Diamond Education

The First C – Carat Weight

The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats. One carat is divided into 100 “points” so that a diamond of 25 points is described as a quarter of a carat or 0.25 carats. The greater the size of the carat, the greater its value. Here are some other examples of stone descriptions:

The Second C – Clarity

Almost all diamonds contain minute traces of non-crystallized carbon, the element from which they were born. Most are not visible to the naked eye and require magnification to become apparent. Called inclusions, they are nature’s finger print and make every diamond quite unique. However, the fewer there are, the more rare the stone will be.

*If Internally Flawless diamonds have minor surface inclusions they can be corrected through polishing.

Clarity is the term that is used to describe the amount of natural inclusions a diamond has. The three major international grading systems for classifying diamond inclusions (or clarity) are – GIA, EGL and AGS.

The Third C – Color

Color describes the amount of color the diamond contains. This can range from colorless to yellow to brown. Rare diamonds are described as colorless. D – H are the whitest, D being colorless and the most rare.

Some even rarer stones are naturally colored and are often referred to as Fancies. These diamonds are only found very occasionally and can come in tints such as green, red, blue or amber.

The Fourth C – Cut

Cut refers to the proportions, finish, symmetry, and polish of a diamond. These factors determine the fire and brilliant of a diamond. Well cut diamonds sell at a premium and poorly cut diamonds sell at discounted prices.

Of all the 4C’s, cut is the one most directly influenced by man. The other three are dictated by nature. The cut or make of a diamond will dramatically influence its fire and sparkle, for it is the cutter’s skill that releases its beauty.

It is the cut that enables a diamond to make the best use of light.

1. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the top of the stone.

2. If the cut of the diamond is too deep, some light escapes through the opposite side of the pavilion.

3. If the cut is too shallow, light escapes through the pavilion before it can be reflected.

Additional Cuts:

The Fifth C – Confidence

The Most Important; Confidence in White Carat Co. White Carat is the diamond expert and will be happy to explain the Four C’s to you. We will tell you the difference between various qualities of diamonds and how these differences affect the price.

White Carat Co. is well known for our great reputation. Because of this, we will help you choose the best quality diamond because we know that you’re looking for quality when you’re making one your most important purchases.

Deciding How much to spend on a Quality Diamond

All of the purchases you make for your home and yourself depreciate in value as they’re used over the years. Your diamond, on the other hand, is a store of value and will grow more precious with time; even more reason to buy the best quality stone you can, regardless of size or the design of the piece of jewellery.

A good guideline on how much to spend on your engagement ring is approximately one to two month’s salary. But it’s really up to you. Diamonds are available in such a wide range of prices, you’re sure to find one to suit your taste and budget.

You must remember that prices today are not the same as they were when your parents or grandparents married, so that you cannot expect to pay the same price for your diamond as they did. But unlike other important purchases you make on a very special occasions, such as an expensive wedding dress, a diamond will not fade in a box in the attic.

If you have any more questions about the 4C’s, feel free to call or stop into our showroom!

Conflict Diamonds

Every diamond in our showroom is Conflict Free. We have been purchasing our diamonds from cutters we have known between 10 – 25 years.

Today 99% of diamonds are Conflict Free. The Kimberley Process, which is supported by the United Nations, polices the distribution of Conflict Diamonds. For more information on Conflict Diamonds or the Kimberley Process visit http://www.diamondfacts.org

When you purchase a diamond from the internet, you never really know who’s on the other end. If you are trying to avoid purchasing Conflict Diamonds, we recommend purchasing diamonds from reputable companies, who know and can prove where their diamonds come from.