4 C's of Diamonds

The 4 C's of diamonds are: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight. These are the four basic criteria upon which a diamond is graded and the determining factors of a diamonds brilliance and beauty.

Cut

The cut of a diamond is the facets or refractive flat points of a diamond. As light enters into the stone each of the cuts on the diamond reflect that light to the other cuts or facets. As this lights bounces around within the diamond it produces the beauty and color that we see. Cut should not be confused with shape. Shape is just that, the style into with a diamond is shaped. There are several shapes that a diamond cut to. Some of the most common shapes are round, pear, heart, marquise or emerald. When a diamond is cut in the proper proportions the light that enters into it produces the fire that is associated with the true beauty of a diamond. A diamond that is cut too deep or too shallow loses the light through the bottom or the sides without producing the firey effect that is so desired.

Cut, along with shape or style determines the number of facets cut into a diamond and is also the primary feature of producing a diamond's brilliance. The round shaped style is scientifically proven to be the most refractive, but, if not cut properly it will lose much of it's brilliance. A poorly cut diamond is not easily identified with the naked eye but becomes obvious under the trained eye of a certified gemologist.

When you shop with Benson's Diamond Jewelery you can be assured that we carry some of the finest cuts of diamonds available on today's market. You can also be assured of the grade applied to each diamond that you purchase from us, through that particular diamond's certificate stating all of the qualities applied to your diamond.

Clarity

Clarity of a diamond is determined by the number of inclusions within a diamond. Each inclusion reduces the refractive abilities of the diamond and thus reduces the brilliance that can be attained. An inclusion is a minute spot that occurs within the diamond. Inclusions were created during the formation of the diamond millions of years ago and as such are not something that can be generally completely avoided. Inclusions may also be referred to as blemishes or flaws found on the surface of a diamond. The fewer inclusions or spots within a diamond produce the most prized or valued diamonds. Each flaw or inclusion found on a diamond can be thought of as the fingerprint of a diamond since no two diamonds are exactly alike.

A diamond that is graded a flawless in its clarity shows no inclusions and produces the greatest beauty, fire and brilliance. Next to a flawless diamond, there are other grades of clarity, each with its own characteristics. Although a flawless diamond is most valued, you should not completely avoid purchasing a diamond that is graded less than flawless. When you come in to our store we will be happy to show you flawless and other diamonds so that you can see for yourself that even though a stone may have a minor inclusion, it still possesses natural beauty that is unsurpassed by any other precious stone.

Color

When considering a diamond's color, we refer to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. Color is a result of the composition of the diamond that will never change. A diamond, unlike many other materials cannot be bleached or whitened. A colorless diamond is like a clear window, allowing more light to pass through it than a colored diamond. Colorless diamonds by their nature produce greater sparkle, brilliance and fire. The formation process of a diamond assures that there are very few (and rare) diamonds that are truly colorless. So the whiter a diamond's color, the greater its value. Colorless diamonds are generally the most desirable since they allow the most refraction of light, while off white diamonds absorb light, inhibiting brilliance. Diamond color is graded using the G.I.A. color chart and varies from D through Z, with D being the most colorless.

Diamonds graded D through F are naturally the most valuable and desirable because of their rarity. But, diamonds graded G through I show virtually no color that is visible to the untrained eye. A very faint hint of yellow may be observed in diamonds graded J through M. By selecting the right setting of precious metal and jewelry design the color can be greatly minimized and allow the diamond to produce still dazzling beauty.

   *Fancy, colored diamonds are very rare and very expensive. They can be any color from blue, red, black, pale green, pink and violet diamonds. These colored diamonds are the truly rare ones and are actually more valuable as a result or their color.

Carat Weight

A carat is a unit of measurement, it's the unit used to weigh a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, or 0.2 grams. The word carat is derived from the use of carob seeds that were used in ancient times to balance scales. Carob seeds are exteremly uniform in size and weight.

   *When tested using some of the most advanced measuring devices available today, differences in size of carob seeds of less than three one-thousandths of an inch are detected in the difference between them.
   *The word carat should not be confused with the word karat which is a unit of measurement for gold.

Because diamonds are formed only on rare occasions, and the materials used to form a diamond are equally rare, large, jewelry grade diamonds are found far less often than smaller diamonds. As a result, the larger a jewelry grade diamond is, the more valuable it becomes. This value is also exponential.

Diamond Selection

All of the above information is an overview to help you understand the diamond grading and selection processes. When you shop with Benson Diamond Jewelers, we will be happy to help answer any additional questions that you may have in relation to diamond grading. We will also help you to select the diamonds that fit your budget and needs. Stop in and see us when it's time to make the grade with a diamond purchase.