Diamonds Jewelry
Diamond 4Cs
A diamond’s value is based on four criteria(Carat, Color, Clarity, Cut):
Carat
Carat refers to the stone's weight. Diamond carat weight is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs. A metric “carat” is defined as 200 milligrams.
Each carat can be subdivided into 100 points. This allows very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place.
1 ct=100 points=200 milligrams=0.2g
For example,
1/4 carat = 25 points
1/2 carat = 50 points
0.75 carat = 75 points
Carat Weight (ct) vs Carat Total Weight (ctw) vs CTTW
In the context of diamond jewelry, CTW stands for “carat total weight” (or “carats total weight”). The term refers to the sum of the weights of all diamonds mounted in a piece of jewelry.
The carat weight (ct) and the total carat weight (ctw) are not the same: Ct refers to the diamond carat weight of one single diamond. Ctw refers to the 'total carat weight' of a number of smaller diamonds.
CTTW stands for carat (CT) total weight (TW). In a piece of jewelry that has more than one diamond, it's the weight of all the diamonds, added together.
Color
Color often is graded on a scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). On the GIA scales, color is rated from D to Z, with D at the top.
IGI(International Gemological Institute) Color Grading Scale:
Clarity
Clarity measures the natural imperfections in the stone. On the GIA scales, clarity is rated from flawless to I3. A diamond can be described as “flawless” only if it has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.
Diamond Clarity Refers to the Absence of Inclusions and Blemishes.
Natural diamonds are the result of carbon exposed to tremendous heat and pressure deep in the earth. This process can result in a variety of internal characteristics called ‘inclusions’ and external characteristics called ‘blemishes.’
Evaluating diamond clarity involves determining the number, size, relief, nature, and position of these characteristics, as well as how these affect the overall appearance of the stone. While no diamond is perfectly pure, the closer it comes, the higher its value.
The GIA Diamond Clarity Scale has 6 categories, some of which are divided, for a total of 11 specific grades.
- Flawless (FL)No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification
- Internally Flawless (IF)No inclusions visible under 10x magnification
- Very, Very Slightly Included(VVS1 and VVS2) Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification
- Very Slightly Included (VS1and VS2) Inclusions are observed with effort under 10x magnification, but can be characterized as minor
- Slightly Included (SI1and SI2) Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification
- Included (I1, I2, and I3)Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification which may affect transparency and brilliance
Many inclusions and blemishes are too tiny to be seen by anyone other than a trained diamond grader. To the naked eye, a VS1 and an SI2 diamond may look exactly the same, but these diamonds are quite different in terms of overall quality.
IGI(International Gemological Institute) Clarity Scale:
Cut
Cut refers to the quality of how the diamond has been shaped, taking into account the diamond’s proportions, polish, and symmetry.
A diamond’s cut is crucial to the stone’s final beauty and value. And of all the diamond 4Cs, it is the most complex and technically difficult to analyze.
To determine the cut grade of the standard round brilliant diamond – the shape that dominates the majority of diamond jewelry – GIA calculates the proportions of those facets that influence the diamond’s face-up appearance. These proportions allow GIA to evaluate how successfully a diamond interacts with light to create desirable visual effects such as:
- Brightness:Internal and external white light reflected from a diamond
- Fire:The scattering of white light into all the colors of the rainbow
- Scintillation:The amount of sparkle a diamond produces, and the pattern of light and dark areas caused by reflections within the diamond
Diamond Shapes
Cushion:
Emerald:
Heart:
Marquise:
Oval:
Pear:
Princess:
Round:
Diamond Settings
Melee Diamonds: tiny diamonds, but with big impact
Small diamonds, called melee diamonds (pronounced meh-lee), accent the center diamond and make the jewelry pop. Melee diamonds are a popular way to add sparkle to diamond engagement rings.
Melee, either single cut or full cut, weighs less than 0.20carat (ct). However, the exact size range of melee varies. Melee diamonds can be as small as 0.001 ct. They are often cut into tiny round diamonds and set around a center stone or on the band.
The more diamonds in a jewelry, the more sparkle it has. Due to their small size, melee diamonds are inexpensive when compared to larger diamond center stones, so they are often generously used in jewelries to add sparkle.
Diamond Treatment
Some diamonds, like other gemstones, may be treated to improve their appearance. Since these treatments improve the clarity of the diamond, some jewelers refer to them as clarity enhancement.
Fracture filling, for example, conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them with a foreign substance. This filling may not be permanent, and jewelers should tell you if the diamond you’re considering has been fracture-filled.
Lasering is a treatment that involves the use of a laser beam to improve the appearance of diamonds that have black inclusions or spots. A laser beam is aimed at the inclusion; acid is forced through the tiny tunnel made by the laser beam to remove the inclusion. Lasering is permanent, and a laser-drilled stone usually does not require special care. While a laser-drilled diamond may appear as beautiful as a comparable untreated stone, it may not be as valuable. That’s because an untreated stone of the same quality is rarer. Jewelers should tell you whether the diamond you’re considering has been laser-drilled.
Synthetic Diamonds
Synthetic diamonds, also referred to as "man-made" "lab-grown" or "created" diamonds, are diamonds manufactured in a laboratory— as opposed to natural diamonds, which form naturally within the Earth.
Imitation Diamonds
Imitation diamonds,such as cubic zirconia, resemble diamonds in appearance but cost much less. Certain laboratory-created gemstones like moissanite resemble diamonds and may not be adequately detected by the instruments originally used to identify cubic zirconia.