In this blog post we will discuss the last of the Four Cs which is known as the diamond’s cut. The cut can also be referred to as the diamond’s “make” and is extremely important because it directly influences the diamond’s brilliance, or sparkle. Obviously, when it comes to diamonds, sparkle is what catches the eye.

• No Matter What, A Diamond That Doesn’t Sparkle Isn’t Worth Buying

It’s certainly possible to find a lower priced diamond at one jeweler versus another. This could be true even if the diamond is identical in carat weight, color and clarity. Some jewelers purchase diamonds that are cut too shallow or too deep and as a result this causes the light that enters the stone to leak out the bottom, or out the sides of the stone. The stone appears dull and dark to the visible eye and as a result, highly undesirable. A diamond that doesn’t sparkle is never worth purchasing.

• What Are The Parts of a Cut?

Cut addresses the number, placement, shape and angling of the facets that create a polished diamond. The facets cause the diamond to function as a prism that captures and reflects the light inside the diamond. The quality of the cut is determined by the height of the crown relative to the depth of the pavilion and the width of the table.

• Appearance

The way a stone is cut can affect how a diamond looks in a number of ways. If a diamond has a very deep cut then it will end up looking smaller than a diamond that is the same weight that is cut well. In the same fashion, a diamond that has a shallow cut will appear larger than another diamond of the same weight that is cut well. Either way, a diamond that is cut either too deep or too shallow is typically undesirable.

With this blog post we will delve into one of the Four Cs called clarity. Clarity refers to the stone’s purity and is evaluated while viewing the diamond under 10x magnification. Almost all diamonds contain small natural birthmarks that are present to different degrees. Nature is almost never perfect and because diamonds are natural, that extends to diamonds as well. At Shane Co. we use these marks to identify a specific diamond because each set of marks can serve as a fingerprint that uniquely identifies the stone.

• Why Is There A Spot In My Diamond?

The small specks in almost every diamond consist of “naturals” and can be found on the outside or inclusions on the inside of the stone. Inclusions can be anything that is trapped within the crystal of the diamond and are almost inevitable in all stones.  Inclusions can be defined in the following ways.

• How is Clarity Graded?

There are several grading systems that are used within the industry but the most recognized system is the one developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Here is a look at their system. 

I hope this helps clear up what the term clarity means as it pertains to diamonds.

• Introduction

When selecting a diamond engagement ring, there are many factors to consider prior to making a purchase. The task might seem daunting at first, but with a little bit of knowledge you can walk into any showroom feeling confident in making an educated purchase. When evaluating a diamond, it is best to look at the carat, color, clarity, and cut.

• What is a carat?

Contrary to popular opinion, carat (ct) actually refers to the weight of the diamond and not the size. Typically when discussing stones of less than one carat, jewelers talk about the stone in terms of points. This is because a carat is divided into 100 points, and thus .01 carat would equal one point. For instance a ½ carat stone would be referred to as 50 points. This analogy doesn’t always prove to be true because diamonds cannot be all uniformly cut to an exact carat, or half carat, so oftentimes the carat weight (1/4 carat, 1/2 carat, etc.)  is an estimate of the actual weight of the diamond. For instance a ¼ carat stone can refer to a stone range anywhere between .23 – .27 carats.

• How does weight affect price?

Diamonds become rarer as their weight is increased, and as such, the more valuable and costly each stone is. The larger the stone, the more the cost in carat increases at an unbalanced rate. For instance, a 2-carat diamond is always more expensive than two 1-carat diamonds that are the exact same quality.  It is crucial to note that when assessing a diamond, weight and size are not the same thing.

•  What to keep an eye on

For centuries diamond cutters have sought to produce a diamond with the highest possible weight while not sacrificing quality from the rough diamond. It’s easy to say that bigger must inherently be better, but you really need to consider what is right for you. The quality of the diamond, which we will cover in a successive blog post, must also be considered in addition to budget.