Are you currently in the market for a diamond but uncertain where to start? Before making your purchase it’s important to familiarise yourself with the common terms used. APS jewellery has been assisting in unearthing the perfect diamond to suit both your style and budget for over 8 years. To make your diamond purchase easier, we have provided a basic breakdown of the 4CS.
The 4C'S
While looking at a diamond, the quality of the diamond is determined by the 4’CS. The 4C’S is a grading system used as a guideline to dictate both the quality and value of the diamond. These 4 qualities are known as cut, colour, carat, and clarity. The GIA known as the Gemological Institute of America is the most trusted gemological laboratory established at APS, we use their grading system as a determinant in the overall quality. However, it’s important to keep in mind while the 4Cs used in a diamond grading report can be valuable, it does not necessarily determine the overall aesthetic beauty of the diamond. But don’t worry, the team at APS are here to source your dream stone.
Cut:
Firstly, and most importantly, we have the cut of a diamond. The cut of a diamond refers to the symmetry of the stone and how the facets of a diamond interact with light. Achieving a high-quality cut allows the diamond to emanate brilliance and scintillation , conversely, a poor cut diamond will reflect little light resulting in a dull diamond. So, you may be wondering how a diamond produces its sparkle? A well-cut diamond allows light to refract and reflect light within the diamond returning light to your eye. Therefore, having a well-cut stone determines the diamond’s ability to produce sparkle.
Colour:
Often confused with clarity, colour refers to how white or colourless the diamond appears. While appraising colour, the GIA scale ranges from colourless starting at D-F, too near colourless G-J then heading into light or faint yellow from K onwards. At APS we like to stick within the colourless to near colourless range to ensure your diamond looks as white and bright as possible. You may also have heard of coloured diamonds, they can naturally form in an array of colours including, yellow, orange, red, pink, champagne, black and green. Some colours are rarer than others however we are here to help you find the perfect diamond no matter your request.
Imaged Sourced from: https://www.gia.edu/gia-about/4cs-color
Clarity:
Clarity refers to the purity and the level of natural inclusions present in the diamond; it is measured on a scale from Flawless (FL) to Included (I1), which grades the number and position of inclusions in a diamond. Inclusions refer to the imperfections found in most diamonds, they are produced due to heat and pressure or the presence when they are formed in the earth. Therefore, the fewer inclusions, the higher the clarity grade. Though a flawless diamond is rare, it's important to keep in mind inclusions are microscopic and often imperfections can’t be detected by the naked eye and can only be seen using 10x magnification.
Imaged Sourced from: https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/
Carat:
Often mistaken for the size of the diamond, carat refers to the weight of the diamond. It’s important to note two diamonds that have the same carat weight can differ in price dependent on colour, clarity, and cut, therefore carat weight does not define the value of a diamond. A common misperception is that the higher the carat, the more sparkle the diamond will produce, however, it’s important to remember the sparkle is a result of a well-cut diamond.
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