not affect the beauty of the diamond.
• SI1 & SI2 (Slightly Included – Few inclusions) – Inclusions are easily observed with a 10x magnifying glass and sometimes with the naked eye.
• I1, I2 & I3 (Included – Inclusions)– Inclusions are easily observed with a 10x magnifying glass and often with the naked eye. The diamond’s resistance can be affected, as well as its transparency and brightness.

Which clarity should I pick?

The clarity does not affect the diamond’s beauty significantly.Thus, as long as the imperfections are not visible to the naked eye (grade I and, maybe, SI), you can choose VS1, VVS2 orVVS1 without a second thought. This way, you can save most of your budget for those characteristics which impact the diamond’s beauty, such as the cut.
If you want to invest in diamonds, IF and FL clarity should be your target.

DID YOU KNOW?

Each diamond is unique, and this is due to the “map” of its imperfections? If someone wanted to identify a stolen diamond, they could rely on such a map, as if it were a fingerprint.