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Cut
The cut of a diamond determines how it reflects light, which is responsible for its sparkle or brilliance. The quality of the cut does make a difference in how a diamond looks. Roundness, width and depth of the cut diamond determine the way light is
reflected and emitted. Too shallow a cut will let light escape through a diamond's bottom, causing it to appear dull, while too deep a cut will allow light to be lost through a diamond's sides, making it appear dark.
Because a diamond with perfect color and clarity could nevertheless have poor brilliance if it is not well cut, many gemologists consider this to be the most important property to note when choosing a diamond. Diamonds can carry cut grades of Excellent, Ideal, Very Good, Good, or Fair. The traditional round cut provides a combination of the best qualities a diamond can have. However, there are other shapes that can emphasize a diamond's different features. The choice of a shape is best based on personal taste and the design of the jewelry.
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Color
Though diamonds come in a wide range of colors, colorless diamonds have traditionally been considered the most valuable. Most diamonds are graded on a scale using the letters of the alphabet, from D (colorless), the best grade, through Z (a light yellow). Diamonds that are graded D, E, and F tend to be the most expensive because of their rarity. It is difficult for the untrained eye to notice such variations in color unless stones are being compared side by side. The comparatively rare colored diamonds are known as fancy-colored and are also quite valuable. They range in hue from the more common yellow (also graded Z+ on the alphabetic scale) to pink, blue, green, red, and even black. |
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Clarity
The clarity of a diamond refers to how clear, or "clean" the diamond is. Most diamonds have "imperfections" in them. The clarity scale is a measure of the severity of those imperfections or "inclusions" as it is known in the trade. A diamond's most distinguishing characteristics are its inclusions, marks that are often invisible to the naked eye. A diamond's clarity is determined by the presence or absence of inclusions--fewer inclusions mean better clarity--and how visible they are. The greater a diamond's clarity, the greater its brilliance and value. Most diamonds contain natural flaws that occur while it is being formed. The size, number and visibility of these flaws determine the clarity of a diamond. However, flaws can also occur as a result of the cutting process. A diamond categorized as internally flawless will have no inclusions, but this is extremely rare.
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Carat-weight
The metric carat, which equals 0.200 gram, is the standard unit of weight for diamonds, with one carat being equivalent to 100 points. You will often see a diamond referred to as a 3/4-carat stone or a 75-point diamond. Generally, the larger the diamond, the more expensive it is because large diamonds are much rarer. The value of diamonds increases exponentially as the carat weight of the diamond increases. But carat weight isn't the only factor to consider in the price of larger diamonds. The other factors such as color and clarity have an effect on the overall price of larger stones.
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