By Cherisse R. Bonefont Mgr., Gordon’s Jewelers, Lawrenceville, NJ

Everyone knows that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. But if you don’t know what you’re buying, you could end up with a bad friend for life. To help you become a savvy sparkle shopper, here is some “need to know” information.

The 4 C’s Simplified

Imagine that the world’s supply of diamonds fits into that pyramid above. Now, imagine the most common diamonds at the bottom of the pyramid and the rarest diamonds at the top. Only 80% of diamonds mined are actually of gem quality. From that 80%, only 20% make it into that giant pyramid that every jewelry store has. These diamonds are then priced according to their rarity. The 4 C’s that you always hear about are the factors that determine the price based on that rarity. In this article, we’ll help you navigate the pyramid to find your perfect diamond.

Color

When we speak of the diamond’s color, we are actually talking about the lack of it. Color refers to the ‘face-up’ color of the diamond when you look at it. The more clear, or white, the diamond is, the rarer it is. This quality is always listed as a letter. D, E, and F are considered colorless. G, H, and I and sometimes J are near colorless. In my opinion, this is the most important factor because you can tell with the naked eye if your diamond has a tint of yellow to it. None of the other C’s are as apparent to the naked, untrained eye as this.

Cut

Contrary to popular belief, the ‘cut’ of the diamond does not refer to the shape of it. When we say cut, we are actually talking about how the diamond cutter cuts the rough stone in its height and depth. If a diamond is cut too shallow or deep, it loses light. If it is well cut, the cuts or facets of the diamond act like mirrors and help to reflect the light, creating that all important rainbow effect. The cut is the only man-made factor in a diamond, yet it can determine up to 60% of a diamonds price!

Carat Weight

Did you know that it takes 1 million mined diamonds to reach a single one-carat diamond of gem quality? That’s a lot of earth to move! That by itself makes this carat weight rare. The weight of a diamond is set by carats. This is also how diamond prices are listed. You can think of carat weights like pennies. Just as there are 100 pennies in one dollar, there are also 100 points to a one-carat diamond. Carat weights also have ranges, so a one-carat diamond can weigh from .95 to 1.05 carats. This is true for all sizes that diamonds are sold in.

Clarity

This is the most confusing of the four. Simply put, clarity is the diamond’s fingerprint. Just like humans have a unique fingerprint, so does every diamond. There is a common misconception that these are ‘imperfections.’ Not the case! They are natural characteristics of the diamond created in the earth. The difference that helps to determine the quality and rarity is how visible to the naked eye it is and where in the diamond it is located. Clarity is listed as a letter first and then a number, as in SI1. 80% of that small 20% of diamonds that made it into our pyramid are of I1 clarity. This means that without the power of magnification, the birthmarks can be seen with the naked eye. However, how the diamond is cut and set will determine whether you can see them or not. Many people believe that I1 diamonds are bad. Not the case! Just remember– only 20% of all gem quality diamonds make it into this range. That makes them rare already!

Now what?

Now that you are more familiar with the things that help to price a diamond, you must decide which of the 4C’s is most important to you. For example, a one-carat round diamond that is an H in color and an I1 in clarity might sell for $5,000. Whereas one of the same carat weight that is D in color and VS2 in clarity might sell for $10,000. You can go down in weight and choose different qualities to find a diamond that fits into your budget. Most large retail jewelry stores have great financing options and can work with you to help you find that rare treasure that will last forever.

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