| There are various criteria you need to | | | | diamonds can be graded more precisely, as |
| consider when buying a piece of diamond | | | | each number represents levels within each |
| jewellery like diamond engagement rings for | | | | grade. The 1s will have fewer or smaller |
| example. These qualities are the four C's - | | | | inclusions than the 2s. |
| the cut, the clarity, the colour and the | | | | |
| carat. | | | | Diamonds with no inclusions are referred to |
| | | | as flawless and are extremely rare. |
| The cut of the diamond refers to the angles | | | | |
| and proportions that diamond cutters create | | | | Traditionally diamond engagement rings and |
| in the stone to polish it and maximise its | | | | wedding rings use clear diamonds. The closer |
| brilliance and is the only one of the | | | | a diamond is to being completely colourless, |
| diamond's defining qualities that is not | | | | the more valuable it becomes. |
| created by nature. | | | | |
| | | | Diamond colour is judged on a scale |
| A classic round cut diamond is cut to 58 | | | | established by the Gemological Institute of |
| facets. Diamonds can also be marquise, heart, | | | | America (GIA) and the range is from D |
| emerald, princess, pear and oval shaped. A | | | | (colourless and therefore extremely |
| poorly cut diamond, either cut too deep or | | | | valuable). |
| too shallow, will allow the light to escape | | | | |
| and it will not sparkle as effectively. | | | | A diamond's value is not judged by its size |
| | | | but by its weight. A diamond's weight is |
| The clarity of a diamond is judged by the | | | | measured in carats, and one carat equals one |
| quantity, size, position, colour, release and | | | | fifth of a gram, or 200 milligrams. The word |
| shape of its inclusions. The fewer the | | | | comes from the plant carob - in ancient |
| inclusions, the greater the quality and | | | | civilisations carob seeds were used to |
| corresponding value of a diamond. | | | | compare weight with diamonds. |
| | | | |
| The range of clarity is divided into grades. | | | | Not all diamonds of the same carat will cost |
| IF (Internally Flawless) means the diamond | | | | the same - the quality of the other three |
| has no visible characteristics under | | | | c's, the cut, clarity and colour, all have to |
| magnification, or that no flaws are visible. | | | | be the same also. |
| VVS means that the diamond is Very, Very | | | | |
| Slightly Included, VS1/2 means that minor | | | | The fact that a diamond is large should only |
| characteristics are visible under | | | | be considered in terms of the other c's - a |
| magnification, SI1/SI2 means that the diamond | | | | large stone of poor cut, clarity and colour |
| is slightly included, or that characteristics | | | | will not be worth more because of its size. A |
| are visible under magnification, and I1, I2 | | | | large stone of excellent cut, clarity and |
| and I3 mean that characteristics are visible | | | | colour though will be worth more than a |
| with the naked eye. The numbers mean that the | | | | smaller diamond are more rare. |