No two diamonds are the same, every diamond is unique. Yet all diamonds share certain features that allow us to compare and evaluate them. When combined these features affect the overall value assigned to a diamond. These features are called the 4Cs: CARAT WEIGHT, CLARITY, COLOUR and CUT.
CARAT WEIGHT:
Carat weight is the weight of the diamond measured in carats. One carat is divided into 100 “points.” For instance 75 points=3/4 carat and 50 points = 1/2 carat.Carat weight is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond. But two diamonds of equal carat weights can have very different prices, depending on their quality.
Clarity
Clarity is the relative absence of blemishes and inclusions. Blemishes are confined to the surface of a polished diamond. Inclusions are totally enclosed in a diamond or extend into it from the surface. Diamonds are form under tremendous heat and pressure, it is extremely rare to find a diamond that without clarity characteristics. Inclusions normally have more impact on a diamond’s beauty and value than blemishes, so diamonds without internal and external clarity are extremely rare and valuable
Cut
Cut refers to a diamond’s proportions and the quality of its finish. A well-cut diamond captures the light around it and makes that light perform in breathtaking ways, which determine the sparkle of the diamond. A diamond’s face up appearance based on three attributes. Brightness is the effect of all the internal and external reflections of white light. Fire results when white light is dispersed into its spectral color. Scintillation is a combination of sparkle and pattern. It is the extend of spots of light that flash when the diamond, the observer, or the light source moves; also describes the contrast of bright and dark areas of a diamond.
Color
Color relates to the amount of body color in a diamond. The GIA color scale range from D (highest grade) to Z (lowest grade). The grading is based on how noticeable the color is, and each letter grade represents a range of color. Truly colorless diamonds (D color) are extremely rare and valuable.