Diamond Quality

Known as the 4Cs, the quality of a diamond is primarily determined by its carat, clarity, colour and cut.

Carat Weight

Carat simply refers to the weight of the diamond.

1 carat (ct) weighs 200 milligrams. 1 carat is divided up into 100 points, 0.50ct = 50 points, 0.25ct = 25points.

The term carat comes from the carob seeds of the carob tree which give a very consistent weight which early merchants were able to use as a counter weight.

Clarity

Diamond clarity is a qualitative metric that grades the visual appearance of each diamond. The fewer inclusions and blemishes the diamond has, the better the clarity grade. While the clarity can significantly impact a diamond’s value, imperfections typically can’t be recognized by the naked or unaided eye.

FL-IF

Flawless or Internally Flawless. No internal inclusions.

VVS1-VVS2

Very Very Small inclusions. Very difficult to detect under 10x magnification.

VS1-VS2

Very Small inclusions. Can be seen under 10x magnification and in some cases to the naked eye.

SI1-SI2

Small inclusions. Can be seen under 10x magnification and may be visible to the naked eye.

I1-I2-I3

Imperfect. Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification and in most cases to the naked eye.

Cut

Cut refers to how well the stone has been transformed from the rough source material. Its proportions are carefully studied before work begins because as the diagram below shows if the stone is cut too shallow, light will leak out, whereas if the stone is cut too deep light will not circulate and 'dead' zones will appear.

Colour

Colour in a diamond refers to the absence of colour within a diamond. The more colour observed within a stone the further down the colour scale it moves. The scale runs from D to Z for colourless stones. With 'D' being completely free of any colour to 'Z' showing strong yellow hues.