From a favorite pair of earrings to that momentous engagement ring, chances are that you'll either purchase or own diamond jewelry in your lifetime. Everyone knows that diamonds are big investments, but most people don't know why they're so expensive. A diamond's price is based on its grading, or quality evaluation, in which an appraiser looks at the 4Cs. They are color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. The Gemological Institute of America created the 4C system, and evaluating each of the Cs is a process in itself. Before you financially commit to a stone, check out our beginners guide to diamond grading.  

Diamond Color Grading

#NeilLane has been the go-to celebrity #engagementring designer since the 1980’s, creating rings for stars like Demi Moore, Amy Purdy and Jennifer Hudson, among others. Guest blogger Dawn Moore interviewed the designer to learn how he got his start in the jewelry industry and where he draws inspiration for his engagement ring designs. Visit link in bio. ⏫ Courtesy: Neil Lane

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  For standard white diamonds, a good color rating actually means the absence of color. The more colorless the diamond, the more transparent it is. More transparency means more brilliance or sparkle. Fancy colors (like pink or canary yellow) are exceptions to the standard color rating system. These colored stones can be a lot more pricey than standard white diamonds. In their natural states, diamonds are a cloudy white color, created by compression approximately 100 miles beneath the Earth's crust. It takes between 1 and 3 billion years for diamonds to form naturally, and they ascend to the surface through a series of subterranean shifts. Their transparent brilliance is revealed during the cutting process.  

Diamond Cut Grading

Which #diamond shape expresses your unique style? 💎

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A diamond cut refers to a diamonds specific proportions. Cut affects how well a diamond interacts with light, and it's defined by three attributes: brightness, fire, and scintillation. Brightness refers to how much light passes through. Fire alludes to the colors of the rainbow that the diamond refracts. Scintillation is how much sparkle the stone has.  Some diamond cuts are more popular than others, and it changes with trends. Currently, the three most popular cuts are round, princess, and emerald.  

Diamond Clarity Grading

An old mine cut #diamond could be the perfect choice for an antique-style #engagementring! Learn about the unique qualities of this historic diamond cut on our blog: 4Csblog.gia.edu Photo: Orasa Weldon/GIA A post shared by GIA (@giagrams) on Aug 10, 2016 at 9:18am PDT

Clarity refers to inclusions, or imperfections, in a diamond. Think about it, diamonds are natural stones that grow under tons of pressure, so it's natural to develop internal imperfections. A flawless clarity rating means that there are no imperfections, which makes the diamond really rare and adds to its price tag. Clarity is rated on a scale of Flawless to Included. Flawless diamonds are the best possible rating, with no inclusions. Very Very Slightly Included (VVS), Very Slightly Included (VS), and Slightly Included (SI) diamonds might have visible imperfections, but the overall beauty of the stone isn't effected. The beauty and durability of Included (I) stones, however, can be moderately to severely affected.  

Diamond Carat Weight

Fun Fact #Friday: Just as a dollar is divided into 100 pennies, a carat is divided into 100 points. Photo: Robert Weldon/GIA. Courtesy: Letšeng Diamonds

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  Carat weight is the weight and size of a diamond. The bigger it is, the more rare and expensive it is, and diamond prices have larger jumps at each quarter carat interval (.25 carat, .50 carat, etc). Buying just below a full quarter carat can save a significant amount of money. For example, a .48 carat diamond may cost only slightly less than a .49 carat diamond, but a .49 carat diamond will cost a lot less than a .50 carat diamond. The chart below is a quick reference for the 4C diamond grading system and types of cuts. 

Conflict-Free Diamonds

Conflict-free diamonds are those that are mined without any connection to child labor, violence, or exploitation. In the past decade, consumers have increasingly sought conflict-free diamonds from jewelry retailers. Conflict-free certifications vary, and one of the most popular is the Kimberly Process.  

Synthetic and Artificially Colored Diamonds

Synthetic and artificially colored diamonds are relatively new. Synthetic diamonds are lab-made, while artificially colored diamonds have colored coatings. Many people opt for synthetic stones as lower price point options, and in many cases an appraisal (or advanced scientific testing) is the only way to differentiate natural and synthetic stones. Our Lead Certified Gemologist recommends getting an appraisal from a GIA-trained (Gemological Institute of America) professional before purchasing a diamond.   Do you have any questions about diamonds? Let us know, we'd be happy to help!   Image Credits: Feature image: courtesy of TVZ Design via Flickr Diamond chart: By HenriSormus (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons