Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, right? Well, diamonds will be everyone’s best friend during our annual Diamond Event! From August 11 to August 27 at all Bailey’s Fine Jewelry locations, we will have millions of dollars worth of diamond inventory discounted up to 30 percent. If you are in the market for a diamond, our Diamond Event is the time to buy. You will have more options than ever to explore and you can’t beat the great prices! Need to brush up on your diamond knowledge before hitting our diamond event? Here’s a quick guide on the 4 C’s of diamonds. Also, be sure to check out our diamond facts page for some interesting trivia about America’s favorite gem! We can’t wait to see you!
The 4 C’s
Cut
Cut refers not to the shape of the diamond, but to the proportions and symmetry of the diamond. It is in the art of cutting and polishing that a diamond truly achieves its greatness. Only with the precision and skill of the world’s finest cutters are truly fine diamonds produced.
A polished diamond’s beauty lies in its complex relationship with light; how light strikes the surface, how much enters the diamond, and how, and what form light returns to your eye. The result is a magnificent display of three attributes:
- Brightness is the combination of all white light reflecting from the surface and interior of a diamond.
- Fire describes the “flares” of color emitted from a diamond.
- Scintillation describes the flashes of light you see when the diamond, the light, or the observer moves.
Color
Although many people think of gem quality diamonds as colorless, truly colorless diamonds are actually very rare. Most diamonds used in jewelry are nearly colorless with tints of yellow or brown.
Color grades are determined by comparing each diamond to a master set. A Diamond’s color is most accurately determined when it is not mounted in a setting. One reason for this is that the setting can introduce tints of its own color into the diamond. Also, the grader should view the diamond from the pavilion (the bottom) because the true color of a diamond can be “masked” by a high quality cut. Diamonds with superior cut and polish, can look up to two color grades better when viewed face up. For these reasons, gemological laboratories such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS) will only grade diamonds un-mounted.
Clarity
Clarity is an indication of a diamond’s rarity. In almost all diamonds, except the most rare, there are internal and/or external characteristics. This is due to the tremendous heat and pressure under which diamonds are formed. These characteristics are a byproduct of the diamond’s formation and help gemologists separate natural diamonds from synthetics and simulants. It also helps identify individual diamonds because these characteristics, called inclusions, act as the diamond’s “birthmark.” The presence of some inclusions does not diminish the diamond’s beauty or endanger its durability. The outer beauty of a diamond comes from the cut and color. In fact, most inclusions require powerful magnification before they are visible. Less than 1 percent of all diamonds have no inclusions and can be deemed flawless (FL) or internally flawless (IF).
Carat Weight
A diamond’s carat weight is exactly that…its weight, not its size. Be aware of this when shopping for a diamond. For example, when comparing two 1 carat round diamonds, one might look much larger or smaller than the other. This is due to the cut and proportions of the diamond. A well cut 1 carat round diamond should measure approximately 6.5 millimeters in diameter. If it is too shallow, the diamond will have a broader diameter making it appear larger, however, very dull. The same is true for a 1 carat diamond that is cut too deeply. It will appear smaller when compared to a well cut 1 carat diamond and will pale in comparison in beauty. The saying is true, “You get what you pay for.”
