Diamond Ratings: Color, Clarity, Cut, and
Carat Weight

Are you tired of dull jewelry with no luster? When was the last time your jewelry stood out more than your dress? Settling for second best?

Maybe it’s time that your jewelry collection gets the attention it deserves. A fabulous platinum 3-sided diamond eternity band, or a glorious 14k white gold necklace with a multi-circle diamond pendant center is what your collection needs.

When looking for quality diamonds, whether loose diamonds or even wholesale diamonds, there are a few hard-and-fast buying rules that you should know of.

The best place to start to find yourself a good diamond would be to explore what is known as the four C's. Loosely, what this means is color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. These factors contribute to the beauty and value of a diamond. So, whether you are looking for a ring, necklace or even a bracelet, you can be sure to get the very best deal.

Color: Contrary to popular belief diamonds are not truly colorless, but it’s the colorless, or sometimes called the white, which are diamonds that other shades are judged against. The diamond is defined by a grade, starting at (d-e-f) which is colorless going up to (s-t-u-v-w-x-y-z), which is a tinted diamond, usually visibly yellow to the naked eye.

Irradiation and heat treatment can turn a brown and yellow diamond into a colored beauty; this color is usually permanent and more effective than older techniques that were once used. A naturally colored diamond is very expensive and should come with a certificate!!

The color of a diamond affects its price, but it is not the only quality in a diamond you should look for...

Clarity: This term is used to describe the clearness of the diamond; to find yourself a rock with perfect clarity is rare and expensive. Clarity tells you whether your diamond has flaws present or if they are absent. The categories your diamond could fall into are:

(F) Flawless - no internal or external inclusions.

(IF) Internally Flawless - no internal inclusions, slight external inclusions.

(VVS1 & VVS2) which means Very, Very Slightly included.

(VS1 & VS2) which means Very Slightly included.

(SI1 & SI2) which means Slightly Included

(I1, I2 & I3) which means Inclusions are obvious. This is something which even the best of jewelers can have trouble with and it can have an effect on the...

Cut: This tells us about the shape and proportions of a diamond. The cut of a diamond is essential to its beauty. If the cut is poor, even if the color and clarity are superb, the diamond will lack that famous sparkle they are known for.

Carat: This tells you how much your diamond weighs.

(ct) is the weight of a single stone.

(ct TW) refers to the Total Weight of multiple stones.

(points) refer to the carat definition for a smaller diamond.

There are 100 points in a carat, so a 0.25 carat stone would be 25 points (1/4 carat).

Once you have the diamond you want, you can make it look bigger than it really is!

Here are a few techniques to purchase a gemstone that looks bigger than its real carat and weight:

Go for a fancy shape: These diamonds usually look larger than round ones of the same weight, especially elongated shapes such as the oval, marquise and pear.

Try a pave setting: This setting looks like a continuous surface of diamonds, but is really only made up of small diamonds set alongside each other into little holes; their surfaces nearly level with the setting. Tiny beads are made from the surrounding metal to hold the diamonds in place. So what happens is that it becomes difficult to distinguish one stone from another, making you think the wedding ring has larger stones than it really does!

How about an illusion setting? The diamond is mounted to a mirror-like plate before it is set into the band, making it seem larger, with more brilliance. The only downside is that repair can be a little difficult.

What about a bezel set diamond? The diamond is placed in a bezel setting, the stone encircled by a rim. White gold or platinum will work and enhance a white diamond, making it appear bigger. A bezel setting in yellow gold can throw a yellowish tint onto the diamond.

Now that you have insight into the jargon and styles you find when buying a diamond, searching for the best possible diamond for your budget should be a piece of cake — or even a carat!

About The Author:
Kalwant Rana is a business writer and jewelry enthusiast providing valuable tips and useful advice for online purchasers. Visit http://www.first-for-jewelry.com for more information.