Diamond Education

For most people, buying a diamond is a new experience, but that doesn't mean it should be overwhelming. Understanding a diamond's quality characteristics is straightforward and simple. Gems Jewelry believes in educating our customers so you know exactly what you are buying. Our diamond education is designed to answer all your questions by explaining a diamond's characteristics, how those characteristics influence appearance, and which are more important than others. In just a few minutes you'll know everything you need to know to find your perfect diamond.

The 4 C-s

We can help you find the right diamond that will provide a lifetime of enjoyment for your loved one. Your appreciation of diamonds will come from your understanding of the 4 C's known as Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat-weight.

Cut

Of the 4 C's, the diamond's cut is the most important factor in determining its brilliance. Put simply, the better a diamond is cut, the more sparkle it will have. There are many shapes that diamonds are cut to but a diamonds cut refers to how well-proportioned the diamond has been transformed into its shape. Ideally, the cut of the diamond is done in a way to best reflect the light that shines into it. This is what produces the sparkle and fire we see in a beautifully cut diamond. If the diamond is cut too heavy, or too shallow, most of the light entering into the crown is released through the bottom of the pavilion resulting in an overall dull appearance. An ideal cut diamond on the other hand, returns most of the light that enters it back through the crown giving it a very satisfying sparkle effect.

Color

A diamond's colour grade actually refers to the lack of colour. In other words, diamonds that are white, containing little or no colour, receive higher quality grades and are more valuable than those with visible colour. Colour in a diamond will act as a filter for the light passing through and degrade the spectrum of light emitted, making it show less sparkle. The grade of color is usually represented by the GIA's professional color scale which gives a letter scale from D for colorless diamonds to Z for diamonds that display a yellowish or brownish color.

Carat

This is the term with which people are most familiar. The carat weight of a diamond is simply the weight of the diamond. A carat is a unit of measurement and 1 carat is equal to 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. Hence a 1.25 carat diamond will weigh 250 milligrams. The size or carat weight of a diamond cannot be used alone to determine the value of a diamond. A large diamond will not be as valuable if it does not show good color, a fine cut or excellent clarity. All factors (cut, color, clarity and carat weight) are used together to determine the value of a diamond. When choosing the carat size of your diamond, remember to keep a good balance between size and quality. If you are looking for a larger carat diamond, you may have to lower the color or clarity of the diamond as a trade off to the size.

Clarity

Almost all diamonds have tiny imperfections. Diamonds with few or no imperfections receive the highest clarity grades. The clearer a diamond is, the rarer it is. Most diamonds contain natural 'inclusions' that resemble tiny crystals that make each stone unique. The clarity of a diamond represents the number, type and size of flaws or inclusion which are present in the diamond. Diamond clarity is indicated by a grading system as shown below:

Grade	Description
Fl-IF	Flawless or Internally Flawless. No internal inclusions.
VVS1-VVs2	Very Very Small inclusions. Very difficult to detect under 10x magnification.
VS1-VS2	Very Small Inclusions. Can be seen under 10x magnification and in some cases to the naked eye.
SI1-SI2	Small inclusions. Can be seen under 10x magnification and may be visible to the naked eye.
I1-I2-I3	Imperfect. Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification and in most cases to the naked eye.

Diamonds with a clarity grade of Flawless or Internally Flawless and are very rare and almost always expensive. The fewer inclusions found in a diamond, the more valuable and expensive it becomes. When choosing a diamond, you should select a clarity grade in which the inclusions are not visible without magnification.

Shape

As the name suggests, shape (round, princess, radiant, etc.) describes a diamond's form, primarily as viewed from above. All diamond shapes have different attributes, but overall the beauty of the individual shapes is a matter of personal taste. Shape does not affect the quality of the stone. If it is well cut its brilliance and value will endure no matter what. The shape of the rough diamond crystal usually dictates the shape of the stone. All are cut for maximum fire and brilliance, but facet shape varies with the cut and as a result, filters light differently. Additionally, some designs are more suited to a particular shape.

Certification

To ensure the value of a diamond has been properly determined, independent laboratories will inspect and write a report on each individual diamond. These reports include a physical inspection of the diamond and a written report called a grading report or diamond dossier, which will accompany the diamond. A gemologist will place the diamond under a microscope and carefully determined its proportions, color, symmetry, fluorescence, cut, clarity and carat weight.

These laboratories exist to protect consumers and the diamond industry by creating standards used to grade loose diamonds The most common independent certification laboratories groups include:

• GIA - Gemological Institute of America
• AGS - American Gem Society Laboratories
• EGL - European Gemological Laboratories
• IGI - International Gemological Institute

At Gems Jewelry, we prefer diamonds certified through GIA, AGS or EGL (USA). These laboratories have an excellent reputation in the North American market for providing accurate and consistent unbiased reports. All diamonds purchased from Gems Jewelry will be accompanied with their grading certificate.