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Ideal Cuts

Oftentimes, it is up to you to figure out which diamond is
 better for the occasion. A sales representative in a jewelry store is there
 only to do one thing; get sales. They may even be willing to do this at their
 customer’s expense. These sales representatives will also try to get
 you to pay the highest price possible, even if that piece of jewelry is of
 inferior quality.

That is why it is imperative that before you attempt to
 make a major purchase like diamond jewelry, you at least take the time to
 understand the basics of how diamonds are graded. You should be able to
 confidently walk into any jewelry store and make an excellent selection when armed
 with this knowledge. Now, let’s get down to the meat of the matter.

How to Grade Diamonds

When grading a diamond, there are a few things that you
 need to examine. These are often referred to as the four Cs. They are:

<ul type="disc">
 <li class="MsoNormal">Cut</li>
 <li class="MsoNormal">Color</li>
 <li class="MsoNormal">Clarity</li>
 <li class="MsoNormal">Carat or carat
 weight</li>
</ul>

The four Cs is a concept developed by the GIA, professionally
 known as the Gemological Institute of America. This not-for-profit organization
 was founded in the 1930s and has since developed a standardized method for
 grading diamonds. Their methods have been world renowned because their
 evaluation techniques are fair, accurate, and reliable regardless of the value
 of the diamond or its location. Let us take some time to examine what each of
 the four Cs represents.

The Cut

Many experts believe the cut is one of the most important
 factors when grading a diamond, although it is the most difficult to quantify.
 That is because the cut directly affects how shiny or brilliant the diamond
 appears. Who would want to buy a diamond that is not brilliant and
 spectacular in appearance?

When the term cut is used, this refers to more than the
 shape of the diamond itself. Popular shapes include round, square, heart, oval,
 and triangular. On the contrary, the diamond’s cut indicates its proportions,
 how symmetrical it is, and how well the stone is polished.

When a diamond is cut well, it will be evident in three
 main ways:

<ul type="disc">
 <li class="MsoNormal">The
 Scintillation - The diamond will sparkle when a light is shined upon it</li>
 <li class="MsoNormal">The Brilliance
 – The diamond will shine brilliantly and reflect a bright, white light
 from within and on its surface</li>
 <li class="MsoNormal">The Fire – The
 diamond will also reflect a visible spectrum of colors at certain angles</li>
</ul>

Remember that diamonds are from humble beginnings, first
 just rough stone-like formations. The diamond cutter must carefully examine the
 stone to devise the best way to cut the stone to highlight its beauty and
 maintain its carat weight.

The GIA scale for evaluating the cut of a diamond consists
 of five tiers. This scale ranges from excellent to poor. It goes without saying
 that diamonds graded as excellent would be the most brilliant. The GIA uses several
 measurements, such as the crown height and total depth, to assess the cut of
 each diamond.

Color

Color is believed to be the second most important factor
 when grading a diamond. The ideal diamond should be luminescent and crystal
 clear. Icy-white, transparent diamonds will fetch a much higher price than
 those with an obvious tint of color.

The GIA has determined that the <a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-color/">color of a diamond</a>&nbsp;can
 be graded on a scale from D to Z. Diamonds with the least amount of color will
 be graded as a D. Diamonds with obvious tints of brown or yellow will be graded
 as or near category Z. Diamonds which are labeled grades D to H should be
 colorless or near-colorless to the naked eye.

If the diamond has already been attached to a ring or
 another type of jewelry, note that it may reflect some color from the ring.
 This is especially so in the case of gold jewelry, which often gives diamonds a
 slightly yellow appearance.

The diamonds are graded this way because the presence of a
 yellow or brown tint significantly reduces their ability to reflect the
 brilliance or the fire that we have come to expect from our diamonds. These
 diamonds thus fetch a lower price because while they are beautiful in their own
 unique way, they will appear relatively dull or cloudy.&nbsp;

Clarity

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-clarity/">clarity of the diamond</a>&nbsp;refers
 to whether there are any inclusions or flaws in the diamond. The GIA scale for
 the clarity of a diamond ranges from flawless to I3. There are 11 categories on
 this scale.

A flawless diamond has no inclusions or flaws even when examined
 up to 10 times the normal magnification or 10x loupe. Only an experienced <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemology" target="_blank">gemologist</a>&nbsp;would
 be able to detect these minute flaws.

When the inclusion or flaw is not visible to the naked eye,
 the diamond is referred to as an ‘eye clean’ diamond. These are among the
 rarest of all diamonds. Less than 1% of the diamonds on Earth fall into this
 category.

A diamond with a grade of I3 has obvious flaws, which can
 even be seen with the naked eye. These flaws can include shards of other stones
 or scratches that might have occurred when the diamond was cut or polished.

Stones at the lower end of the scale are much easier to
 find. However, you need to examine your diamonds carefully before purchasing.
 These flaws or inclusions may detract from the beauty of the ring. Also, two
 stones with the same rating may have completely different flaws.

Just as no two diamonds are the same, no two inclusions are
 the same. You must examine the diamonds carefully to determine which flaw is
 more obvious.

Carat Weight

The carat weight is the most popular method to grade a
 diamond. When someone brags about their diamond jewelry, they quote the carat first. They are unlikely to state anything about its cut or lack of flaws
 readily. That is why this is such an integral aspect of determining the grade
 of a diamond.

Firstly, it should be noted that this refers to the actual
 weight of the diamond and not its size. However, the size of the diamond does
 have an incredible influence on the carat weight. Long ago, jewelers relied on
 the relatively uniform-sized beans of a locust tree, known as carobs, to
 determine the weight of a diamond. Many believe that this was how the weight of
 the diamond came to be measured in carats.

Regardless of how accurate that measure was, the carat
 became synonymous with diamonds and precious metals like gold. However, when
 the term carat is used in reference to gold, it describes the purity of the
 gold.

Today, we have developed much more reliable means to
 standardize the weight of diamonds. Sadly though, many do not believe that the
 carat weight should have much bearing on the value of a diamond. This could not
 be farther from the truth.

While diamonds are valued more for their brilliance than
 their weight, the carat weight of the diamond can be used to differentiate two
 diamonds of similar cut, clarity, and color. The diamond with more carat weight
 will fetch a higher price.

Also, as mentioned earlier, the carat weight is often
 determined by the size of the diamond. Larger diamonds provide a greater
 surface area for white and colored light to be reflected. Larger diamonds may
 thus appear more brilliant than smaller diamonds of a similar grade.

Larger diamonds often tend to be much more expensive than
 smaller diamonds, even when of inferior quality. That is because larger
 diamonds are cut from larger rough stones. These are rare and hard to find when
 searching for natural diamonds instead of <a href="https://www.petragems.com/blog/man-made-or-lab-created-diamonds/">lab-grown</a>.&nbsp;The
 rarity of these diamonds thus allows jewelers to demand a higher price.

Many people are tempted to compromise on the cut of the diamond
 simply to get a higher carat weight. They would prefer the prestige of saying
 they have a one or 2-carat ring. Please do not make this mistake. Your friends
 and relatives will be far more impressed by a smaller diamond that is cut in a
 way to show off the best of its brilliance than a larger diamond that simply
 does not shine.

Now that all this has been said, you may still wonder how
 to choose the best diamond. Please allow me to provide a few simple
 suggestions.

Diamond Grading 101 and the GIA

Jewelers have been in the industry for years, so it will be
 hard to challenge them if you are not an expert yourself. All you need to do is
 focus on the four Cs. Speak confidently about what you know, and they will be
 less likely to try and deceive you with an inferior quality diamond.

Be on the lookout for poorly cut diamonds that are dull.
 These do not reflect the kind of brilliance and fire that is associated with <a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/what-are-the-perfect-proportions-for-an-excellent-ideal-cut-diamond-diamond-brilliance/">well-cut</a>.&nbsp;Beware
 of crafty sales representatives that use especially lighted displays to trick
 you into believing their diamonds are good quality. When in doubt, ask to see
 the stones in natural light.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask to see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-certification-gia-ags-hrd-igi-egl-gsi-gcal-pgs/">the diamond certification</a>.
 You work very hard for your money and deserve the best value. If
 no diamond certification is available, compare the diamond being presented with
 one already certified.

If you aim to find the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/diamonds/">best quality diamond at the lowest price</a>,&nbsp;try to
 compromise on the shape of the diamond than the quality. Avoid round-shaped
 diamonds. Round-shaped diamonds require the cutter to remove and even waste much
 of the stone to get a distinctly round shape.

It would also be wise to shop around. Do not feel compelled
 to take the first option presented to you. Jewelry stores in some locations
 tend to have higher prices than others. Compare the prices from a variety of
 stores and choose wisely. Why would anyone want to waste their hard-earned
 money?

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when grading a
 diamond. This is especially so since each diamond uniquely blends the four Cs.
 Whatever you decide, be sure to do a bit more research on the characteristics
 of the type of diamond you intend to buy. It would also be wise to only purchase
 from reputable jewelry stores or online dealers. Last but certainly not least,
 take a long hard look at their return policy before handing over a few months’
 worth of your savings.&nbsp;

How to Choose the Best Diamond

We have all heard the saying that diamonds are a girl’s
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        When a

How the Diamond Grading Works

Sharif Khan

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