• CUT
• CLARITY
• COLOUR
• CARAT
Cut
Popular diamond cuts include Heart, Emerald, Marquise (Oval with pointed ends), Oval, Pear, and Princess. There are mathematical guidelines for the angles and lenght ratios at which the diamond is supposed to cut at in order t oto reflect the maximum amount of light. As much as the cut gets better, the shine, glitter and "fire" of the diamond increases. On a correct cut diamond, the light geting in from one facet reflects to another facet and it spreads from the upper side called the "crown". If the cut is too deep some of the light disappears from the lower side called the "pavillion". Not being cut deep enough also ends with light loss and it causes the diamond's shine to be lesser. A good cut diamond is consisted of good facets that are reflecting the diamonds glitter best. Adding to this, the shape and the cut technique are diffirent subjects. Shape vary according to taste.
Each diamond in the nature has its own characteristic. What makes the diamond authentic is the minerals that are mixed in during the crystallization period. The number, colour, structure, size and the position of these little materials, as known as the finger prints of nature, shows the naturality of the diamond. The diamond reflects much more when there are less materials in it and this increases the value. Because it is too hard to find diamonds without any print in, diamond with lesser print in is considered as "close to perfect".
Clarity: |
Number and Size |
Expert-10x loupe |
Naked Eye |
Influence on Brilliance |
IF |
no inclusions-internally flawless |
nothing |
nothing |
none |
VVS1 |
very very small inclusions, pin pricks |
very difficult |
nothing |
none |
VVS2 |
very very small inclusions, pin pricks |
very difficult |
nothing |
none |
VS1 |
very small, still minute |
difficult to see |
nothing |
none |
VS2 |
very small, still minute |
difficult to see |
nothing |
none |
SI1 |
tiny |
easily seen |
nothing |
none |
SI2 |
tiny |
easily seen |
nothing from top |
none |
I1 |
small |
recognisable immediately |
difficult to recognise |
none |
I2 |
larger and/or numerous inclusions |
obvious |
recognisable immediately |
slight |
I3 |
large and/or numerous |
very obvious |
very easily recognised |
heavy influence |
The clarity of a diamond is graded by how many, how big and how visible the inclusions are, and where they are located within the diamond. The fewer and smaller the inclusions, the more rare and valuable the diamond. It is very rare to find an internally flawless (IF) diamond.
Most of the diamonds look like colourless. However, there are indistinct tone differences. Usually the diamond gets valuable as much colourless as it gets. There are almost none of Colourless diamonds. Also diamonds with distinct colour are also as little as none. On the other hand there diamonds in colours like red, pink, blue and yellow that are called as the "Fancy". The colour of the diamonds are classified from D to Z.
Colour: |
Description: |
D |
Pure White - the most prized colour |
E |
Exceptional white - colourless group |
F |
Excellent white - colourless group |
G |
Good white - colourless group |
H |
White - colourless group |
I |
Slightly tinted white/ white when viewed from top |
J |
Slightly tinted white/ commercial white |
K |
Tinted white/ still acceptable white when mounted |
L |
Tinted white/ needs yellow setting to look its best |
M |
Slightly yellowish/Tinted colour-champagne |
N |
Slightly yellowish/Tinted colour-champagne |
O-R |
Yellowish/Tinted colour |
S-Z |
Yellow/Tinted colour |
The weight of a diamond is measured in Carats. 1 Carat equals 0.2 gram and there are 100 points to a carat. Thus a 50 point diamond is half a carat (0.50ct) and weights 0.1 gram. A Grain, no longer used, is accepted to be 0.050 grams. Many dealers still use the terms a grainer meaning 0.25ct, two grainer - half carat, six grainer- 1.5 carats etc.There is an approximate relationship between weight and diameter of a round brilliant cut diamond. This is useful when trying to estimate the size of a diamond.
Weight: |
Size (diameter): |
Weight: pts (diameter): |
Weight: fractions |
0.05ct |
1.00mm |
5pts |
1/20th |
0.10ct |
3.00mm |
10pts |
1/10th |
0.20ct |
3.85mm |
20pts |
1/5th |
0.25ct |
4.10mm |
25pts |
1/4 |
0.33ct |
4.55mm |
33pts |
1/3rd |
0.40ct |
4.80mm |
40pts |
|
0.50ct |
5.15mm |
50pts |
1/2 |
0.66ct |
5.72mm |
66pts |
2/3 |
0.75ct |
6.00mm |
75pts |
3/4 |
0.90ct |
6.40mm |
90pts |
|
1.00ct |
6.65mm |
100pts |
1 carat |
1.50ct |
7.50mm |
150pts |
1 1/2 |
2.00ct |
8.10mm |
200pts |
2 carats |