The tradition of wearing diamonds in jewelry goes way back to the ancient Egyptians, who used to wear them as a mark of prestige and status. The association of the diamond with engagement rings is not quite as old as that. It began in the late 1400s in Europe. Diamonds were seen as charms at that time. More and more well-to-do people decided to give a diamond ring at the time of engagement. This wasn’t possible to the wider public until the 19 th century, when huge diamond mines were discovered in Africa. Supply and demand both increased and design improved.
Today the middle class can, and regularly does buy diamonds for engagement rings. But everyone should be aware of a diamond’s quality level before buying the stone. After all, who doesn’t want to get the best bargain possible? Understanding the factors that determine a diamond’s worth (the 4 Cs: cut, color, carat weight, and clarity) will help a person to find the best diamond available in his or her price range. And getting the best quality diamond may be a symbol of something much more important.
Cut
What does a diamond’s cut refer to? Cut has to do with the angles and proportions that a skilled (and hopefully talented) craftsman makes. He starts with rough diamonds and turns them into the more polished version. Diamonds reflect light from one facet to another, dispersing the light to reflect it out of the top for greater brilliance. The better the cut, the more brilliant the diamond will appear. A less well-cut diamond may leak some light out of the sides or bottom.
Color
Color, like clarity and carat weight, is determined by natural forces as diamonds are formed in the earth. Diamonds can be that wonderful icy color which looks great against white gold or platinum. They can also be a warmer white (warmer colors look nice against yellow gold) and many other shades as well. The most colorless diamonds are considered the most valuable, and they are graded on a scale from D (the most colorless) to Z (least colorless). Diamonds that are meant to be colored, such as yellow, blue, or pink, are graded differently, and may even be more valuable than their clear counterparts.
Carat
Carat is another, and perhaps the most obvious, indicator of a diamond’s value. It has to do with weight rather than size. A single carat is 200 milligrams or 100 points. Larger diamonds are, of course, worth more. Traditional carat size for a diamond ring ranges from 1/3 carat to 2 carats.
Clarity
Clarity, along with cut, determines brilliance, and is a measure of the size and quantity of internal flaws a diamond contains. Most diamonds being sold at a store will not have any inclusions (flaws) visible to the naked eye, so clarity is determined by viewing the diamond under very strong magnification. A diamond rated IF is the most valuable and is considered “internally flawless.” Few diamonds meet this standard, and the ones that do will be much more expensive.
Knowing the four Cs will enable you to have a standard by which to judge the diamonds you are considering purchasing, something that is always helpful for those looking to acquire the most quality for their money.
By Laura Hogg