| Anyone who has even tried to buy a diamond | | | | diamond, and the S,T,U,V, W,X,Y and Z letters |
| has probably heard of the four c's of a diamond. | | | | stand for a light yellow diamond. |
| So, what exactly are the four c's and why do the | | | | Cut - the beauty of the diamond is to a large |
| matter so much for the person who buy the | | | | extent, derived from the quality of it's cut. An |
| diamond? Well, the 4c's determine the quality of | | | | ideal cut will reflect most of the light that hits the |
| the diamond and therefore - it's worth. Let's take | | | | diamond, thus causing it to shine and look very |
| a closer look at these four quality parameters and | | | | beautiful. A poor cut will make the diamond look |
| understand them a little better: | | | | lifeless and in many cases a small diamond that |
| Clarity - describes the clearness or purity of a | | | | has an ideal cut will look much better that a bigger |
| diamond. It is determined by the number, size an | | | | diamond with a shallow or a heavy cut. In many |
| shape of the flows, or imperfections, inside and | | | | cases, the cut has a great effect on the |
| outside the diamond. The clarity is expressed by a | | | | diamond's price. One might ask - if the cut is so |
| scale of clarity level. The highest level is F - which | | | | important, why aren't all the diamonds cut in a |
| means "flawless" diamond (very rare). On the | | | | prefect way? The answer to that is that the |
| other side of the scale there's the I3 clarity | | | | rough diamond doesn't always allow the diamond |
| degree, which indicates a diamond with very | | | | cutter to cut it in an idea way because rough |
| notable imperfections. The scale goes from I3, to | | | | diamonds are found in different shapes and sizes. |
| I2, I1, SI2, SI1, VS2, VS1, VVS2, VVS1, IF and | | | | Carat - The weight of the diamond. 1 carat equal |
| finally - F. Be aware that the clarity level of a | | | | to 0.20 grams. A carat is also sub divided into |
| diamond may change over time for many | | | | points, where 100 equals 1 carat. The size of a |
| reasons. | | | | single diamond adds to it's worth, so 2 half-carat |
| Color - The color of a diamond is another factor | | | | diamonds taken together will not cost as much as |
| that should be looked at when determining it's | | | | 1 one-carat diamond. This is due to the fact that |
| worth. Not all diamonds are clear in color, and | | | | the one-carat stone is more rare. |
| some have a yellowish color to them. The color | | | | After the 4 c's are evaluated, the diamond's price |
| scale starts at D,E,F,G,H and I levels, which | | | | can be calculated. Of course, diamond's value is |
| represent colorless (transparent) diamond, D being | | | | also effected by the market - if there is a great |
| the most colorless. After that, J,K and L | | | | demand to certain diamonds, their price may go |
| represent a diamond which is near colorless. M, | | | | up beyond their "on paper" value. |
| N,O,P,Q and R represent a faint light yellow | | | | |