Diamond Quality

Read our helpful guide on diamond quality here.

DIAMONDS & The 4C’s, Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat.

CUT: The cut of the diamond refers to the symmetry, proportions, finish and polish. A well cut diamond will show off its full beauty through its brilliance, fire and scintillation unlike a poorly cut diamond which can look dull and lifeless. People often confuse cut with the shape of a diamond. Shapes can be Round, Princess, Emerald, Asscher, Radiant, Heart, Pear, Marquise, Oval fancy and also in special collections.

Figure 1: The Brilliant Cut
 



COLOUR: Colour is an extremely important characteristic because it is can be visible to the naked eye, whilst clarity needs magnification. Ideally, the closer a diamond is to colourless (D grade) the more valuable and rarer it will be as more light will pass and refract through it, further enhancing its fire and beauty.

Figure 2: Colour starts at D and tinges of colour will be seen more easily after H
 


CLARITY: The clarity of a diamond is assessed under 10X magnification. Nearly all diamonds contain inclusions or nature’s hallmark. These may be crystals of a foreign material, another diamond crystal, or structural imperfections. The number, size, colour, location and visibility of inclusions can affect the relative clarity of a diamond. A clarity grade is based on the overall appearance of the stone, the fewer there are, the rarer and more valuable the diamond will be.

Figure 3: Clarity scale from FL (flawless) to I2 (inclusions visible to the naked eye)
 




CARAT: The carat is a reference to the weight of a diamond. One carat is divided into 100 points, so a diamond of 50 points is described as 0.50 of a carat or half a carat.
It takes approximately 250 tons of ore to be mined and sorted in order to produce a single, one-carat polished diamond. The larger or heavier the Diamond, the rarer and more valuable it will be.
 


THE OTHER C’s: Certification, Cost & Commitment.

CERTIFICATION: This document (diamond grading report, diamond quality report) is a report that has been carried out by gemologists. There are several recognised institutions that offer this service. The report covers analysis of the diamonds individual dimensions, clarity, colour, polish, symmetry, fluorescence and other unique characteristics. The majority of diamonds that are sold do not come certificated. A diamond does not have to be certificated and non certified diamonds are less in price. At Elmers we offer both certified and non certified diamonds.

COST: The 5th C is often not discussed but is just as critical as the other C’s. Elmers are very conscious of cost and will be able to prioritise with you as to its significance when helping you choose this special purchase.

COMMITMENT: Our philosophy is simple and straightforward; that is to offer high quality diamonds with a hand on service at a fantastic price. We will take all of your concerns and make each purchase an extra special purchase.