Diamonds International Barbados Diamond Buying Guide

Anyone who has ever shopped for a diamond knows that two stones that look similar to the naked eye may have dramatically different price tags.  To help you make a more informed diamond buying decision, Diamonds International offers the following explanation of how stones are rated according to the “4 C’s” of diamond quality – and the impact these factors can have on the price of your stone.

Carat – This refers to the weight of a diamond. Carats are the measure of weight for most gemstones, with one carat equaling approximately 200 milligrams (0.2 grams). There are 142 carats to an ounce. Carats are further divided into points, with one carat equaling 100 points. All other properties being equal, larger diamonds are rarer than smaller ones and thus more expensive. For instance, a one carat stone will generally cost more than a 95 pointer (0.95 carat).

Clarity – This refers to the presence of surface or internal flaws within a diamond caused during its formation or during the cutting process. When the marks occur on the surface, they are known as blemishes. When they occur internally, they are called inclusions. All diamonds have such flaws. Inclusions and other flaws can interfere with the passage of light through a stone, diminishing its sparkle. Therefore, the fewer (or smaller) the inclusions, the more valuable the diamond. In the rarest and most expensive diamonds, the inclusions are too tiny to see even at 10X magnification, which is why these stones are called “flawless” (FL) or “internally flawless” (IF) according to the clarity grading system used by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). At the other end of the spectrum are “imperfect” stones (I₁, I₂, I₃ grades) with visible faults that mar their beauty. In between are “very, very slightly included” (VVS₁, VVS₂ grades); “very slightly included” (VS₁ and VS₂ grades); and “slightly included” (SI₁, SI₂ grades).

Color – This refers to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. The body color of a white diamond can range from colorless to light yellow. Even the slightest hint of color can have a negative impact on a white diamond’s value. (The exception would be “fancy” natural colored diamonds, which come in pink, blue, green, yellow, brown, red and other hues and are valued according to the richness and depth of their color). Most white diamonds are graded on the GIA color scale that begins with “D” for colorless and continues all the way down to “Z,” with the yellow tint becoming more visible to the naked eye as you move down the alphabet. Keep in mind that even stones in the lower range of the color scale can appear colorless in the right jewelry setting. For instance, yellow metal (gold) hides traces of color in a white diamond, while white metals like platinum and white gold enhance stone color and are therefore a better choice for white diamonds at the higher end of the color spectrum (such as D-F).

Cut – This refers to the execution of a diamond’s design, the skill in which it was cut, the quality of its polish, and the overall symmetry of the stone. Each diamond is cut according to an exact mathematical formula. The most common shape, the round brilliant, has 58 facets, or small, flat polished planes designed to yield the maximum amount of light to be reflected back to the viewer. This reflection, known as brilliance, is extremely important in evaluating a diamond’s quality and value. Other common diamond shapes include emerald/rectangular, marquise, pear, oval and square/princess. Although there are several systems for determining the quality of a diamond’s cut, they can be broadly characterized as Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. In Ideal and Excellent cut stones, most or all of the light that enters the diamond is reflected back to the eye. Meanwhile, a diamond with a Poor cut is off in its proportions and loses most of its light out the sides and bottom. In other words, a well-cut diamond has the right angles and proportions to maximize its fire and sparkle, while a poorly cut diamond is dull and may even have some “dead” spots inside.