Diamonds - 4C's

Cut:

Many people confuse cut with the shape of the diamond. Most diamonds are cut with a full 58 facets, and a good cut, or make, has more scintillation, more sparkle. The shape of the diamond, however, is largely a matter of personal preference and does not affect the valuue per se. It is the work of a master cutter that allows the diamond to be cut in such a way as to permit the maximum amount of light to be reflected through the diamond. It is the cut that enables a diamond to make the best use of light. 1. when a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the top of the stone. 2. If the cut of the diamond is too deep, some light escapes through the opposite side of the pavilion. 3. If the stone is cut too shallow, light escapes through the pavilion before it can be reflected.

Colour:

The best colour for a diamond is no colour. Beacause it is the totally colourless diamond that acts as a prism, allowing light to pass effortlessly through the diamond and be transformed into rainbows of colour. Colour grading scale from totally colourless to light yellow. The differences between one grade and another are very subtle, as can be seen by the number of grades within and one category.

Clarity:

Diamonds, more than any other gemstone, have the capability to produce the maximum amount of brilliance. And a diamond that is virually free of interior or exterior inclusions (commonly called flaws) is of the highest quality, for nothing interferes with the passage of light through the diamond. To determine a diamond's clarity, it is viewed under a 10-power magnification by a trained eye. Minute inclusions neither mar its beauty nor endanger its durability. However, the clearer the diamond, the clearer your choice.

Carat-Weight:

This is the size of the diamond measured in carats.  One carat is divided into 100 "points", so that a diamond of 75 point weighs .75 carats. Size is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond. But two diamonds of equal size can have very unequal values, depending on their quality. Diamonds of high quality can be found in all size ranges.