BUYING A DIAMOND
- Diamond Quality
- The 5th C
- Diamond Care
- Glossary
Cut. Carat. Colour. Clarity – these 4 Cs guarantee diamond quality and are crucial factors when you are considering buying any diamond.
The Cut
This refers to the angle and proportion of the stone. Precision incisions allow maximum light to reflect off the facets. Imagine the facets are tiny mirrors bouncing light from angle to angle, beaming from the top and catching your eye. Cut to shallow, a diamond will lose its lustre. The Cut also includes the shape and weight of the diamond. A Round shape is considered the most brilliant shape of them all as it absorbs and reflects the most light, optimising the intensity of the stone.
The Carat
Diamonds are measured and weighed in carats with 1 carat representing .2 grams. The carat was traditionally measured against the carab seed, which were almost always the same size and weight allowing diamond traders to accurately evaluate their stock.
As larger diamonds are mined less frequently, a 1 carat diamond will fetch a higher purchase price than two 0.5 carat diamonds provided all other characteristics are the same.
The Colour
The colour of a diamond is graded from D to Z. The more colourless a stone, the more valuable it is. D, E and F represent truly colourless stones with the highest quality – making them considerably rare. Gradings from K to M have a slight hint of colour and as you go down the scale you’ll notice subtle colour changes in hue and tone. While the colourless stones are rare and valuable, coloured diamonds are even more exceptional. Called Fancy Diamonds, these stones are the most difficult to find and expensive to buy.
The Clarity
When diamonds are extracted, tiny traces of natural elements are sometimes caught inside, called inclusions. When polishing the diamond, the aim is always to reduce the number of flaws or impurities in the stone. The clarity inclusions fall into a number of categories:
- IF – Internally flawless
- LC – Loupe clean meaning that there are no flaws in the surface or internally
- VVS 1 & 2 – Very, very small inclusion one and two has minute inclusions that are absolutely invisible to the naked eye and only through careful inspection with a microscope are revealed.
- VS 1 & 2 - Very small inclusion one and two may show tiny inclusions that are difficult to locate and are only visible to a trained eye looking through a 10x loupe can pinpoint the inclusions.
- S 1 & 2 – Small inclusions one and two are flaws that are easily identified through a 10x loupe.
- I1 & P1 – Lightly spotted are diamonds with inclusions that may or may not be visible to the naked eye.
- I2 & P2 - Spotted (no definition provided)
- I3 & P3 – Very spotted (no definition provided)
For a visual aid to Cut, Carat, Colour and Clarity, please view our Grading chart
The 5th C describes the Conscientious Diamond. All Cullinan Diamond Mine stone’s are from reputable sources and mined conscientiously, with respect to the land that it comes from and the people that participate in its extraction. Cullinan diamonds are coupled with an internationally recognised laboratory certificate that guarantees the quality of carat, the authenticity of the colour and clarity grades, as well as the endorsement of a diamond that is conflict-free.
- Your skin’s natural oils can alter the diamond’s shine so try not man-handle the stone often.
- Clean your diamond with an ammonia-based household cleaner, such as window cleaner, at least twice a week, overnight. Brush the front and back of the diamond lightly the next morning with a soft, clean toothbrush. Fragile settings and estate jewellery are more sensitive to brushing. Instead, rinse the stone with water and wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth.
- Take your diamonds off when you’re doing rough work; it can chip with a hard blow.
- Keep your diamonds clear of contact with chlorine bleach as it can damage and discolour the mounting.
- Take your diamonds to a respected jeweller for thorough cleaning.
