My Lab Created Diamond » Cut Color and Clarity

Carat weight

Tim — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:21:38 +0000

“How many carats?” is often the first question you are asked about a beautiful new diamond. The term ‘Carat’ is the most common term for describing the size of a stone, whether a natural or man made diamond. One metric carat weighs 200mg – one fith of a gram.

Carats are also used to describe the weight of other gem stones. A point to look out for is that two different types of stone with the same carat weight might be a different size. This is because some stones are denser than others, and so an equal weight has a smaller volume.

Most gemstones increase in cost exponentially as they increase in size – for example, a 1 carat diamond will be worth much more than twice as much as a 0.5 carat diamond.

For stones of less than one carat, the size of the stone is often given in ‘points’, which is simply the size of the stone shown as a percentage of one full carat. For example an .50 carat stone is equal to half a carat.

Although larger stones are worth more, size is not the most important attribute when choosing a diamond. Many feel that a better quality stone is preferable to a larger, poorer quality one.

Clarity

Tim — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:28:05 +0000

Diamond clarity is a measure of how free the stone is of flaws, either inside the stone or on the surface. These flaws are referred to as ‘inclusions’ and are present in most stones. Only diamonds of the highest quality are free of inclusions.

Inclusions in a stone generally take the form of small discolored specks inside the stone, and many consider them to be part of the character of the diamond. Inclusions are often hidden by the setting, so don’t let the presence of minor inclusions put you off a stone straight away.

Clarity is measured on a scale from ‘F’ to ‘I’, with the letter(s) describing the grade of the stone as follows as below. Grades F through to SI will decrease in value as you go down the scale but it will be hard to detect a difference without magnification.

F – Flawless
These are extremely rare.

IF – Internally Flawless
No internal flaws, but might have minor surface flaws. Very rare.

VVS1 – VVS2 – Very Very Slightly Included
There are two grades in this category, with 1 being a higher grade than 2. Very small inclusions, difficult to detect under 10x magnification.

VS1-VS2 – Very Slightly Included
There are two grades in this category, with 1 being a higher grade than 2. Small inclusions seen with difficulty under 10x magnification.

SI1-SI2 – Slightly Included
Again two grades with 1 being higher. Small inclusions more easily seen under 10x magnification.

I1-I2-I3 – Included
Three grades, with 1 being the highest. Inclusions visible to the human eye without magnification.

Color

Tim — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:24:09 +0000

Normal, ‘white’ diamonds actually have some degree of yellow tint and are graded according to how noticeable the yellow is. Diamond color is graded on a scale from ‘D’ to ‘X’ with D being the best color grade. The scale is defined as follows:
DEF – Colorless
GHIJ – Near Colorless
KLM – Faint Yellow
NOPQR – Very Light Yellow
STUVWX – Light Yellow
In practice, in diamonds with color from D – J you will not be able to observe any yellow color with the naked eye. A good rule of thumb to remember is that you may need to use a whiter colored diamond in a setting made of silver, white gold or platinum. Yellow gold settings will make a yellower stone less noticeable.

Diamonds are also available in a range of colors, called ‘fancy’ color diamonds. These diamonds come in all the colors of the rainbow and they are graded differently to ‘white’ diamonds. Fancy diamonds are described by their primary color and a description of how strong the color is:
1. Faint
2. Very Light
3. Light
4. Fancy Light
5. Fancy
6. Fancy Dark
7. Fancy Intense
8. Fancy Deep
9. Fancy Vivid
So for example you might see a diamond rated as ‘Light Pink’ or ‘Fancy Intense Blue’.
The availability of fancy colors is one of the great features about created diamonds. Created diamonds can be purchased in a wide range of colors for a similar price. In comparison, good quality fancy colored natural diamonds sell for incredible sums. For example, fancy vivid pink natural diamonds can sell for well over $250,000 per carat!

How Diamonds are graded

Tim — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:40:02 +0000

Diamonds are graded by the well known ‘4 Cs’, which are Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight. Created diamonds are often graded in the same way as natural diamonds, but you may find that different grading organizations vary with synthetic diamonds. For example the Gemological Institute of America say that they give a “more general description of color and clarity” than with natural diamonds.

It is worth familiarizing yourself with the 4 Cs before shopping for any diamond, whether natural or created!
Cut, Color, Clarity, Carats

Cut

Tim — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:00:56 +0000

Cut
Of all the 4 Cs, the cut of a diamond is the most important in influencing the color and the sparkle in the diamond, as the facets determine how light is reflected in the stone. Most people think of the cut as being the shape of the stone, but the quality of the cut is also important – the proportions and symmetry and the finish of each surface.
Diamonds are cut into a wide range of shapes, within three main styles:

Brilliant Cut

Brilliant cut diamonds are the most familiar and popular shape. These are cut so that they are particularly brilliant, as the name suggests. The general shape is usually conical with facets cut to reflect light through the stone as much as possible. Round cut brilliants are the most popular, followed by the square Princess cut. Other shapes include Oval, Pear and Heart cut diamonds.
Brilliant Cut, either Round or Princess, will be the most flexible diamonds to buy for use in a range of different settings.

Step Cut

Step Cut diamonds have rows of facets, arranged in steps. These are usually a rectangular shape. Examples include Baguette Cut Diamonds.

Mixed Cut

A combination of the above styles.
Other cuts do exist, but these are far and away the most common cuts that you will find.