Diamond Guide Diamond 4Cs Standard Diamond quality certification is based on 4Cs and widely uses 4C standards, including diamond carat, weight, cut, clarity and color. The higher the 4C rating, the higher the value of the diamond.
Carat weight
Carat weight is a measure of diamond weight, with 1 carat equal to 200 milligrams.
For the weight of a diamond, 1 carat is equal to 100 "cents," making the carat weight accurate to two decimal places. Jewelers can simply use " cent" to describe a diamond weighing less than 1 carat. For example, a 0.25-carat diamond is also called a " twenty-five-cent". Diamonds above 1 carat will be described by " carats" accurate to the nearest hundredth. For example, a diamond weighing 1.08 carats would be described as " one point and eight carats."
The bigger the diamond, the rarer it is. Therefore, the price of a diamond increases as its carat weight increases. Yet even if two diamonds weigh the same, their value (and price) can be very different. Because the value selection of diamonds depends on the other three criteria in the 4C standards: clarity, color and cut.
The value of a diamond not only depends on its carat weight, but also on the other 4C standards, all of which are indispensable.
Cutting
The high refractive index creates the dazzling light that makes diamonds famous around the world. Many people equate a diamond cut with its shape (round, emerald, square, pear, etc.). In fact, determining the grade of a diamond’s cut depends on how its facets interact with light.
To determine the cut grade of a standard round brilliant diamond, GIA calculates the proportions of each facet, which affect the diamond's face-up appearance. From this, GIA can identify the brilliance of each diamond due to the interaction of light and facets:
Brightness: White light reflected from the interior and exterior of a diamond
Fire color: white light is analyzed into colorful spectral colors
Sparkle: The sparkle produced by a diamond and the pattern of light and dark areas within the diamond due to light reflection
In addition, GIA's cut grade appraisal also includes evaluating the correlation between the weight and diameter of the diamond, the thickness of the girdle (which can affect the solidity of the diamond), the symmetry of the facets and the polishing quality of each facet, etc. The diamond design and Cutting technology.
Clarity
Natural diamonds are made from carbon elements that have been tested under high temperature and pressure. This process also causes each diamond to have internal features, which we call " inclusions", and those on the surface are called " surface features." ".
The criteria for evaluating diamond clarity include the number, size, conspicuity, nature, location and impact of the above characteristics on the overall appearance of the diamond. Although there is no absolutely flawless natural diamond in the world, generally speaking, the higher the clarity of the diamond, the higher the value.
The inclusions and characteristics of diamonds are usually very small and can only be seen by professional diamond appraisers. To the naked eye, VS1 diamonds and SI2 diamonds may look exactly the same, but their quality and value are very different. Therefore, professional and accurate clarity identification is very important.
Color
For most precious diamonds, the standard for color identification depends on how colorless it is.
A diamond with pure chemical composition and excellent structure is colorless like a pure drop of water and has a high value. GIA created the D-Z color grading system to identify the degree of colorlessness of diamonds by comparing them with “ master stones” of different colors under precisely controlled lighting and observation conditions.
GIA's D-Z color grading system is the industry-recognized grading standard. D grade is the highest color grade for diamonds, meaning it is completely colorless. From D to Z, as the color deepens, the diamond grade gradually decreases. Although the color difference between diamonds is very subtle and difficult for ordinary people to distinguish, it will cause a huge difference in diamond quality and price.
WILLS 5C – Review
WILLS' criteria for carefully selecting diamonds for you are not limited to the 4Cs. Diamonds are natural minerals and cannot be described in words. Our appraisers will personally select the diamonds with the highest sparkle for our customers in order to select the top quality according to the 4Cs. The quality is for customers to choose, use a professional perspective to criticize the quality of diamonds, and tell customers what is worth referring to besides the certificate.
