Becoming Familiar with the Four C’s of Diamonds

Do diamonds amaze you? Are you looking to buy high quality diamond jewelry? You could say that shopping for diamonds is something of an art. Several factors weigh in when determining the rarity, value and beauty of a diamond. If you are looking to purchase diamond jewelry that is not only beautiful but also valuable, you must become familiar with the four C’s of diamonds. The more you know about the way diamonds are classified and valued, the better result you are going to get out of your shopping experience.

The four C’s or diamonds are cut, color, clarity and carat-weight. These factors affect the diamond in different ways. Let us learn basic information about the four C’s of diamonds that will help us select the one that is right for us.

Cut

Cut refers to the diamond’s shape and how it is proportioned to achieve its shine, and it definitely compromises its beauty and value. In a correctly cut diamond the light will enter, disperse and exit through the top flawlessly, giving it the maximum amount of brilliance. A diamond that is not correctly cut will not allow light to travel through it in a way that it could achieve its best shine, making it less beautiful and thus less valuable.

Color

Believe it or not, diamonds come in a variety of colors that range from blue to red, to pink and brown. Colorless diamonds are the most popular; while some of the color ones are rarer, making them much more valuable. The Gemological Institute of America rates the body color in white diamonds from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).

Carat-Weight

Diamonds are weighed in carats. One carat equals 0.20 grams. One carat is divided into one hundred points in order to measure the diamonds. For example, a diamond with 25 points weights 0.25 carats. The heavier the diamond, the more valuable it is, but remember, weight is not the only thing that affects the value of a diamond. You could have two diamonds that weight exactly the same and that have completely different values, taking into consideration the cut, color and clarity of each one.

Clarity

Under 10x magnification blemishes, flaws and imperfections can be noticed on the diamond. These imperfections interfere with how well the light is passing through the diamond and it takes away some of the diamond’s brilliance. Obviously, diamonds with few if any blemishes are more valuable than the more imperfect ones, also more brilliant and beautiful. A diamond’s clarity is extremely important to the diamond’s brilliance.

As you can see, the factors that affect the beauty, rarity and value of a diamond are a little more extensive than most people think. Rather than looking to buy a diamond because it looks "pretty", you should always do some research with the aid of an expert jeweler before deciding to spend your hard earned money on an amazing piece of diamond jewelry. Once you do, you will realize that it will be worth it and you will be pleased with your well decided purchase. Enjoy your diamond shopping experience!

Visit Barreras Jewelers for high quality diamond jewelry and free shipping on all orders.