Your Exclusive Guide to Purchasing Diamonds
When it comes to buying diamonds, you may feel lost if you don’t know how to get the best value - which is why this month, Beyond Sarah members have access to an exclusive diamond masterclass.
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the 4Cs—colour, clarity, cut and carat weight are the globally accepted standards for assessing the quality of a diamond.
Cut is determined by how a diamond’s facets interact with light.
The most important of the 4Cs — cut — refers to how a diamond’s facets interact with light. It is determined by symmetry, proportion and polish. More than any other factor, cut determines the beauty of the stone. If a diamond is cut poorly, it will appear dull even if it has a high colour and clarity grade. If a diamond is cut well, it will reflect and refract light for maximum brightness and sparkle.
Clarity is a measure of the purity and rarity of the stone.
Clarity is a measure of the purity of the stone. A stone is graded as flawless if, under 10-power magnification, no inclusions (internal flaws) and no blemishes (external imperfections) are visible. A diamond with poor clarity has multiple inclusions, which impact the return of light and the diamond will appear cloudier. Diamond clarity goes from FL (flawless), IF (internally flawless), VVS1 VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included), VS1 VS2 (Very Slightly Included), SI1 SI2 (Slightly Included), to I1 I2 I3 (Imperfect).
Colour refers to the natural tint inherent in white diamonds.
Colour is the second most important of the 4Cs because the colour grade directly affects the stone’s appearance. Diamonds with a poor colour grade appear slightly yellow instead of the desired brilliant white. According to the chart - DEF are colourless, GHIJ are near colourless, KLM are faint yellow, NOPQR are very light yellow and STUVWXYZ are light yellow.
Carat denotes the weight of a diamond.
Carat denotes the weight of a diamond, not the size. A diamond may have a higher carat weight without appearing larger and two diamonds of the same carat weight can vary in size if one is cut deeper than the other. In other words, it is important to note that carat weight does not necessarily denote size. Taken by itself, carat weight does not determine a diamond’s value. For example, two one-carat stones can vary widely in price when clarity, colour and cut are taken into consideration. When that is understood, it is clear that large diamonds of peerless quality are rare.
If you have any requests regarding a bespoke diamond purchase, an evaluation on a purchase or a diamond masterclass, contact us on sarah@beyondsarah.com and we’d be delighted to assist you.