The Guide to Diamond & Solitaire

Undoubtedly, the sparkling, shining, and alluring diamond and solitaire are the epitome of perfection. Diamond’s brilliance is the result of millions of years of intense natural processes. But, these attributes are not enough, especially when it comes to assessing and buying an actual piece of diamond jewellery online. Any expert buyer would assess the 4Cs parameters first!

The 4Cs (viz. Cut, color, carat, and clarity) are critical parameters one must consider when purchasing an elegant piece of jewellery consisting of diamonds. The following guide will provide you with all the necessary information regarding diamonds and the solitaire required to make an informed purchase decision. Moreover, these 4Cs parameters play a vital role in determining the actual worth of a diamond.

1. Carat Weight

A metric “carat” is defined as 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. The term “metric carat” is the standard unit used to measure the weight of the diamond and other precious gemstones. Each carat is further divided into 100 ‘points’. These further divisions into 100 points allow very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. This system allows jewellers to weigh smaller sets of diamonds. Moreover, several jewellers prefer to describe the weight of the diamonds below one carat by the standard “points” system. For jewellers, measuring the smallest parameters is critical because even a fraction of a carat can significantly impact the final price of the diamond. The point system help attain precision in terms of the weight measurement that eventually help determine the monetary value of the diamond jewellery.

2. Clarity

The absence of inclusions and blemishes determines the diamond clarity. The naturally queried diamonds usually consist of numerous types of flaws and imperfections including a diverse range of scars and inclusions on the surface of the diamond, which is also referred to as blemishes. The term “blemish” is used to address the external characteristics and “inclusions” is used to refer to the internal characteristics of the diamond. The clarity evaluation procedure involves the determination of the number, size, relief, nature, and position of the characteristic flaws. These inclusions and blemishes help distinguish diamonds while making them unique in and of themselves.

3. Color

The most desirable color of the diamonds and solitaire is actually no color. In fact, diamond color actually translates into a lack of color. Usually, a chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue and is of higher value. Precious stones with intense blue and pink colors are considered to be of higher value as well. The standard diamond color-grading system accurately measures colorlessness by comparing the precious stone under controlled lighting and precise viewing conditions. With the difference in the color grades, the actual market value of the diamond also differs.

4. Cut

Diamond cuts actually determine how well a diamond’s facets interact with light. The cut of a diamond also refers to its facet alignment, proportions, and finish. The industry standard diamond cut grading system also takes into account the design and craftsmanship of the precious stone. The diamond’s weight relative to its diameter, its girdle thickness, the symmetry of its facet arrangement, and the quality of polish of those facets is taken into consideration in the standard grading process. Diamond with the best cut reflects the stone’s ultimate beauty and true market value.