Micky Roof - THE "FOUR Cs" OF DIAMOND QUALITY

The "Four Cs" of Diamond Quality.

Diamond quality has long been expressed in terms of the "Four Cs": CUT, COLOR, CLARITY and CARAT WEIGHT. The better these four characteristics, the more valuable the diamond will be.
CUT
The way a diamond is cut and polished is vital. It is the precision and delicacy of the cut that dictates the maximum amount of light the diamond will refract and reflect. The better it has been cut, the greater will be its brilliance, sparkle and fire.
When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is internally reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the crown, or top, of the diamond. If the cut is too deep, then some light will escape through the opposite side of the pavilion, or bottom, of the diamond. If the cut is too shallow, then some light will escape through the pavilion before it can be reflected.
So a well-cut diamond is comprised of facets with the correct angles, which are perfectly placed to maximize the diamond's brilliance. It is the quality of the cut and its final polish that unlocks the hidden beauty. There are many shapes and sizes of diamonds...but whatever the shape or size, the cut is the only human element. A diamond cut to good proportions will have more value than one which is not.
COLOR
Most diamonds look colorless, but there are many subtle shade differences...and the closer a diamond is to having no color at all, the more valuable it becomes. Why does the color vary? Well, in the chaos of extreme temperature and pressure that first created diamonds, traces of elements such as nitrogen and boron could have been incorporated into the diamond's atomic structure.
It is these traces that give a diamond its color—or lack of it. Diamonds with no hint of color at all are very rare...but also rare are diamonds with strong color, called "fancies." Red, pink and blue are the most prized, but virtually all colors are possible. Most gem quality diamonds, seen on their own, may well appear to be colorless—but usually they do have at least a hint of color, normally yellow or brown due to traces of nitrogen.
CLARITY
Thanks to nature, every diamond is unique. Each one possesses its own individuality. This could be due to minute traces of other minerals trapped during the crystallization process. These natural characteristics, called "inclusions," are better described as nature's fingerprints...and help gemologists determine the age of a diamond. The number, color, nature, size and position of any inclusions determines the clarity of a diamond.
The fewer the inclusions, the rarer it will be graded, and the more light it will reflect...making it more valuable. Since it is very rare to find a diamond that has no inclusions, the closer to flawless it is the greater the value.
CARAT WEIGHT
A diamond's weight is the simplest of its characteristics to measure, and from the earliest times has been used to calculate one aspect of the value of a diamond. The carat is a unit of weight which derives from the carob seed. The pods of the carob, or locust, tree contain tiny seeds which are remarkably consistent in weight. These seeds were used by early gem traders to weigh their diamonds.
A one-carat diamond used to equal the weight of a carob seed, but in today's terms the carat is a standard metric weight of 0.2 grams, or 1/142 of a standard ounce. Each carat is divided into 100 points. So, for example, a quarter of a carat is 25 points, written as 0.25 cts.; half a carat is 50 points, written as 0.50 cts., and so on. It is easy to weigh an unmounted diamond, but once it is in a setting, it is only possible to estimate its weight by using special gauges and formulas.
Remember, carat weight has no bearing on a diamond's cut, color, or clarity.

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