DIAMOND CLARITY

When shopping for an engagement ring, it may be helpful to know this terminology.

Diamonds Are Graded By The 4 C's.

(C)olor----(C)larity----(C)arat----(C)ut

THIS PAGE WILL FOCUS ON DIAMOND CLARITY

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A Diamonds' Clarity Can Have A Large Impact On Beauty AND Price

Clarity Is Measured On A Scale Of FL to I3.

*(FL=Flawless) Flawless Means No Inclusions Or Blemishes Of Any Kind When Examined By A Skilled Grader Under (10X) Magnification

*(IF=Internally Flawless) This Means No Inclusions, and only insignificant surface blemishes are present.

*(VVS1 & VVS2= VERY VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED)

*(VVS1) Inclusions in this grade can be EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to see and are only visible from the pavilion, and only with (10X) magnification.

*(VVS2) Inclusions are still difficult to see but easier than (VVS1) You would most likely need (10X) magnification to see them. It is unlikely that the naked eye would be able to see any inclusions in a VVS2 diamond.

* (VS1 & VS2= VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED) Minor inclusions are present. These inclusions are SOMEWHAT easy-to-Difficult for a trained grader to see under 10x magnification. It is still unlikely that a naked eye would be able to detect these inclusions.

FL to VS Grades Could Be Considered Unnecessarily Good-Or Luxury Grade. If The 4 C's Are Well Balanced, An (SI) Grade Diamond Can be Very Impressive! The Engagement Ring Above Has An (SI) Grade Center Diamond

* (SI1 & SI2= Slightly Included) Inclusions are seen easy-to-very easy by an experienced grader using (10X) magnification. Possible For the naked eye to see the inclusions without the aid of magnification if looking at the diamond CLOSELY. This would be more true of an (SI2)

When shopping for a Diamond Engagement Ring, these two grades are certainly worth Considering. Especially if you are working with a limited budget.

* (I1/I2/I3= IMPERFECT!!!) OBVIOUS INCLUSIONS-These Inclusions Can Usually be seen VERY EASILY without magnification. Inclusions in I3 Diamonds may even THREATEN the durability of the diamond.

Although it is possible for a diamond with a (I1) clarity to look somewhat pleasing to the naked eye, I would suggest purchasing a diamond with a higher clarity if at all possible. Especially when it's for the purchase of an engagement ring.

We have included a Picture Of A "Certified" One carat ROUND BRILLIANT Cut Diamond At The Bottom Of This Page for informational purposes. It's Clarity Grade is (I2) And It's Color Is (F-G) The certificate Was issued By A Company that is Highly Regarded. This diamond was appraised to be worth an Estimated Retail Value of $6,630.00 Dollars. The serial number is laser inscribed on the girdle of the diamond.

Lessons That Can Be Learned Might Be:

#1) This is an example of what you could get if you purchase a diamond with this clarity rating. You Can SEE FOR YOURSELF How Important Diamond CLARITY can be!!

#2) Even A Diamond with GOOD COLOR can LOOK VERY BAD if you do not have the right balance of the 4 C's

#3) Having A Serial Number Laser inscribed on your diamond does not guarantee a High quality or Nice looking Diamond.

#4) "Appraisals" or "Certificates" may not reflect the TRUE VALUE of a diamond. Grading And VALUATION is not considered to be an Exact Science. It Can be very subjective and may even vary by a couple of grades depending upon many factors. Factors such as Lighting/Grading techniques/the ability and-or experience of the appraiser or gemologist/And even the condition or type of equipment being used. This fact is typically covered very extensively in small print, on the back of the certificate with multiple disclaimers. Don't Forget to bring your reading glasses.

#5) Don't possibly overpay for a Diamond Or Diamond Engagement Ring just because A "Professional" or an "Organization" issued a certificate with it. I find that even an amateur can tell if a diamond is good, just by looking at it. If It shines and sparkles like crazy, chances are you have a good one. And You just might be able to save a lot of money by not having that fancy piece of paper!!

If You would like to know more about how you can save a lot of money on your diamond engagement ring, please view our engagement ring selection by clicking one of the links provided or the tab at the top of the page.

"The Sparkle Factor" is what everyone wants in their diamond without spending MORE MONEY THAN THEY CAN AFFORD. It is achieved with a proper balance of (C)olor-(C)larity-And (C)ut.

Of Course the last "C" (Carat Size)does not have any effect on "The Sparkle Factor" However it certainly has an effect on the person showing it off!!!

Although The Diamond Pitured Below Is Certified-It Has A Low Clarity Grade-Diamonds With I1, I2, Or I3 Clarity Grades Are Not Usually Nearly As Beautiful As Higher Grades

A Clarity Enhanced Diamond Engagement Ring Can Offer Remarkable Value-Clarity Enhanced Diamonds Have Been Referred To As "The Diamond Of The Future"

You Can Have The Largest, Most Visually Stunning Diamond You Ever Dreamed Of, For A Price That Has Never Been Possible-Until Now!

The Process Works Like This:

The State-Of-The-Art Technology, Optically Eliminates "feathers" which occur in most diamonds. This is Done By Coating The Feather With A Glass-Like Material That Adds Virtually No Weight To The Diamond.

The Transparent "Glass-Like" Material Has Almost The Same Optical And Light Refractive Properties As The Diamond Itself. This Allows Light To Pass Through The Feather (Thereby Masking It)Instead Of Deflecting Off In An Undesirable Direction.

The Result:

A More Visually Stunning Diamond That You Can Purchase For SIGNIFICANTLY LESS Than A Similiar "Non-Enhanced" Diamond.

Best Of All, Clarity Enhanced Diamonds are Totally Natural And Come From The Same Diamond Mines as "Non-Enhanced Diamonds"

The Clarity Enhancement Process Is Totally Invisible To The Naked Eye And Can Even Be Difficult To Detect Under 10x Magnification.

Only A TRAINED Jeweler will Ever Know That You Own A "Clarity-Enhanced Diamond" In Your Ring!!

 

Fine Diamond Jewelry Deal

For clarity grades F through SI, inclusions (internal flaws) are NOT visible to the naked eye.

When we speak of a diamond's clarity, we are referring to the presence of identifying characteristics on (blemishes) and within (inclusions) the stone.

If you think about the incredible amount of pressure it takes to create a diamond and the fact that natural diamonds are not grown in a sterile laboratory, it's no surprise that most diamonds have flaws.

Basically there are two types of flaws: inclusions and blemishes. Inclusions refer to internal flaws and blemishes refer to surface flaws. However, in the diamond grades listed below, you'll note that none of the grades include the term "blemish" -- for the purposes of grading diamonds, all flaws are called "inclusions."

Inclusions include flaws such as air bubbles, cracks, and non-diamond minerals found in the diamond. Blemishes include scratches, pits, and chips. Some blemishes occur during the cutting processes (most often at the girdle). Diamonds with no or few inclusions and blemishes are more highly valued than those with less clarity because they are rarer.

How are diamonds graded for clarity?
Diamonds are graded for clarity under 10x loupe magnification. Grades range from Flawless (diamonds which are completely free of blemishes and inclusions), to Included 3 (diamonds which possess large, heavy blemishes and inclusions that are visible to the naked eye).

• F
  Flawless: No internal or external flaws. Extremely rare.
• IF
  Internally Flawless: no internal flaws, but some surface flaws. Very rare.
• VVS1-VVS2
  Very Very Slightly Included (two grades). Minute inclusions very difficult to detect under 10x magnification by a trained gemologist.
• VS1-VS2
  Very Slightly Included (two grades). Minute inclusions seen only with difficulty under 10x magnification.
• SI1-SI2
  Slightly Included (two grades). Minute inclusions more easily detected under 10x magnification.

  REMEMBER: For grades F through SI, a diamond's clarity grade has an impact on the diamond's value, not on the unmagnified diamond's appearance.

• I1-I2-I3
  Included (three grades). Inclusions visible under 10x magnification AS WELL AS to the human eye. We do not recommend buying diamonds in any of these grades.

F-IF
VVS1-VVS2
VS1-VS2
SI1-SI2
I1-I2-I3

While the presence of these clarity characteristics (inclusions and blemishes) do lower the clarity grade of a diamond, they can also be viewed as proof of a diamond's identity. GIA certificates include what is known as a "plot" of a diamond's inclusions -- think of it as a "diamond fingerprint." Since no two diamonds are exactly the same, comparing the uniqueness of your diamond's clarity characteristics with the plot provided on the diamond certificate offers assurance that the diamond you pay for is the same diamond you receive.

Color Diamond

Diamond Color Is Graded Using The Letters (D To Z) The Letters A,B,&C Are Not Used.

Diamond Color Can Be Fun And Important.

If You Are Shopping For A Diamond, It Is Important To Educate Yourself On The 4 C's Of Diamonds.

The 4 C's Are:

(C)olor, (C)ut, (C)larity, (C)arat

When Talking About Diamond Color, The Song "Somewhere Over The rainbow" from the "Wizard Of Oz" comes to mind. That is because Natural Diamonds Can be found in just about every color of the rainbow.

Over 300 Colors Have Been Identified So Far. However, There are just about "an infinite number of shades" found in each.

Some examples of "Fancy" colored diamonds are: Pink, Black, Green, Yellow, Blue, Brown and many more.

When Choosing The Color Of a diamond, one could refer to the old saying "Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder". Some of the world's most famous diamonds are not considered to be "perfect color". You can read more about some of the worlds most famous diamonds on our other pages.

However When We Speak Of Diamond Color, We Are Usually Referring To (The Absence Or Presence) Of Color In "White" Diamonds

Although Diamonds Are Found In A Variety Of Colors, the diamonds that are sold in most diamond rings or diamond jewelry will be white(Colorless) to yellow in color.

The Yellow Color visible in some diamonds is caused by trace amounts of nitrogen. Only one part in a million is required to produce a yellow diamond in the "K" color category.

Diamonds With Yellow Color Are Considered To Be Less Valuable And Less Desirable. That Is Because A Yellow Diamond May Be Less Sparkly And More Dull

There is an exception to this rule though: "Fancy Yellow Diamonds" (Also referred to as Canary Diamonds)

These diamonds are placed in a seperate category. Fancy Yellow Diamonds can be a very beautiful, bright and sparkly yellow color. There are 4 categories for "Fancy Yellow" diamonds.

(#1-Lowest)Fancy Light Yellow (#2) Fancy Yellow (#3) Fancy Intense Yellow (#4-Highest) Fancy Vivid Yellow

Each deeper shade will will bring a higher price!!

"D" Is The Highest And Most Valuable Diamond Color Grade. Diamonds With A "D" Grade Are Very Rare And Highly Desirable. They Are Considered "Colorless"

Although Diamonds That Are graded (D to F) are the most desirable and valuable, Diamonds graded slightly less than colorless ("G" "H" or "I") can be appealing as well, especially if a good balance is maintained with Cut and Clarity as well. They are also a great way to save money. Some sellers will include "J" in this category, however it is my experience that "J" colored diamonds are too yellow to be considered. (Unless You actually desire a yellow diamond-Just make sure you also enjoy the savings that should come with a "J" color diamond!!)

I would also like to suggest that before you actually purchase a diamond in the "I" or "J" color (Or below), that you place it directly next to a higher color diamond to compare. This is a good way to actually see the color difference for yourself, before it's too late. It is also proper to note that some lighting conditions will have a greater effect in showing the yellow tinge in lower grades.

If You are going to buy a diamond engagement ring or diamond ring, also be aware of the fact that white gold or platinum will show the yellow tinge of these grades more than yellow gold. Yellow gold will tend to hide it.

We decided to include both the diamond color "picture" above, and the diamond color "chart" below. The diamond color chart below is the full color grading system (D to Z).

We hope the two illustrations combined will give you a better vision of diamond color.

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Cut Your Diamond

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A Good Understanding of diamonds is helpful before before you start shopping. Learning about diamonds is really learning about the 4 C's of diamonds. (C)ut--(C)larity--(C)olor--(C)arat

These are the criteria jewelers and gemologists use when grading diamonds. Understanding these criteria will help you buy the diamond that is right for you.

Cut Is The Only One Of The 4 C's That Is Not Determined By Mother Nature

When diamonds are first mined, they are not exactly the essance of brilliance and beauty. You could very easily pass by a rough diamond on the ground and mistake it for just an ordinary rock. That is why they are referred to as "Rough Diamonds"

The hands of skilled craftsmen are required to "Cut and Polish" a diamond in order for it to exhibit fire and brilliance. How much fire and brilliance a diamond will exhibit depends greatly upon how well or poorly it is cut.

This is where it is important to know that the word cut does not just refer to a diamonds' shape.(Example: Princess Cut, Round Cut, Oval Cut, Cushion Cut, etc..) It also refers to the physical aspects of a diamond such as proportions, polish, symmetry, and angles.

Diamond Cutting requires tremendous skill and training. The "cutter" is the person that will create the tiny surfaces on the diamond known as the "Facets" This process is what creates the "Crown", "Cutlet", "table", "girdle", and "pavilion" of the diamond.

The Facets Of A Diamond Work Like Tiny Mirrors

When light enters a "Well Cut" diamond, the light will reflect from one "mirror-like" facet to another until it is directed up through the top of the diamond. This is what creates the brilliance and fire of a diamond. (Also called sparkle) Maximum sparkle will be created when light does not "leak" out of the diamond.

Diamonds that are cut "too shallow" or "too deep" will cause light to leak out in the wrong places, and that will cause the diamond to lose some of it's sparkle. The cut of a diamond can have the biggest impact on the beauty of the diamond and still have a small impact on the price.

It's quite possible to save money by choosing a diamond with lower clarity or color and still have an absolutely gorgeous diamond if it is cut well. That is why mantaining a good balance between all of the 4 C's is so important.

A Well Cut Diamond May Compensate For Lower Color Or Clarity

Cut also refers to a diamonds shape. Diamonds can be cut in many different shapes and they will all handle light differently. The longer shapes tend to have a slight "bow-tie" effect.

This means they have a small zone in the center where light can leak out from underneath the diamond. This is especially true for Heart Shaped diamonds, Pear Shaped diamonds, Oval Shaped diamonds, and Marquise Cut Diamonds.

The Round Brilliant Ideal Cut Diamond will reflect the most light and therefore provide the most sparkle. Most gemologists agree that a well cut diamond will adhere to certain percentages calculated to maximize brilliance.

The calculations will be seen in a diamonds proportions, most importantly how the depth compares to the diameter, and how the diameter of the table compares to the diameter of the diamond.

Because Cut is considered to be so important, several grading methods have been developed to help consumers determine the cut of a diamond. In general these grades are Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, and Fair.

To Create A Well Cut Diamond, A Craftsman May Need To Cut Away More Than 50% Of The Rough Diamond

Diamonds are cut by different diamond cutters from around the world. Some have more experience and patience than others.

Rough diamonds are similiar to snowflakes in that no two are the same. Each rough diamond has it's own distinct inclusions.

Because cutting diamonds means losing diamond carat weight in the diamond cutting process, there is always a compromise between beauty and size.

A typical Round Brilliant Cut Diamond has 58 facets. 33 Facets are on the crown of the diamond and 25 are on the pavillion of the diamond.

When Looking To Buy A Well Cut Diamond-The Two Most Important Numbers To Know Are Depth Percentage And Table Percentage

For More Detailed Information On What Are Considered Ideal Cut Diamonds Or Also Referred To As Well Cut Diamonds Please View Our Other Page Titled "Ideal Cut" This page will explain such things as depth percentages, table percentages, crown height, pavillion depth, and polish and symmetry

It is also important to note that cut also refers to diamond shape. To see pictures and descriptions of diamond shapes please view our page called "Shapes"

This page is provided to be a brief summary for explaining the cut of a diamond

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About Diamond Carat

Bigger Diamonds With Smaller Prices Is Our Specialty

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DIAMONDS ARE GRADED BY THE 4 C's (C)olor---(C)larity---(C)ut---(C)arat

THIS PAGE WILL FOCUS ON "CARAT" weight.

The Word "Carat" Used To Measure A Diamonds' Weight, Should Not Be Confused With The Word "Karat" Which Describes Gold

A Major factor that determines The Price Of A Diamond is "Carat weight."

The term "Carat" is the unit of measurement used to determine diamond WEIGHT Only. It is important to know that-weight and size-are 2 different things when describing a diamond. Even Though 2 diamonds may each "Weigh" one carat, the SIZE of one might "APPEAR" bigger than the other. That is because the weight can "HIDE" in different parts of the diamond. You Can have a Deep Cut/Well Cut Or Shallow Cut Diamond. When viewed from the top, A "shallow cut" diamond may APPEAR LARGER than a "well cut" or "deep cut" diamond. That Is because the weight is spread out more. This is often referred to as a "Diamond"

Just imagine that you have a lump of dough sitting on your counter. Now take a rolling pin and start spreading out the dough. When you are done, the "SIZE" of the dough will look much larger. However you still have the same "WEIGHT"

I hope that analogy helps!!

One "Carat" equals 100 points, just like one "Dollar" equals 100 pennies

A Diamond Of "100" Points equals (1.0 carat)OR "1 Carat"

A Diamond of "5o Points" equals (.50 carat) OR a "1/2 carat"

One more note: One carat is equal to 0.20 Grams Or 200 Milligrams.

The Word "Carat" Was Derived From The Word "Carob". Carob Seeds Were Used To Balance Scales In Ancient Times. Carob Seeds Are So Uniform In Weight And Shape, Their Differences Are Measured In The Thousandth's

 

Bigger Diamonds Are Not Always Better-Properly Balancing The 4 C's Is Always Recommended To Find The Best Diamond That You Can Afford-Just Look At The Diamond Pictured Below!!

The Larger A Diamond Becomes, The More "Rare" It Becomes. This Means That A Larger Diamonds' Cost Will Be Disproportionately Higher Than A Smaller Diamond Of Similiar Quality. The Bigger The Diamond-The Bigger The Price Increase!!

It Is important to understand that a Diamonds' Size is not the only factor in determining a diamonds' price or BEAUTY.

The other 3 (c's) have a large impact as well.

We Are Not Saying That ALL Diamonds In The (I1) (I2) and (I3) Grades Will Look Like The Diamond Above. But There Is a Possibility That It Could!!

If you are like 95% of all diamond buyers, You Want to purchase the largest-most beautiful diamond for the least amount of money possible.

By maintaining a "Balance" of the 4 C's You are sure to get the most "Bang For The Buck"

For Example: A one carat (G)color (SI1)clarity diamond can be a Very Nice Looking Diamond (especially if it is cut well) And The Best Part is, it would most likely cost MUCH LESS than a one carat(D)color(VVS1)clarity Diamond. And Chances are nobody will ever be able to tell the difference. (Unless They are looking at it under 10x binocular magnification)

If You would like to see for yourself how you can save a lot of money on a diamond engagement ring, Please take time to look at our selection Of "Clarity Enhanced" diamond engagement rings.

A Clarity Enhanced Diamond From www.Secret-Diamond.com will enable you to buy a Well Balanced Diamond At A Price That Has Never Been Possible-UNTIL NOW!!

If You Click on the link for our home page or the Diamond Clarity Page, we explain the clarity enhancement process in more detail.

This site was developed to give you the most important information regarding Non-Enhanced diamonds and Clarity Enhanced Diamonds.

We Believe Very Strongly In Giving Our Customers the most information And Value Possible, With their Diamond Ring Purchase.

It Is Our Belief That A Happy And Satisfied Customer, Is A Customer For Life.

Perhaps You Will Even Feel Comfortable Recommending Us To your Best Friends And Relatives!!

Thank You For Taking The Time To Visit Us At Our Website. We Hope You Enjoyed Your Stay.

 

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About The 4 C's Diamond

If You Want To Learn About Diamonds-Start With The "4 C's"

So It's time to buy a diamond and you keep hearing the term "The 4 C's"

What in the heck are the 4 C's you ask? Well it's definately something that is worth learning about. Especially if you are buying something significant with a diamond in it, such as an engagement ring, anniversary ring, or wedding ring. And the best part is, that it's really quite easy.

 

The 4 C's Is Your First Step In The Diamond Buyer's Boot Camp

The 4 C's is essentially a universally accepted "diamond grading system" developed by the Gemological Institute Of America. (Also referred to as GIA) The 4 C's grading system is now pretty much the "Standard Methodology" that is used virtually everywhere in the world by diamond professionals. (It really caught on) It is how you will know what you are buying in relation to other diamonds. And more importantly it will help you establish what a diamond is worth and how it should look.

The World Famous 4 C's (Color/Carat/Clarity/Cut)

You see years ago, jewelers would ACTUALLY USE THEIR OWN grading systems and terms. (Talk about the fox watching the hen house!!) These grading systems and terms were pretty much used by each individual jeweler to suit their own best interests, and to make their diamonds seem superior. Some of these jewelers might even use terms like "Blue White" or "Gem Blue". Huh??

Today if you want to know the color of a diamond, you will hear a simple one letter description (D through Z).

Why Does The Diamond Color Chart Start With D?

Great Question!

The diamond color chart starts with D precisely because of how diamonds WERE GRADED IN THE PAST. What?? Let me explain.

Because there was no "Standardized" grading system in place, jewelers were free to use any terms or so-called systems that came to mind. These included Arabic and Roman numeral systems. Some also used A, B, and C as referance points. Because the 4C's were not developed yet, maybe selling an "A" quality diamond to a customer wasn't good enough. Then a jeweler might ask the question: What do I do when my competiton has an "A" diamond but I want the sale? I will call my diamond a "Double AA". I don't personally know if anybody went so far as Triple AAA!! (Get the picture)

What better way to distance the new 4 C's from the old system than to start from D?

 

Gemological Institute Of America (GIA) Saves The Day!!

At Some point it only seems logical that somebody would say "Enough is Enough!" That somebody just happened to be the Gemological Institute Of America.

The GIA developed the famous system (known as the 4 C's) that is widely used today to uniformly grade the characteristics of diamonds. The Four C's are (C)olor--(C)larity--(C)arat and (C)ut.

Three of the "4 C's" are pre-determined by Mother Nature. They are The Color of a diamond, The Clarity of a diamond, and The Carat of a diamond.

The last "C" is The Cut of a diamond. It is the only "C" that is determined by us Humans. (Don't mistake "Cut" for shape)

Many jewelers will tell you which one of the 4 C's they think is the most important. Some will say the cut of a diamond is most important. (usually the ones selling the most expensive diamonds) Others may say the clarity is most important, and yet others may even say the color of a diamond is most important. (And of course there are people that just want a big rock!)

I personally do not believe that any one of the 4 C's can be considered "THE MOST IMPORTANT". For the vast majority of the diamond buying public, who are not millionaires, the best way to shop for a diamond is to get a little bit of everything.

If you want a bigger diamond, you might have to settle for a little lower clarity or color, to stay in the same price range. Or maybe you want to do the opposite. Get the highest color and clarity you can afford, but purchase a little smaller diamond. Remember one thing though, Diamonds are like snowflakes; no two are exactly alike.

Your diamond choices are endless!!

Balance The 4 C's And Get The Best Diamond For Your Money

Technorati Tags: About Diamonds-Start With The "4 C's"

About Diamond

In mineralogy, diamond is the allotrope of carbon where the carbon atoms are arranged in an isometric-hexoctahedral crystal lattice. Graphite, diamond is the second most stable form of carbon. Its hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewelry. It is the hardest known naturally occurring mineral. It is possible to treat regular diamonds under a combination of high pressure and high temperature to produce diamonds that are harder than the diamonds used in hardness gauges. Diamonds are specifically renowned as a material with superlative physical qualities they make excellent abrasives because few substances can scratch them. As a result they hold a polish extremely well and retain their lustre. Approximately 130 million carats (26,000 kg (57,000 lb)) are mined annually, with a total value of nearly USD $9 billion, and about 100,000 kg (220,000 lb) are synthesized annually