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YOUR GUIDE TO THE FOUR C's

A clear understanding of the aspects of a diamond's qualities and how these qualities relate to its beauty and value will add to one's enjoyment and confidence in the purchase of a finely cut diamond.

Cut | Color | Clarity | Carat Weight

Cut

Proportions of the Ideal Cut	The Ideal Cut When a round diamond has been cut to "Ideal" proportions by a master cutter, it is a splendor to behold. The Ideal Cut Diamond describes a round brilliant diamond that has been cut to exact and mathematically proven proportions. Its symmetry, with 58 exactly placed facets, produces the ultimate in lustre and beauty. When a diamond is cut to the ideal proportions, all of the light entering from any direction is totally reflected through the top and is dispersed into a display of sparkling flashes and rainbow colors.
The Ideal Cut  Light* entering the diamond reflects internally from facet to facet and is reflected back through the top only, creating maximum brilliance.	The Ideal Cut
Too Deep	Too Deep When a diamond is cut too deep, light* leaks out of the bottom, brilliance is lost and the center of the diamond will appear to dark.
Too Shallow When a diamond is cut too shallow, light* leaks out of the bottom, brilliance is lost and the diamond appears watery, glassy and dark.	Too Shallow

*Arrows on the diagram simulate the flow of light in the diamond.

Color

Most diamonds, although appearing colorless, actually have slight tones of yellow or brown. As these tones become more easily apparent, the rarity and the cost decrease. Ideal cutting dramatizes the rare splendor of a diamond because it produces such dazzling brilliance.

Clarity

Practically all diamonds contain naturally occurring internal characteristics called inclusions. The size, nature, location and amount of inclusions determine a diamond's clarity grade and affect its cost. One unique advantage of the Ideal Cut is that its sparkle can mask otherwise noticeable inclusions.

FL-IF No inclusion visible (by an expert) under 10x magnification. FL=Flawless IF=Internally Flawless

VVS1 - VVS2 Minute-extremely difficult to find under 10x VVS=Very, very slight inclusions.

VS1 - VS2 Minor-difficult to find under 10x. VS=Very slight inclusions

SI1 - SI2 Noticeable, relatively easy to find under 10x. SI=Small inclusions

I1 - I2 Obvious under 10x. Just visible to the naked eye. I=Imperfect

Carat Weight

The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. One caret is divided into 100 parts called "points".

• 1 ct.=1.00
• 1/2 ct.=0.50

The value of two diamonds of the same weight can vary greatly depending on the color, clarity and especially the cut. Below are two identical pieces of rough, (uncut diamonds) each of the same quality and value.

From one piece of rough a diamond has been cut to ideal proportions, retaining a weight of one carat. The light is totally reflected through the top.

This piece of rough has been "spread" in its cutting, resulting in a diamond weighing approximately 1.40 ct. NOTE: The girdle is thicker, the table is much larger, the angles are exaggerated, all at the expense of that diamond's ability to reflect light.

One can see that the value of a diamond can vary as much as 40% in the cutting alone.

Color and Clarity diagrams courtesy of the Gemological Institute of America and the American Gem Society

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