When purchasing a diamond ring, it is important to be aware of the Four Cs: Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat weight. These are the characteristics that determine a diamond’s value and how sparkly it will appear. Here are the four Cs of buying diamond rings.
The first C is cut. Cut does not refer to the shape of the diamond, but rather the angles and proportions of the facets. A well-cut diamond will have facets that evenly reflect light, resulting in maximum brilliance and fire. When a diamond is cut too shallow or too deep, light leaks out from the bottom or side of the stone, causing it to appear dull.
The second C is clarity. This refers to how many blemishes or inclusions (internal imperfections) are present in a diamond. Diamonds with few blemishes and inclusions are more valuable than those with more imperfections. The size and location of these also affect their impact on appearance; a small inclusion near the center of a stone can make it appear cloudy, while one nearer the edge may be less noticeable.
The third C is color. In most diamonds, these range from shades of yellowish-brown to pure white (colorless). Colorless diamonds are rarer and more valuable than those with body color (a yellowish tint). However, fancy colored diamonds-such as blues, pinks, or greens-are even rarer still and can be worth millions of dollars depending on their intensity and hue.
Finally, there is Carat weight which determines how big a diamond appears and therefore affects its overall size; heavy stones appear larger than lighter ones of equal width at faceup view despite having equal surface areas because our brains perceive them as being heavier due to gravity’s effect down through our field of vision. Larger diamonds are rarer than smaller ones so they tend to command higher prices per carat; two stones may have very different values although both weigh one carat. Note Carat should not be confused with karat (with a K), which is used to measure gold purity. A one Carat Diamond weighs 200 milligrams.
When shopping for diamond rings it is important to keep in mind The Four Cs in order to assess value and quality. First, consider Cut determined by angles and facets, then Clarity influenced by the number of internal blemishes or cloudiness, followed by Color which ranges from hues of yellowish-brown to white, and finally, Carat weight which size appears larger or smaller based on gravity’s effect down through field vision. Keep the four Cs of buying diamond rings top of mind when making your final purchase!