How to Buy
Choosing your diamond. The four Cs you need to know!
Buying that perfect diamond can be a daunting task. Prepare yourself by understanding the importance of the four Cs!
The 4Cs are used worldwide to classify the rarity of diamonds and their quality. Diamonds with the combination of the highest 4C ratings are considered rarest and as such most expensive. The four C’s include cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.
- The cut of a diamond has a tremendous affect on its brilliance. Even if the diamond has perfect color and clarity, a poor cut can make a diamond look dull. The brilliance of a diamond depends heavily on its proportions and how it is cut. “Ideal Cut” diamonds are of greatest value.
- In terms of clarity, most diamonds contain minor flaws, or inclusions. The visibility, number and size of these inclusions affect their clarity. Diamonds that are clear create more brilliance, and thus are more highly prized, and priced.
- Diamond color is also of critical importance. Colorless diamonds are the most desirable since they allow the most refraction of light (sparkle). Off-white diamonds absorb light, thereby inhibiting their brilliance.
- Finally, carat weight (size) is another key factor. Bigger is not always better as diamonds of equal carat weight can have very unequal value, depending on their cut, color and clarity. However, because large diamonds are found less commonly than small diamonds, the price of a diamond rises exponentially to its weight.
