| Cut | Color | Clarity | Carat-Weight |
When we speak of cut we are more interested in the proportions of
the diamond as opposed to its shape (Round Brilliant, Marquise, Pear,
Princess, etc.) Every diamond regardless of its shape gets it brilliancy
and scintillation by cutting and polishing the diamond facets to allow
the maximum amount of light that enters through its top to be reflected
and dispersed back through its top. A correctly cut, "well made", stone
is pictured in diagram 1. As you can see if the angles are correct the
light that enters is dispersed properly back through the diamond's top
facets. When a stone is cut too shallow (diagram2) or too deep (diagram3)
the light that enters through the top is allowed to escape through the
diamond's bottom and does not allow the maximum beauty of the diamond to
be realized.
The best color for a diamond is no color at all. A totally
colorless diamond allows light to pass through it easily, resulting in
the light being dispersed as the color of the rainbow. Colors are graded
totally colorless to light yellow. The differences from one grade to the
other are very subtle and it takes a trained eye and years of experience
to color grade a diamond.
Most diamonds contain very tiny birthmarks known as "inclusions."
An inclusion can interfere with the light passing through the diamond.
The fewer the inclusions, the more beautiful the diamond will be.
Diamonds have the capability of producing more brilliance than any
other gemstone. A diamond that is free of inclusions and surface blemishes
is very rare…and therefore very valuable.
This
is the weight of a diamond measured in carats. As the carat weight of a
diamond increases so does its rarity and therefore its price.
One carat is divided into 100 "points," so that a diamond of 75 points
weights .75 carats. The carat-weight of a diamond is the easiest measurement
to determine. Most importantly, two diamonds can be of equal carat-weight,
but their value can differ greatly due to their cut, color, and clarity.
Don't rush into your diamond purchase. Take your time and evaluate your choice carefully. It took billions (yes, billions) of years for nature to form your diamond and the skill of a master diamond cutter to bring your diamond to you. The time you spend now can bring you a lifetime of pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness.
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