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| How To Buy A Diamond |
There are four factors that determine the value of a diamond, collectively known as the 4Cs. The combination of the 4Cs determines each diamond's value.
1. Cut ? Each diamond is cut according to an exact formula. The most common cut, the round brilliant, has 58 facets designed to yield the maximum amount of light to reflect back. This reflection, known as brilliance, is an extremely important factor in evaluating the quality of a diamond. A poorly-cut diamond will actually lose light and appear dull. Cut is sometimes also used to describe the shape of a diamond. In addition to the round brilliant, other popular cuts include emerald, marquise, pear, oval and princess (square).
2. Color ? Diamonds come in every color of the spectrum, but the most popular gems are white. Truly colorless, icy-white diamonds are extremely rare and therefore the most costly. Stones are graded by color and given designations dependent on how far they deviate from the purest white. Colorless stones are graded D. Color grading continues down through the alphabet, with each letter designating the yellower tint. The best way to see the true color of a diamond is by looking at it against a pure white surface.
3. Clarity ? A diamond's clarity is affected by any external irregularities and internal imperfections created by nature when the diamond was formed. Imperfections or ?nature's birthmarks?such as spots, bubbles or lines are called inclusions. Although these marks make each stone unique, the fewer the inclusions, the more valuable the stone. Inclusions can interfere with the passage of light through the stone, diminishing the sparkle and value of the diamond.
4. Carat ? This word for the measurement of a diamond's weight is derived from the carob beans that were used to balance scales in bazaars in ancient times. Because large diamonds are rare, they generally have a greater value per carat.
Jewelry Information Center
http://www.jic.org |
Jewelry Information Center |
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