The 4Cs are the key characteristics of diamonds: carat, cut, color and clarity . Taking a few minutes now to learn about them will make your purchasing experience smarter, easier and more enjoyable. Not only will you know the exact quality of the diamond you're considering, but you'll be confident that you're paying a fair market price for it. The 4Cs give you the information you need to compare the characteristics of diamonds within one jewelry store or from one store to the next.
Diamond characteristic number one – Carat
A diamond's size is measured in carat weight. (Big rock equals many carats). Each diamond carat is also equal to 100 points. For example, a diamond that is a 1/2 carat can also be referred to as a 50-point diamond. But keep this in mind : bigger isn't necessarily better. A two-carat diamond that is cut poorly is not nearly as beautiful as a smaller diamond, cut by a skilled diamond artisan. Or, it may be cut well, but have poor color and clarity. The point is, to be exceptionally beautiful, a diamond must be of high quality in all 4Cs.
Click and hold mouse cursor on red pointer and slide pointer horizontally to view.
Nearly 250 tons of ore must be mined and processed in order to create a single, one-carat diamond – just one of the reasons diamonds are so precious! At Leo Schachter, we begin with rough stones as large as 150 carats to determine the optimal number of smaller-carat finished diamonds that can be crafted. And often, more than half of the rough diamond will simply not survive the artisans' polishing process. It becomes diamond dust.
Diamond characteristic number two – Cut
People commonly refer to the shape of a diamond as the cut (round diamonds, princess cut diamonds, marquise cut diamonds, oval diamonds, pear-shaped diamonds, emerald cut diamonds, radiant cut diamonds, heart-shaped and Asscher cut diamonds). But cut really is the craftsmanship applied in cutting the facets of the stone. The artisan attempts to cut a diamond to make the best use of light.
When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is refracted from one facet to another, then dispersed through the top of the diamond. When a diamond is cut too deep, some light escapes through the opposite side of the diamond. If the diamond is cut too shallow, light escapes through the bottom of the stone before it can be reflected. In addition, the facets must be placed with precise symmetry for maximum brilliance.
Click and hold mouse cursor on red pointer and slide pointer horizontally to view.
Cut is perhaps the most important of the 4Cs to consider. A well cut diamond – regardless of its shape, sparkles, has more fire and offers the greatest brilliance . If a stone is cut poorly, it will appear less valuable because it will lack fire, scintillation, brilliance and, therefore, beauty.
The art of diamond cutting has evolved thanks to state-of-the-art technology and innovation. A modern diamond cut, such as the patented Leo Diamond®, delivers measurably more brilliance than other diamonds of similar quality and grading. An estate diamond cut may have value because of its age and vintage design, but may not capture and reflect light as beautifully as a modern cut diamond.
Color is the natural body color visible in a diamond and is the one C determined completely by nature, not man. As a rule, the closer a diamond is to colorless, the more valuable and beautiful it is. Diamond colors appear in a range. Color grades D, E and F are considered colorless, making them rare.
Click and hold mouse cursor on red pointer and slide pointer horizontally to view.
However, even more rare than the colorless are the fancy colored diamonds. These diamonds are beyond the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) color scale. There are well defined colors that include pink, canary yellow, blue and green…highly priced, extremely rare, major showpieces!
Diamond characteristic number four – Clarity
Clarity is an indication of a diamond's purity. When a rough stone is extracted from carbon, deep beneath the earth, tiny traces of natural elements are almost always trapped inside. These elements are called inclusions, though sometimes referred to as birthmarks, because they are formed naturally and are unique to each stone.
Leo Schachter's highly skilled artisans painstakingly examine each rough stone to determine how to cut it in order to eliminate or reduce inclusions. Their objective: to bring you a diamond of the highest clarity possible.
Because most inclusions are not visible to the naked eye, a jeweler will use a magnifier known as a loupe to reveal a diamond's inclusions.
Which of the characteristics of diamonds is most important?
While you may have certain preferences when it comes to diamonds, all 4Cs should be taken into account before you make your purchase . In the end, if you want a larger diamond , you may prefer a diamond of higher carat weight but lower on the color scale. If beauty is more important , you may want a smaller, colorless stone for the same price.
Whether large or small, cut is critical since releasing a diamond's maximum potential for beauty and brilliance is an art accomplished only by superior diamond artisans. So which of the characteristics of diamonds is most important? The choice is yours, but make it an educated one.
Other factors to consider when choosing a diamond are:
If you select a branded diamond, such as The Leo Diamond, there is a specific quality standard that must be met or exceeded by each stone that bears The Leo name. Anything less, could not be called a Leo Diamond.
Size does matter! More guys presented their brides-to-be with diamond engagement rings of a carat or larger main center stone last year than in years before.
