4 Cs of Diamonds
We are gemologist, and diamonds are our specialty. We want our customers
to know about them too, and the first thing to know is the "four Cs". These
are the characteristics of diamonds as graded and categorized by the diamond industry.
This GIA grading system is used worldwide and is the criteria all reputable jewelers use. A Wannemacher trained jeweler or gemologist would be happy
to explain the system in detail, but here is an overview:
Clarity
A clarity grade is determined by the amount of inclusions that are in or on the diamond, and by the size, color, and location of these inclusions or blemishes. Inclusions can be other minerals, cracks, feathers or anything trapped inside
when the diamond was formed millions of years ago.
Color
Color is really the absences of color so you have a beautiful white diamond.
Color does not mean different hues but the amount of yellowish or grayish tint
in the stone. Color is determined with laboratory graded stones of known color
to compare and see where they fit into the color grading system.
Cut
A round diamond can be cut to ideal proportions so the facets on the stone mathematically work out to produce the most light back to your eye from the stone. This is the most expensive way to cut a diamond, and any variance from this will produce less light or distorted light from the stone and will cost less to
cut.
Compare the cut by asking a Wannemacher jeweler for the dimensions of the diamond you’re interested in and see how close it comes to ideal proportions, which are listed in the diagram below. Fancy shaped diamonds (marquise,
pears, ovals, etc.) have there own standards to meet such as length to width ratio, total depth, pavilion depth, etc. A Wannemacher gemologist would be
happy to explain these to you.
A carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. Because large diamonds are found less commonly than small diamonds, the price of a diamond rises exponentially to its size.
