Defining Value: The Four C's
In order to understand how a colored diamond is priced you need to know about the core grading criteria’s.
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CARAT
Carat is the unit of weight for all gemstones. One carat is subdivided into 100 ‘points’. One carat weights one fifth of a gram.
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COLOR
Rare stones of exceptional color are known as Fancies and are graded as follows: Faint, Very Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, Fancy Dark, Fancy Deep.
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CLARITY
A diamond’s clarity is determined by the number, nature, position, size and color of internal characteristics called ‘inclusions’ and surface features called ‘blemishes’. Clarity is measured on a scale ranging from pure or flawless (F) to heavily included (I-3).
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CUT
The way a craftsman cuts and polishes the stone adds to the value of the stone. The ideal is a cut that highlights the brilliance and fire of the diamond and for color diamond a cut that will let the color vibrate and let its ultimate hue appear as well.
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