Most people know little about diamonds so don’t worry, you’re not alone. Armed with specialist knowledge, we’re happy to talk you through the possibilities and answer all of your questions to help demystify the world of diamonds for you.
When choosing a diamond, there’s more than meets the eye. In basic terms, every diamond has specific qualities establishing its value. You may have heard of the four Cs of diamond quality. This set of criteria is used all over the world to describe a diamond’s characteristics and to assess its value. Under this system, grades of diamonds are categorised by cut, carat weight, colour, and clarity.
At A.G, we go the extra mile and take the time to ensure we hand select the most impressive diamond for your budget. We custom make every piece to suit your vision and will source the most beautiful stones from all over the globe just for you. We’ll explain the four Cs of diamond quality with you one-on-one, in as much or as little detail as you’d like, and also talk you through the differences between similar diamonds, so you have full confidence in your selection.
If you’re interested, below is a crash-course in diamond grading.
Cut
The cut of a diamond refers to its shape, proportion and symmetry. Some of the most popular shapes at the moment are round, oval and pear shape. The cut is the most important characteristic to release a diamond’s brilliance. Precise workmanship is imperative to ensuring the facets, symmetry, and polish of a diamond interact with light in the best way possible to deliver the most intense sparkle.
Carat
Carat is a measure of weight, rather than size. A points system is used to differentiate between diamonds that weigh less than one carat. The carat is divided into 100 uniform parts called points. With one carat equaling 100 points, a quarter of a carat is described as a 25-pointer (0.25ct). It’s important to remember that diamonds of equal carat weight can have quite different values and therefore prices depending on its other characteristics.
Colour
Diamonds can be found in an array of colours. Brightly coloured diamonds are the rarest and are generally the most highly valued. Coloured diamonds range from yellow, blue, green, pink and even red. White diamonds are the most popular stone with A.G clients.
White diamonds are graded for tiny variations in depth of colour, from colourless to light colour. The Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) colour scale starts from D (completely colourless) to Z (tinted colour). The nearer the beginning of the alphabet, the whiter the diamond. Our advice is to choose from a range in the higher end of the colour scale when selecting a white diamond, generally from D to G.
Clarity
Clarity essentially measures a diamond’s purity. Natural features, commonly called inclusions, develop while a diamond forms naturally in the earth. Inclusions are nature’s fingerprints. The clarity of a diamond refers to how free it is from these tiny marks and imperfections. Along the clarity scale, diamonds are graded from included (meaning there are many visible inclusions) to flawless (meaning there are no inclusions at all).
Craftsmanship
Apart from the four Cs, expert craftsmanship showcases a diamond’s splendour. Speak to us about crafting your story today. We’d be honoured to help you select and showcase the perfect stone for your loved one.
