The 4C s For Selecting Diamond Engagement & Wedding Rings
Diamonds truly are a girl’s best friend!
The diamond engagement and wedding rings you choose will be one of the most enduring pieces of your wedding day ... they are not only important elements of becoming married, but also a long lasting symbol of your love and commitment. Therefore, you'll want be ‘in the know’ to choose wedding rings that are timeless and of high quality.
No two diamonds are the same - they may be equal in size and look the same, but they may in fact be very different.
To understand the essential differences between diamonds, it is important to understand the four C's used in the diamond business -- colour, clarity, cut and carat weight.
Colour and clarity describe what nature has done to the stone and cut and carat weight describes how man has processed it. The same ratings are applied to most gemstones.
Clarity
Clarity is the first thing to look for when buying a diamond.
Clarity refers to the relative purity of the diamond. Almost all diamonds contain a certain amount of natural impurities, either internally in the form of inclusions, or on the surface of the stone in the form of blemishes, i.e., small scratches or nicks. Impurities affect how light travels through a diamond and will therefore affect how much it sparkles.
Most impurities are not visible to the naked eye - only under powerful magnification. The fewer and smaller the inclusions, the higher the price. Whilst inclusions do not generally affect the diamond's beauty (and usually can’t be seen), their presence reduces the price. Almost every diamond will contain some sort of inclusion as it is a product of nature.
Diamonds without surface blemishes or internal flaws are referred to as flawless and command very high prices. Truly flawless diamonds are extremely rare.
Colour
Generally speaking, the colour gives a diamond its sparkle. The more colourless the diamond, the more brilliantly it sparkles.
Diamonds naturally come in every colour of the rainbow such as blues, pinks, greens, browns, oranges and very rarely, reds.
Many diamonds appear colourless to the untrained eye but on closer inspection almost certainly contain very slight traces of brown, yellow or grey.
Cut
The cut of a diamond will determine a diamond’s fire and brilliance. A diamond cutter can enhance a diamond's natural ability to reflect and refract light by cutting and polishing the diamond facets to allow the maximum amount of light that enters through its top to be reflected and dispersed back through its top. Of all the different things that affect the value of a diamond, the cut is the most crucial.
If the cut of the diamond is too deep, some light will escape through the opposite sides of the pavilion and the stone will be less radiant. If the cut is too shallow, some light will escape through the pavilion before it can be reflected.
The most popular diamond shapes are round, marquise, oval, pear, heart and emerald. Which one to buy is a matter of personal preference, so make sure that what you buy suits your personal taste.
Carat Weight
The weight of a diamond is expressed in 'carats'. One carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams.
Bigger is not necessarily better…a single 4 carat diamond is worth far more than two, 2 carat diamonds – even though the total weight is the same. The price rises exponentially as the diamond gets bigger, as the larger the diamond gets, the harder it is to find.
If a diamond is cut for beauty (not maximum yield in weight), it is more desirable and will have the appearance of a larger stone.
It is vitally important to take into account all the 4 C's when choosing your diamond. Larger doesn't necessarily mean better. A large stone will not be that valuable if it is cut badly or is of a low grade colour.
Whichever colour, size, cut or carat weight you choose for your engagement or wedding ring is personal preference, however just make sure that you are comparing apples with apples and happy shopping!
