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Diamond quality can be affected by its natural formation process and how it is cut. In nature, diamonds can present in a variety of forms, from different colors to even different levels of clarity and inclusions. Using the 4Cs (Clarity, Color, Carat weight, and Cut), diamond cutters prioritize what the customer wants. Diamond cutters can cut inclusions to get a flawless diamond or cut as little as possible to keep the diamond as big as possible. Diamond quality also relies on the raw material that the diamond consists of as well as the workmanship of the cutter. Read on to find out more about the four factors that affect diamond quality.
Clarity
Although natural diamonds have structural irregularities and crystals due to the process of diamond formation, most buyers want their diamonds to be as clear as possible. To find out if the diamond that you want is flawless, you can use the GIA’s diamond clarity grading scale, which ranges from Included to Flawless.
Color
Most people believe that most diamonds are white, but actually, most diamonds are considered to be colorless. However, they are not completely colorless, with some having hints of gray, brown, or even yellow. Even though most people desire a completely colorless diamond, which is often very hard to achieve as other factors like the cut of the diamond come into play as well. Round and brilliant cuts don’t show color due to the ability of the diamond to reflect more light inside the stone to make It appear lighter. Cuts like Asscher and emerald cuts are often less brilliant due to their shape, as their tips show more color.
Carat Weight
Carat weight refers to how much your diamond weighs. A “carat” is a unit of measurement that is equal to 200 milligrams, which is then divided into 100 ‘points’. This allows us to measure carats up to the hundredth decimal place. The thing to take note of is that as the carat weight increases, so does the price of the diamond because the bigger the diamond, the rarer it is. However, the value of the diamond is not just measured based on the carat weight. Clarity, color, and cut all matter as well.
Cut
When talking about the cut quality of a diamond, we look at the diamond’s proportions, design, and finish. Proportion refers to the relative size and angles of the diamonds, design refers to the diamond’s durability and weight ratio, while the finish refers to the symmetry and polish of the diamond. These factors work together to highlight the amazing workmanship that went into cutting the diamond, which determines how it interacts with light to affect its fire, scintillation, and brightness. One of the ways to check for brightness and scintillation is to hold your diamond under diffused white light. If your diamond reflects a lot of light, flashes a lot when you turn it, and is even in its distribution of bright and dark areas, you can rest assured that your diamond has been cut well!