March 09, 2017 4 min read
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.
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.Which #diamond shape expresses your unique style? 💎
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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.
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.
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