Diamond Quality - Using The 4 Cs To Buy New & Used Diamond Jewelry

Anyone planning to purchase new or used diamond jewelry must become familiar with the four Cs. It's possible you've heard of them before. Each letter C represents one factor of diamond quality. They include cut, color, clarity and carat weight.

The 4 Cs - What You Should To Know

Cut - A diamond's cut takes into consideration two components of its appearance, the shape and make. The shape of a diamond can vary quite a bit, but on the whole, a round brilliant cut is usually the most desirable. The round brilliant cut is made with 58 facets, which gives the diamond a brilliant luster. Princess, radiant and marquise cuts are also of higher value than other diamond cuts.

A cut's make determines the quality or craft of the workmanship performed on the diamond. If the diamond has a better make, this means that it has greater sparkle, and the make improves its quality. A diamond's true beauty can be brought out with an excellent make.

Color - Diamonds don't have to be the sparkling clear color we all think of when we think of diamond jewelry. As a matter of fact, diamonds are available in a broad range of colors. These colors are coded alphabetically, ranging from D to X. White diamonds denoted by a D label signify the lightest color. Yellow fancy diamonds are still high quality and are assigned an S label. Diamond colors E and F have excellent and beautiful qualities while J to M encompass desirable colors for diamonds that are larger. Diamonds colored blue, red, pink, green and brown generally denote diamonds that have been treated with radiation.

Clarity - Diamond clarity is is believed by many to be the most important part of quality. The most treasured diamonds are flawless or perfectly clear, both inside and on their surfaces. Next in quality are diamonds that are internally flawless, but that have some small blemishes on the surface. If diamonds have inclusions making them less clear, or if the inclusions can be seen with the naked eye, they rank lowest for clarity.

Carat Size - A diamond's carats will tell you how big it is. Of the four diamond qualities, a diamond's carat is considered last because a diamond's cut, clarity and color are deemed more important. But make no mistake, a diamond's size and weight impacts how much you will pay for it.

Carats are generally measured in points. Therefore, one carat is assigned 100 points, while a half carat is assigned 50 points, and so forth. This means that the price of a diamond can vary greatly for as few as 5 to 10 points. Before you purchase it's important to know exactly how big a diamond is in exact carats and therefore points.

Regardless of whether you're shopping for new or used diamond jewelry, you'll be able to know you're getting just what you've paid for once you understand diamond quality as measured by the four Cs.