Education

DIAMONDS

The 4C’s Four characteristics that determine the quality and value of a diamond

All diamonds are rare. The 4C's - Carat weight, Cut, Color and Clarity - explain why diamonds that appear to be virtually identical may show wide range in value. Graduations within the 4c's make for an infinite number of combinations to determine the value of a diamond. There is a range of beautiful diamonds for any price you want to pay. It's just a matter of matching price with quality and size.

Carat

The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. One carat is divided into 100 "points", so that a diamond of 75 points weighs .75 carats. Carat weight is the easiest of the 4C's

Cut

Cut is the human contribution to a diamond's beauty. Cut includes STYLE and MAKE. Style means the shape of the stone. Make means proportions and finish. When cut to good proportions, the diamond is better able to handle light, creating more scintillation, more sparkle.

Color

Diamonds are found with a range of colors, from faint yellow or brown through very rare pinks, blues, greens and other colors known as "fancies". However the color for a diamond is no color. It is a totally colored diamond that allows white light to pass effortlessly through it and be dispersed as rainbow of colors.

Clarity

To determine a diamond's clarity, it is viewed under 10 power magnification by a trained eye. Most diamonds contain very tiny natural inclusions. However, the fewer and smaller the inclusions are, the less likely it is that they will interfere with the passage of light through the diamond and the more beautiful the diamond will be.

·      FL-IF (Flawless, Internally flawless) - No inclusions visible (by an expert) under 10x magnification
·      VVS1-VVS2 (Very, very slight inclusions) - Minute, extremely difficult to find under 10x magnification
·      VS1-VS2 (Very slight inclusions) - Minor, difficult to find under 10x magnification
·      SI1-SI2 (Small inclusions) - Noticeable, relatively easy to find under 10x magnification
·      I1-I3 (Imperfect) - Obvious under 10x, just visible to the naked eye.

Cleaning your diamonds

Diamonds do need care to keep them at their brilliant best.One of the following three methods may work for you:

1.      Prepare a small bowl of small suds with any mild liquid detergent, brush the diamond jewelry gently with soft brush, rinse and dry with soft lint-free cloth.

2.      Make a half and half solution of water and household amonia in a cup. Soak the diamond for 30 minutes brush with a soft brush.

3.      Buy one of the brand-name jewelry cleaners, and follow the instructions.

Do not let your diamond jewelry come in contact with chlorine bleach, it can discolor or pit the mounting. Don't wear your diamond when you are doing rough work. Even though a diamond is durable, it can be chipped by a hard blow along it's grain.