Diamond Education: The 4 Cs
In selecting the right diamond for you, the general rule of thumb for evaluating the right diamond is the 4 Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
Cut
A diamond’s cut is arguably the most important of the 4 Cs. It determines the amount of brilliance and sparkle. Every diamond we offer is curated for a cut rated Excellent or Ideal only. The measurements of every stone, from depth to table and from crown angles to girdle thickness is carefully studied by our expert team to ensure only the most brilliant and scintillating selection of diamond jewelry.
Color
A diamond’s color rating actually determines its lack of color: the whiter, the better. A completely colorless diamond is given a “D” color rating. In general, a completely colorless diamond falls within the D to F color range, near colorless is considered G to J, and faint colored is considered K and lower. Every diamond we offer falls into the D to I range so you will never end up with a diamond that is visibly dull or yellow-tinted.
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond is determined by its inclusions (or physical imperfections) or lack thereof. These inclusions may include cloudiness, black spots, or other internal marks. Clarity may fall into five categories:
Flawless (and Internally Flawless) has no imperfections whatsoever, even when inspected by a trained gemologist through a microscope. VVS clarity stands for very, very slight inclusions, which are rarely even using a 10x magnifying loupe. VS clarity diamonds have very slight inclusions, are 100% eye clean, and cannot easily be picked up on by a magnifying loupe. SI clarity (SI1 and SI2) have slight inclusions. They can usually only be seen by a magnifying loupe. SI1 inclusions are far more difficult to discern and are almost always 100% clean to the naked eye. SI2 inclusions can be seen with a 10x magnifying loupe, but are usually eye clean. I1, I2 and I3 inclusions have imperfections that can be seen with a naked eye. All Stefano Navi diamonds are SI1 or better, and we inspect every stone before it is set to make sure it is 100% clean to the naked, untrained eye.
Carat Weight
A diamond’s carat weight is simply its weight (not its size, contrary to popular belief). Although it is typically true that the higher the carat weight, the larger the diamond, that is not always the case. In order for a diamond to be cut to ideal characteristics, it must not be too shallow in depth. Sometimes a 0.9-carat diamond cut to ideal measurements may have a larger circumference in millimeters than a 1-carat diamond that is deep and of non-ideal cut. The carat weight has the most significant effect on a diamond’s price, as larger rough stones are more rarely found in nature. In the case of lab-created diamonds, larger and heavier stones take more material and labor to create and cut, and therefore are also higher in price.
Other factors of importance are shape, certificate, and fluorescence.
SHAPE AND FLUORESCENCE
There is no such thing as an ideal or perfect shape for a diamond. Every person has a preference. The most common and classic shape is round. All other shapes have different ratios of length to width, and each person may have a different preference. If you are unsure of the right shape for you, click here (link to home try on kit) to receive our free Signature Home Trial Kit.
The certificate of the diamond ensures that it has been graded by a third-party who is universally and globally recognized and impartial. It is very important to buy a diamond graded by a legitimate certification house. Our certificate of choice is provided by the International Gemological Institute (IGI). IGI is a world leader in earth-mined and lab-created diamond grading, and widely trusted by jewelers and retailers throughout the United States and internationally. Learn more about IGI here (link tohttps://www.igi.org/).
It is the diamond cutter’s job to determine a rough diamond’s ideal end dimensions and characteristics in terms of combining the best shape for the rough diamond, as well as its maximum carat weight, while maintaining an ideal cut.
Fluorescence is the degree to which a diamond radiates a colored glow under ultraviolet light. This glow presents itself in many colors, but most often, blue. This bluish tint is usually considered a negative characteristic because it creates an undesirable reflection in the sun, and may lead to a milky or cloudy appearance. All Stefano Navi diamonds are fluorescence-free.
