How should you assess a diamonds’s quality and value?

Many people get confused by diamond qualities and it’s hardly surprising. Few products on the market get as carefully scrutinised by experts as diamonds do.

Essentially a diamond’s value is determined by its “Four Cs” – cut, colour, clarity and carat size. However, when evaluating a diamond, first ask yourself why you’re buying it.

COLOUR

White diamonds are most prized when they appear colourless. In other words, the less colour present in the diamond crystal, the better its quality and the higher its price. Establishing diamond colour is tricky. The better the colour grades get, the subtler the differences between them. To determine it, an expert must examine a diamond against a set of master stones under specific lighting conditions. Diamonds are given colour grades using the letters of the alphabet. D is the best and Z the poorest. For most consumers, colour grades between E and H are desirable.

CLARITY

Diamonds are a product of nature. So almost all of them have small impurities trapped inside the crystal. We call these “inclusions”. The clearest diamonds are the ones with the fewest inclusions. Diamond clarities are expressed in abbreviations. FL or IF (flawless or internally flawless) diamonds have the best clarity. They are also the most expensive ones. Diamonds marked I (visible inclusions) are the poorest. Most consumers seek diamonds between these two extremes, namely VVS (very, very slight inclusions), VS (very slight inclusions) or the most popular grade, SI (some inclusions).

CUT

When we speak about a diamond’s “cut”, we’re not referring to its decorative shape, but the quality of craftsmanship that has gone into forming and polishing the rough stone into a gem. A good cut ensures a diamond refracts light favourably. Simply put, the cut determines how much it will sparkle!

CARAT

The term “carat” refers to a diamond’s weight, simply telling us how big it is. Carat weight is abbreviated “CT”. For example, a diamond weighing one and a half carats is written as 1.50CT. One carat always equals 200 milligrams, but two diamonds of equal carat weight won’t necessarily have the same price. That’s because a diamond’s value is determined by ALL of its Four C’s. Also, large diamonds tend to have higher per-carat prices than small diamonds of equal quality. This is because large diamonds are rarer than small ones.

There are several types of enhanced diamonds on the market, but their value is debatable. Gel fillings and laser-drilled holes are used to repair cracks or hide inclusions.

Heat treatments and coatings can change a white diamond’s colour. Whilst these treatments can improve appearance and lower price, most experts recommend buying untreated diamonds.

A natural stone will retain its beauty, whereas treated ones may dull, change colour or fracture over time or when being cleaned. Please note that at The Diamond Store we do not sell nor recommend treated diamonds.

Diamonds are the hardest gems known to man, but they’re also natural and precious.

Against popular belief, diamonds can damage. One diamond can scratch another, so always store them separately. If your diamond has a large natural inclusion or fissure, a hard knock may even cause it to fracture.

The safest way to clean a diamond is to soak it in warm, soapy water and scrub it gently with a soft toothbrush. Always use a bowl instead of the washbasin, so there’s no danger of your jewellery washing down the drain.

Polished diamonds became popular decorations in European crown jewellery in 300 BC. However, diamonds weren’t cut into shapes until Venetian jewellers developed the craft in the Middle Ages.

While the tradition of diamond engagement rings dates back all the way to ancient Egypt, it was Archduke Maximillian of Austria who truly established them as a modern symbol of love and commitment when he proposed to Mary of Burgundy.

Today, from Marilyn Monroe’s famous song, to Cristiano Ronaldo’s diamond encrusted Ballon d’Or football boots, these legendary gems remain a firm statement of beauty, success and wealth.

Photo: Lucian Milasan / Shutterstock.com

Weighing 47.75 carats and cut into a pear shape, the Cullinan I diamond is also known as the Star of Africa.

It was discovered in South Africa by a miner called Frederick Wells. Now it forms part of Britain’s crown jewels, set in the royal sceptre that is kept in the Tower of London.

The Star of Africa was originally cut from a much larger diamond called the Cullinan. At 3,106 carats, the Cullinan was the largest rough diamond ever found.

Diamonds are one of Mother Nature’s rarest creations. Formed under intense volcanic pressure and heat, they’re more than 3 billion years old.

Since the first diamonds were discovered, their beauty has enraptured us.

In Old Egypt, diamonds represented the sun, a symbol of heavenly power. The ancient Romans believed diamonds were the tears of the gods and the Hindus in turn used diamonds as eyes in statues of deities.