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COLOUR
  • Diamonds are found in almost every colour of the rainbow, but white-coloured diamonds remain the most popular.
  • There are more than 20 subtle grades of colour, identified in alphabetical order from D-Z.
  • Variations are so slight that colours must be graded by an expert under controlled lighting conditions and compared against a master set for accuracy.
  • Those at the upper end of the scale will be more expensive, as they are rarer. However, they are difficult to discern with the naked eye
  • Naturally-occurring features - known as inclusions - provide a special fingerprint within the stone. Usually invisible to the naked eye, these tiny marks are minerals or fractures which appeared while the diamonds were forming in the earth
  • The number, type, colour, size and position of these inclusions can affect the value of a diamond
  • Many can only be seen by a 10-power magnification loupe or stronger
  • Flawless diamonds are rarer and thus more expensive. Small inclusions do not affect the beauty of brilliance of the diamond however


(click on colour to find other gemstones and jewelry)
CARAT
CUT
  • Carat is often mistakenly used to refer to a diamond's size, but it is actually a measure of weight. One carat (equivalent to 200 milligrams) can be divided into 100 "points". A 0.75 carat diamond may also be described as a 75-point or % carat diamond
  • Larger diamonds are found less frequently in nature, so they can command a significantly higher price. For instance, a one carat diamond will cost more than two Vz carat diamonds of equal colour, clarity and cut
  • There are specific "cut of weights" that command a higher price: For instance a 1 carat diamond will command a relatively higher price than a 0.95 carat diamond if all else is equal
  • Cut is the shape and cutting style of a diamond.
  • The cut, polish and proportions of a diamond will determine its appearance.
  • The shape of a diamond is a matter of personal taste, with the round brilliant cut the most popular. Other shapes are the asscher, cushion, emerald, heart, pear, marquise, oval, princess and trilliant



care
  • At least 13 factors affect diamond value, including fluorescence, table percentage, symmetry and other crucial details.
  • The most important factors when determining the quality of a diamond are known as the 4Cs.These are the diamond's carat weight, its cut, its colour and its clarity.
  • The key thing to note is that no one C is more significant than another. A particular combination of the 4 Cs can be chosen to suit a particular budget, occasion, design or jewellery piece.
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