Construction Tools HQ

Grade Diamond

 

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How does diamond grading work?

How does diamond grading work (color / cut / clarity etc) and why is it that 100 1pt diamonds would cost fraction of a 1 ct diamond?

For proper diamond grading you need to look at the 4 C's.

Cut: In th 4 C's cut does not really mean shape. It means three things:
Proportions - this depends on the depth, minimum/maximum diameter, crown angle, pavillion angle , girdle thickness and culet size.
Polish - how well the diamond has been polished and how many facets it has
Symmetry - the consistency of facet shape and how well the points of each facet align with each other.

Clarity: how clear or pure a diamond is.

FLAWLESS (FL): Describes a diamond in which a skilled observer, under favorable lighting conditions, cannot see any inclusions (internal imperfections) or surface blemishes, after thorough examination with a binocular microscope at ten power magnification or with a 10x corrected loupe.

INTERNALLY FLAWLESS (IF): Describes diamonds which have no internal characteristics observable under the same conditions as previously described, but which have minor surface blemishes that do not penetrate the diamond.

VERY, VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (VVS-1 & VVS-2): Describes diamonds which have very, very small inclusions which are difficult for a trained observer to detect under the above conditions.

VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (VS-1 & VS-2): Describes diamonds with very small inclusions that can be difficult to detect under the conditions mentioned above.

SLIGHTLY INCLUDED (SI-1, SI-2 & SI-3): Describes diamonds with small inclusions which are usually obvious under the aforementioned conditions.

IMPERFECT (I-1, I-2 & I-3): Describes diamonds with medium or large inclusions which are usually obvious to a skilled observer with the unaided eye under normal lighting.

Color: Lack of color really. The closer it is to colorless the more expensive the stone will be.
D,E,F - colorless
G,H,I,J - nearly colorless
K,L,M - Faint Yellow
N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U, - Very light Yellow
V, W, X, Y, Z - Light Yellow
The good thing about color is that witht he right mounting evena slightly yellow diamond wil look colorless in the right gold mounting.

Carat Weight: 1 carat = 200 miligrams
Larger stones that are not included and can be turned into diamonds are harder to find than small stones, hence the price tag on a diamond will raise in price dramatically based on size.
About 85% of the diamonds mined are so inclouded that they are used in industrial cutters, they cannot be used for jewelry.

An example on prices
Carat Color Clarity Cut Shape Price
1.00 H VS1 Ideal Round $5,899.00
1.00 H VVS2 Ideal Round $6,445.00
1.01 G VS2 Ideal Round $6,892.00
1.01 G VS1 Ideal Round $7,308.00
1.01 D IF Ideal Round $17,716.00

* If you are going to buy a diamond make sure to look at it under a lamp with a regular bulb in the store. Jewelry stores have special lighting that has a lightly blue tint to make diamonds appear colorless.
Also ask the jeweler to look at the stone under a loupe. A 10X loupe so he can show you any inclusions or flaws in a diamond.

#5 - GIA Cut Grade System - Diamond Buying Education Series


 

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