| The diamond is the hardest substance in nature | | | | bottom. A well-proportioned diamond emphasizes |
| known to man, yet it is a gemstone of the | | | | its natural beauty and brilliance. |
| simplest composition. | | | | 2. Color - the color of a diamond varies from |
| It is a mineral made up of carbon atoms formed | | | | shades of yellow to the higher quality and more |
| into a crystalline lattice arrangement. Its modern | | | | uncommon colorless types. |
| popularity is owed to the discovery of huge | | | | A diamond's color is graded, D being the highest |
| diamond deposits in southern and central Africa | | | | for the perfectly colorless stones, to grade Z, |
| during the 1800s and since then has become a | | | | which has tints of yellow in the piece. |
| gemstone to be coveted even by ordinary | | | | There are some that are also called fancies, |
| people. | | | | available in brighter hues of blue, pink, yellow, |
| When obtaining or buying a diamond, the industry | | | | green, purple and even red. These types, although |
| has standards to which a diamond's worth and | | | | colored, are more rare and much more |
| value can be measured. | | | | expensive. |
| Although there are other factors of a diamond | | | | 3. Clarity - like our own fingerprints, no two |
| piece that experts consider, like its symmetry, | | | | diamonds are alike. This is because diamonds have |
| table percentage, and fluorescence, to determine | | | | inclusions, tiny internal flaws of non-crystallized |
| its value, consumers usually learn about the four | | | | carbon that are mostly invisible to a human eye. |
| Cs beforehand as a starting point. | | | | These inclusions affect a diamond's clarity, which |
| These are Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. | | | | is the degree in which light passes through the |
| 1. Cut - the cut of a diamond actually pertains to | | | | stone. Blemishes can also appear after the cutting |
| both its shape and how well the diamond is | | | | process and can affect clarity. |
| formed in relation to its proportions and polish. | | | | Clarity grades range from internally flawless to |
| This factor of a diamond defers from all the | | | | imperfect. |
| others, as it is the only one that is determined by | | | | 4. Carat - pertains to a diamond's weight and is |
| human hands. Nature is responsible for a | | | | measured in increments called points, 100 points |
| diamond's color, clarity and carat, but only an | | | | being equal to one carat. |
| expert cutter can make a rough diamond achieve | | | | Since larger diamonds are rare, the value of a |
| its most beautiful form. | | | | 2-carat diamond is priced higher than that of 2 |
| As for the shape of a diamond, there are 8 | | | | 1-carat diamonds of the same quality. |
| major shapes, which include round, marquise, | | | | A diamond's carat is the easiest to measure since |
| emerald, pear, princess, oval, radiant, and heart. | | | | it is determined on a diamond scale. Its weight |
| The round shape is the most popular and readily | | | | also does not necessarily reflect its size, since a |
| available in any possible size and quality. | | | | diamond can be cut in a way that makes its |
| If a diamond is cut too shallow or deep, it losses | | | | discernible top surface. |
| its brilliance by the light leaking at the side of | | | | |