Stone Glossary Buyers Guide
Buying Diamond jewellery is an important decision and it is essential to understand the quality and the value of this purchase. Our trained Gemologists are always at hand to make this a truly unforgetable experience for you.
The Four Cs is the standard measure used when it comes to the value of the diamond jewellery.
The Cut
The brilliance of a diamond is determined by the cut and this in turn affects the value of the diamond. It is very difficult to define a perfect cut as each diamond has a different effect when light travels within the diamond, with the polishing and cut symmetry also affecting the sparkle.
Another major point to consider is the shape of the diamond. These shapes vary and some of the most popular shapes are round brilliants, trilliants, oval shapes, marquise and emerald cuts.
The Carat
The most important factor in determining the value of a diamond is the size or the weight. The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats. One carat is divided into 100 points so that a diamond weighing 50 points is described as half a carat or 0.50carats.
Carat is a measurement of weight, not size and the overall diameter (mm) could differ slighter larger or smaller even though the carat weight is correct.
Note: Images not to scale. Diamond pictures are shown for comparison purposes only. Actual size can vary depending on your screen resolution, monitor size etc.
The Clarity
The clarity of a diamond is determined by the standard GIA scale starting with the flawless diamonds which are the most valuable to Z which has not much value.
At CE Jewels we never have below the SI1 diamonds, as we believe going lower than this for any diamond piece does not give the ultimate sparkle.
FL
Flawless internally with no external flaws.
VVS1, VVS2
Very, very slightly inclusions very difficult to see under 10x magnification.
VS1, VS2
Very slightly inclusions that are not typically visible to the unaided eye.
S11, S12
These have inclusions that are visible under a 10x magnification and also may be visible with the unaided eye.
The Colour
Diamond varies from colorless, through a range of yellows and browns with the colorless diamonds usually the most valuable out of this range.
There are also the fancy colored diamonds which are rare and more valuable that the colorless, depending on the vividness and the intensity of the color.
These diamonds can range from green, blue, pink, fancy yellow or very rare red.
STANDARD COLOUR GRADING SCALE.
D, E, F, G, H, I. Colorless (white)
J, K, L. Near Colorless (white)
M Faint Yellow
N, O, P, Q, R. Very Light Yellow
S to Z Light Yellow