The four Cs: The main
characteristics of diamonds

The 4Cs are the key characteristics of diamonds: carat, cut, color and clarity . Taking a few minutes now to learn about them will make your purchasing experience smarter, easier and more enjoyable. Not only will you know the exact quality of the diamond you're considering, but you'll be confident that you're paying a fair market price for it. The 4Cs give you the information you need to compare the characteristics of diamonds within kivuko jewelry store or from one store to the next.

Most gemologists will agree that, of all the four C's, cut is the most important. The cut of a diamond influences the way it reflects light, which in turn determines its brilliance. Even a diamond with perfect color and clarity may appear lifeless if it does not have a good cut.

In a well-cut diamond, light enters the stone and is reflected around the mirror-like facets before exiting through the top, or table. This careful orchestration of the movement of light inside the stone and back to the eye is what causes the fiery sparkle we recognize as brilliance. A skilled professional can maximize this effect by cutting a diamond to very precise proportions. Too shallow a cut will allow light to escape through the bottom of the stone, causing it to look dull. Too deep a cut will cause light to be lost through the diamond's sides, making it appear dark.

Depth is not the only important factor; other angles and proportions matter as well. In fact diamond cutters now use sophisticated computer modeling tools to give them a full picture of how light will behave inside a stone, allowing them to adjust proportions to optimize a diamond's brilliance, as well as its brightness, scintillation, and fire, the qualities known collectively as the diamond's "face-up appearance."

Some round diamonds come with certifications that supply their cut grade. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) ranks diamonds as Excellent, Very Good, Good, or Fair. The AGS (American Gem Society) ranks them as Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, or Fair. kivuko.com represents both Round GIA "Excellent cut" diamonds and Round AGS "Ideal cut" diamonds as "Ideal" on our site, since these two terms both refer to the highest quality of diamond cut.

Round cut diamonds, it should be noted, are the only ones that can achieve a grading of "Ideal." Other cuts, such as Princess, Asscher, or Emerald, will receive, at the highest, a grading of "Very Good." For diamonds that do not have AGS or GIA certifications, Kivuko.com will calculate the cut based on the stone's depth, table percentages, symmetry and polish.

Ideal

A diamond described as Ideal represents the highest standards of cut, with only the top 3% of all diamonds falling in this category. An Ideal Cut diamond reflects nearly all the light that enters it and displays maximum brilliance and fire. For those who want the very best that money can buy, this is the cut to choose.

Very Good (VG)

A diamond described as Very Good reflects nearly as much light as an Ideal cut diamond, and represents approximately the top 15% of diamonds based on cut. The proportions may overlap with many of the proportions of an Ideal cut, with slight variations from the preferred range that allow the cutter to create a larger stone. A diamond with a Very Good cut has exceptional brilliance and is generally priced slightly lower than an Ideal cut diamond.

Good

A diamond described as Good reflects most of the light that enters it, and is much less expensive than a Very Good cut. A diamond in this category represents roughly the top 25% of diamonds based on cut. Its proportions may vary from the preferred range because the cutter has opted to maximize the size of the stone rather than creating a smaller Very Good quality diamond. For those shopping on a budget, a diamond in this range offers good quality and excellent value.

Fair

A diamond described as Fair represents the top 35% of diamonds based on cut. Though it is still a quality cut, it reflects less light and displays less brilliance than a Good Cut diamond. Diamonds in this range are typically cut to maximize size over other factors.

No two diamonds are alike. A diamond's most distinguishing characteristics are its inclusions, marks that are often invisible to the naked eye. However, under a jeweler's magnifying loupe or microscope they can look like crystals, tiny rivers, or clouds. A diamond's clarity is determined by the presence or absence of inclusions--fewer inclusions mean better clarity--and how visible they are. The greater a diamond's clarity, the greater its brilliance and value. A diamond categorized as internally flawless will have no inclusions, but this is extremely rare.

Diamonds with very, very small inclusions are graded as VVS1 or VVS2. Those with larger inclusions are considered lower-grade. Diamonds with inclusions that are visible with the naked eye are graded I1 to I2.

Though diamonds come in a wide range of colors, colorless diamonds have traditionally been considered the most valuable. Most diamonds are graded on a scale using the letters of the alphabet, from D (colorless), the best grade, through Z (a light yellow). It is difficult for the untrained eye to notice such variations in color unless stones are being compared side by side. The comparatively rare colored diamonds are known as fancy-colored and are also quite valuable. They range in hue from the more common yellow (also graded Z+ on the alphabetic scale) to pink, blue, brown, champagne, and even black and white.

Diamonds that are graded D, E, and F tend to be the most expensive because of their rarity. However, any diamond you buy should have a good balance of cut, color, and clarity, so as to impart the most brilliance and dazzle possible.

Carat
Illustration of carat weight

A diamond's weight is measured in carats, with one carat being equivalent to 100 points. You will often see a diamond referred to as a 3/4-carat stone or a 75-point diamond. Larger stones are often more highly valued, but size should not be the only consideration--high brilliance, which varies according to clarity, cut, and color grade, is highly desirable in a diamond.

Shape
Illustration of diamond shapes

The traditional round cut provides a combination of the best qualities a diamond can have. However, there are other shapes that can emphasize a diamond's different features. The choice of a shape is best based on personal taste and the design of the jewelry.

Diamonds, as the hardest substance on earth, are resistant to damage. However, diamond jewelry is set in different metals, and care will vary from piece to piece. The girdle can be chipped by a hard blow, making a protective setting extremely important. Diamonds should be cleaned in a solution of one part ammonia to six parts water, using a gentle scrubbing brush to remove any dirt. It is a good idea to have them cleaned once a year by a professional jeweler, at which time the security of the setting can be checked as well. Diamond jewelry should be stored in a soft cloth pouch to ensure that the stone will not scratch other jewelry.

A diamond certificate represents independent verification that the stone purchased has all the qualities of cut, color, clarity, shape, and weight expected. It is a further indication of the condition and value of that diamond as represented on our site. Such certificates are issued by several agencies employing highly trained gemologists and provide an unbiased and accurate evaluation of the diamond. These gemologists scrutinize each stone to analyze its dimensions, clarity, cut, color, finish, symmetry, and other details.

Diamonds purchased from the kivuko.com may be certified by the the Gemological Institute of America (www.gia.org), or the International Gemological Institute (www.igiworldwide.com). The type of certificate provided will be noted in the product specifications of your jewelry purchase; if you do not see a certificate type noted, one will not be provided.

sources:amazon,theleodiamond