Diamonds 101
Know Your C’s About
Diamond Quality
Diamonds are a popular way to make a public announcement of love and commitment. Diamonds can symbolize a personal achievement as well. Precious diamonds, mixed with gems symbolize being steadfast throughout time. Diamonds evoke qualities such as clarity, durability, and longevity. These days, not only is it common for men to present a sentimental statement with diamonds, but it’s common for women to buy diamonds to reflect who they are and how they’ve achieved goals in life, love, and passions. A certain kind of energy and emotion is tied to diamonds.
When you want to make a statement with sparkle, it takes smarts to rely on someone like Staci Sullivan, a 3rd generation jeweler. Staci is vicarious with each and every diamond purchased from her livelihood. Her reputation and name is worth more than gold. You’ll see how every “C” is personalized to help you achieve the ideal diamond combination for your celebration. The rarity can be a large factor when shopping for diamonds. Staci and her staff will walk you through the process to find the perfect diamond based on your budget and personal style.
Diamond Cut
Each individual diamond is unique in its natural state. An uncut diamond represents raw potential. It is common for 50% weight loss to occur during the cutting process. Cutting a loose gemstone is a huge risk since no one can be certain of the response of the stone to the cutter’s wheel. Every faceted diamond reflects the intricate work of a skilled master craftsman who has released the sparking hidden potential.
The cut of a diamond is measured by its proportions, not its shape. In Staci’s professional opinion, a diamonds’ “Cut Grade” is the single most important of the 4C’s. The cut of a gemstone directly impacts the beauty and sparkle. The cut also helps determine the value and price. If you are striving to achieve the most bang for the buck, you are in good hands at Staci Sullivan’s Jewelry & Design Studio. Staci is here to help you receive the most sparkle your budget allows. She will help you acquire the best option to create a brilliant gift.
To learn more about diamond cut quality visit GIA, the largest, most respected Nonprofit Source for Gemological Knowledge in the World.
Diamond Color
Another important aspect of the 4C’s is a diamond’s color or lack thereof. The less color a diamond has, the more rarer the diamond is. A diamonds color has a great impact on its overall personality. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While some people enjoy a diamond with no color like a pure white rose, others may enjoy a diamond with warmth like an ivory rose. Did you know that diamonds can be found in all the colors of the rainbow? Impurities like boron and nitrogen mixed with carbon can create dramatic changes with the color of diamonds.
To learn more about diamond cut quality visit GIA, the largest, most respected Nonprofit Source for Gemological Knowledge in the World.
D-F Color Diamonds Colorless diamonds – These are the rarest and the highest quality for the most sparkle.
G-J Color Diamonds Nearly colorless diamonds – No visible color to the naked eye however more visible as you go up.
K-M Color Diamonds Faintly colored diamonds – Slight visible color to the naked eye yet budget friendly.
N-R Color Diamonds Noticeable colored diamonds – Warm yellow visible color to the naked eye yet budget friendly.
S-Z Color Diamonds Very noticeable colored diamonds – Light yellow visible color to the naked eye yet budget friendly.
Diamond Clarity
Because tiny imperfections are often microscopic and not visible with the naked eye, clarity is often an area of 4Cs people feel flexible. A diamond may have a surface imperfection called a blemish or it may have an internal characteristic called an inclusion. Diamond clarity spans 6 categories with a total of 11 clarity grades. Clarity factors are based on the size, quantity, position, nature, color and relief of inclusions.
To learn more about diamond cut quality visit GIA, the largest, most respected Nonprofit Source for Gemological Knowledge in the World.
Here are the 6 Diamond Clarity Categories
FLAWLESS (FL) DIAMONDS
INTERNALLY FLAWLESS
(IF) DIAMONDS
(IF) DIAMONDS
VVS1, VVS2 VERY, VERY SLIGHTLY
INCLUDED (VVS) DIAMONDS
INCLUDED (VVS) DIAMONDS
VS1, VS2 VERY SLIGHTLY
INCLUDED (VS) DIAMONDS
INCLUDED (VS) DIAMONDS
SI1, SI2 SLIGHTLY INCLUDED
(SI) DIAMONDS
(SI) DIAMONDS
I1, I2, I3 INCLUDED DIAMONDS
Diamond Carat
Did you know the word “carat” refers to a diamond’s total weight and not its actual diameter? When it comes to the size of a diamond, bigger may not always be better. Higher carat diamonds are harder to find than smaller diamonds; that is why there can be a large range in price when combined with other “C” factors.
To learn more about diamond cut quality visit GIA, the largest, most respected Nonprofit Source for Gemological Knowledge in the World.
