When we talk about diamonds, there’s always talk of the 4 Cs—cut, color, clarity, and carat. A high-quality cut is paramount, but the 4 Cs interact with one another. When shopping for a diamond ring, you want to balance these characteristics to get the best value, based on what your priorities are of course.
Cut
A stone’s cut encompasses the quality of the diamond’s angles, proportions, symmetrical facets, and brilliance. It directly impacts the beauty and brilliance of a diamond—a stone with high quality color and clarity can look less brilliant if the cut falls short.
The range of a diamond’s cut values include Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. Of course you want a diamond that maximizes brilliance; here’s what that means more specifically: An ideal cut allows light to enter from the top and allows that beam of brilliance to travel all the way through the stone, back up through the top. A stone with a shallow cut loses light out of the bottom. A stone with too deep a cut loses light out the side.
Color
When it comes to a diamond’s color, it’s actually a lack of color you are looking for. The more absent a stone is of color, the more pure (and valuable) the diamond is. The color spectrum ranges from D (practically clear) to Z (yellowish tint). Smaller stones on, say, a wedding band can sometimes get away with a less pure color, but you still want to be mindful to ensure a brilliant sparkle.
Clarity
It’s important to remember that a diamond is the result of carbon being exposed to extreme heat and lots of pressure. Because of this, diamonds can have a number of inclusions and blemishes. A stone’s clarity derives from the number, size, nature, and position of these natural characteristics. For example, FL is a flawless stone, meaning there are no inclusions and no detectable blemishes. On the other side of the spectrum, I3 stones have obvious inclusions that are visible to a skilled grader. Aim for a stone that has no detectable inclusions or blemishes with the naked eye.
Carat Weight
Many people associate carats with the size of a diamond, but it’s the carat weight that makes the fourth C. Though there’s often a correlation, the shape and cut of a stone can make a diamond with the same carat weight look much bigger or smaller. When shopping for engagement rings, keep in mind carat weight is far from the final factor to a gorgeous ring.
Learn More about Diamonds and the 4 Cs at Rumanoff’s Fine Jewelry
We have a team of dedicated professionals ready to help answer any questions you have on the 4 Cs or any of our stunning bridal collections from a bevy of luxury jewelry designers. Give us a call at 203-230-1199 to set up at an appointment today at our Hamden, Connecticut jewelry store.
