The 4Cs
Discover the combination that will lead you to your dream diamond.
CUT
CARAT
CLARITY
COLOUR
The Diamond you have always wanted
Diamonds. The oldest and most precious of gemstone in all of creation. Born in the fiery depths of the earth millions of years ago; today known as a ‘girl’s best friend’. For centuries, these beautiful and mysterious gifts from nature have been stealing the hearts of women around the world. Perhaps, you are one of them. If so, you would have already discovered their magic sparkle and brilliance- unique qualities th at makes it so hard to resist owning a diamond yourself. The best thing about diamonds is that they can be found in a wide selection of shapes, sizes and most importantly, prices. No matter what your preference is or how much you plan to splurge, you are bound to discover a diamond that is just right for you. The question is, how do you go about searching for the diamond of your dreams?
A jeweller is an expert who can help you select the right diamond. Dependable jewellers who establish long-standing relationships with customers take pride in finding a diamond that suits their preference and budget. A good jeweller should be both knowledgeable and generous with advice and help - someone who will show you a selection of diamonds and carefully explaining the differences and helping you understand the four key characteristics of a diamond – Cut, Carat, Clarity and Colour. That is also known as the 4Cs.
While nature determines a diamond’s carat weight, clarity and colour, the skill of a master cutter can reveal its true brilliance, fire and ultimately, it’s beauty. A well-cut diamond, regardless of it’s shape offers the greatest brilliance and scintillates with its fiery lights. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is internally reflected from one mirror-like facet to another and then dispersed through the top of the stone. This results in a breath-taking display of its natural brilliance and personality. Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow, lose some of their light which escapes through its base. Hence, a perfectly cut diamond would be more brilliant and more valuable.
Cut - For brilliance, sparkle and fire
Carat - A diamond’s weight and size
A diamond’s weight is measured in carats. One carat is divided into 100 points, so a diamond of 0.50 carat is described as a diamond of 50 points. While carat is the easiest one of the 4Cs to determine, it is worth nothing that two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different values depending on other qualities such as cut, clarity and colour. While selecting a diamond, simply look for the size of diamond that suits you best.
Clarity - A diamond’s personal identity
Every diamond is unique. Almost all diamonds contain natural ‘birthmarks’ in the form of minute traces of other minerals or non-crystallised carbon, referred to as internal characteristics. The number, colour, type and size of these characteristics determined the clarity of a diamond that make each diamond unique. In fact, for most diamonds graded VS and above, none of the internal characteristics are visible to the naked eye. The fewer and smaller the internal characteristics, the less they will interfere with the passage of light; allowing the diamond to sparkle more brilliantly.
Colour - A range of natural hues
While most diamonds appear white, the colour of a diamond is classified ranging from ‘Exceptional White+’ to ‘Tinted’, and graded from D right through the alphabet order. As you will see from the accompanying colour grading chart, it is only with diamonds graded from M-Z that the tint becomes recognisable.
Shapes – One for everyone
Diamonds are cut into a number of shapes depending on the nature of the uncut stone. Though the round brilliant is the most popular, there is still a wide variety of other popular shapes as can be seen below. Most who are buying a diamond for the first time would often take a preference to the most classic shape of all – round. Other diamond lovers have special preferences based on what they think suits them best. Ultimately, the shape you choose is a matter of individual preference. If you are not able to decide which shape suits you best, try collecting a few different ones as most diamond owners do!
