The 4 C’s of Diamonds: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat

Cut:

The cut of a diamond measures how it has been altered and polished throughout the process of transforming it from a rough stone into a finished product. Among other things, the cut takes into account the workmanship involved, as well as the angles to which it has been manipulated. The cut is important because it directly impacts the brilliance and fire of a diamond, and thus its value.

Clarity:

The clarity of a diamond measures the inclusions, or internal defects, and the blemishes, or surface defects, of a stone. Structural imperfections, including tiny cracks that appear cloudy or whitish, or the presence of foreign elements such as other diamond crystals can decrease the value of a stone. Likewise, blemishes like grain boundaries and polish lines can also affect a stone’s value.

	IF :: Internally Flawless An expert will not see any blemishes or inclusions under 10 power magnification.
	VVS1-VVS2 :: Very Very Slightly Included An expert will see minute inclusions with difficulty under 10 power magnification.
	VS1-VS2 :: Very Slightly Included Contains minute inclusions noticeable with effort under 10 power magnification.
	SII-SI2 :: Slightly Included Contains inclusions noticeable under 10 power magnification. The grade will vary depending on the size and location of the inclusion.
	I :: Included Contains inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.

Color:

The color of a diamond measures the amount of a hue detectable in a stone. In most, but not all cases, the more colorless or transparent a stone, the more valuable it is; conversely, the more noticeable a hue, particularly light yellow, the less valuable it is. There are notable exceptions to this rule, however, such as the Hope Diamond, which is of a deep blue color.

Carat:

The carat of a diamond measures the weight of the stone, with one carat equaling exactly 200 milligrams, or about 0.007 ounce. The price of a stone per carat increases with the size of a stone; the larger the stone, the more expensive it is per carat. As a result, larger stones can be worth exponentially more than smaller ones.