| To celebrate, to commemorate, to reward, to | | | | the same inclusions, they can help identify |
| romance...there are many reasons to buy a | | | | individual stones. And thirdly, they provide |
| diamond. When making an investment in jewelry, | | | | scientists with valuable information about how |
| especially diamonds, it is important to employ the | | | | diamonds are formed. Cut Many think of cut as |
| 4 Cs: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat weight to | | | | the shape and style of a polished diamond, but it |
| ensure value and appreciation. The Gemological | | | | also refers to a value factor - the proportions, |
| Institute of America established the 4 Cs of | | | | symmetry and finish of a diamond, often called |
| diamond value to help diamond professionals | | | | "make" in the diamond trade. A diamond with a |
| describe and classify diamonds. When taken | | | | "good make" is bright, fiery, symmetrical and |
| together, the 4 Cs help in evaluating a finished | | | | sparkles with the light. There is more than one |
| diamond. Color Many people think of diamonds as | | | | way of cutting a diamond to make the most of |
| colorless, but in reality, truly colorless diamonds | | | | its optical properties. Cutting a diamond to |
| are quite rare. Most diamonds used in jewelry are | | | | produce the maximum return of light depends on |
| nearly colorless with faint yellow or brown tints. | | | | the relationship between three critical proportions - |
| Such nearly colorless diamonds fall in the normal | | | | table size, crown angle and pavilion depth. Jewelry |
| color range and are graded by their relative lack | | | | makers can combine these in a variety of ways |
| of color. In fact, a diamond that is considered to | | | | to yield equally bright round brilliant cut diamonds. |
| have "fine color" has little or no visible coloration. | | | | Bottom line: a well-cut diamond will direct more |
| The grading system ranges from color "D," which | | | | light through the crown, or top of the diamond. |
| indicates a rare colorless diamond, to color "Z," | | | | Carat Weight The carat weight of a diamond has |
| with yellow characteristics. Diamonds outside the | | | | to do with the basic measuring unit of diamonds. |
| normal color range are called "fancy-colored" and | | | | One carat equals .200 grams (or 200 milligrams) |
| come in virtually any color imaginable. Red and | | | | Some weights are considered "magic sizes" - half |
| green are the rarest fancy colors, followed by | | | | carat, three-quarter carat. While visually there's |
| purple, violet, blue, orange and pink. Yellow and | | | | little difference between a 0.99 carat diamond and |
| greenish-yellow diamonds are more common, but | | | | one that weighs a full carat, the price differences |
| still considerably rarer than diamonds within the | | | | between the two can be significant. The aspect |
| normal color range. Clarity Like color, clarity is a | | | | of carat weight that surprises people is the |
| key factor in determining a diamond's value. | | | | relationship between rarity, weight and value. It is |
| Diamonds have internal features called "inclusions," | | | | not always easy to understand why a 2-carat |
| as well as surface irregularities, termed | | | | diamond might be worth more than twice as |
| "blemishes." Together, inclusions and blemishes are | | | | much as a 1-carat diamond of similar clarity, cut |
| referred to as clarity characteristics. Clarity is the | | | | and color. The concept is pretty simple: Large |
| relative absence of clarity characteristics. | | | | diamonds are rarer than small diamonds. The |
| Blemishes refer to the cuts or nicks on the | | | | scarcer a diamond is, the higher its worth. So a |
| outside of the diamond, while inclusions occur | | | | larger stone doesn't just cost more, it also costs |
| inside the diamond, such as mineral crystals | | | | more per carat. |
| trapped inside the diamond. While some clarity | | | | Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of |
| characteristics may have a negative influence on | | | | Pandora Jewelry. Pandora bracelets, Pandora |
| diamond value, some can have a positive effect | | | | charms and Pandora beads are only a part of the |
| as well. Firstly, they help gemologists separate | | | | collection. For more information, Lewis Jewelers, |
| diamonds from lab-created diamond simulants. | | | | 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, |
| Secondly, because no two diamonds have exactly | | | | 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit the website. |