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