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4 C's

The 4 C’s in Diamond Education at Shira Diamonds in Dallas, TX

4Cs in Diamond - Shira Diamonds

When it comes to shopping for a diamond, many customers are unsure about how pricing is determined and whether or not they are getting a fair price. In order to price a diamond appropriately, jewelers look at the 4 Cs of diamonds. Use this tutorial to help you as you look for the perfect Dallas diamonds.

Color

When grading diamonds, jewelers use a color scale from “D” to “Z” to grade the quality of the color. The more clear the diamond, the closer to “D” it is graded. Any diamond graded D, E, or F is considered to be colorless, so you’ll see the beautiful diamond coloring you are used to seeing in advertisements. Letter grades at the middle or end of the alphabet contain more yellow and are less vibrant in color. Diamonds graded D will be the most expensive, as they are closer to being perfect. Besides yellow, you may see shades of brown in a diamond. These brown spots can significantly reduce the cost—and value—of a stone. Some jewelers will list these other colors on diamond certificates, though this may not always be the case. When you shop for diamonds in Dallas, be sure to ask about the color of any diamond you are interested in purchasing.

Clarity

Many people get color confused with clarity. Clarity doesn’t refer to how close to white a diamond is. It refers to how free from inclusions a diamond is. The fewer the inclusions, the more valuable the stone is. The scale ranges from FL to I3, with FL representing flawless diamonds. When you buy an FL or IF diamond, you are purchasing the best quality in the clarity category. This also means that your diamond will be more expensive. If you are looking for a clear stone that is more affordable, go for a diamond that is VVs1 or VVs2. These stones are only slighting included, so it is very difficult to see the imperfections with the naked eye.

The most commonly sold diamonds in the US are SI1-SI2 stones. While these are not as free from inclusions as the VVs1 or VVs2 diamonds, the inclusions are still difficult to see with the naked eye. This is why many people on a budget will opt for the SI1 or SI2 stones. The lowest quality stones are the I1 and I2 stones. While these diamonds do have clearly visible inclusions, a good Dallas diamond expert can create a setting for some of these stones that hides the inclusions to create a beautiful piece of affordable jewelry.

When you shop for Dallas engagement rings or diamond jewelry, be sure to look at the clarity information on any stone’s certification. Your diamond expert at Diamond Treasures can also show you how to spot these imperfections with a jeweler’s loupe, so you know exactly why your diamonds are graded the way they are.

Cut

The cut is perhaps the one piece of the diamond puzzle that most customers have previous knowledge of when shopping for Dallas diamonds. The most common cuts are round, oval, square and princess cut, though there are several others to consider as well. In addition to the actual shape of the diamond, cut also refers to the depth and table percentage of each diamond. The cut of the diamond is critical to the brilliance, as cuts that are too deep or too shallow make a stone look dark or less brilliant. At Diamond Treasures, we believe that the cut is just as important to the beauty of your diamond, which is why we always strive to use ideal or Premium cuts for our diamonds.

When cutting a diamond, it is the jeweler’s goal to stay as close to the original weight of the diamond by using an ideal cut. The amount of the rough that is cut from a stone can impact the price of the diamond. A round-cut diamond will be anywhere from 15 to 25 percent more expensive because of the care the jeweler must take when cutting the stone. Another reason that round cuts are more expensive is that they are extremely popular and very much in demand.

When you shop for Dallas diamond, consider the different factors of the cut to make sure you get the most brilliant stone possible for your budget.

Carat Weight

The carat weight of a diamond helps to determine its cost. The Rappaport price list sets the guidelines for Dallas diamonds and diamonds around the world. You may see some diamonds that are priced above this list, and this is because of the exceptional quality of the stones above and beyond the carat weight.

The higher the price per carat (or PPC), the higher the cost of a diamond. You can expect to pay more than twice as much for a 2-carat diamond than for a 1-carat diamond. This is because the price is not necessarily determined solely in relation to the carat weight. Diamonds that are on the upper end of the quality spectrum for color and clarity will be more expensive, though stones that are cloudy or milky are not priced by this list simply because the quality is not there.

Cost

While most jewelers only refer to the 4 Cs of diamonds, the cost can be considered the fifth C. Cost is an important consideration, whether you are shopping for Dallas engagement rings, anniversary bands, or a special piece of jewelry for another occasion. Diamond Treasures prices each diamond by taking all four Cs into account. This makes it easier for you to find the Dallas Diamonds that fit your needs and your budget. You can make targeted decisions, such as foregoing excellent clarity to buy more carat weight. Our staff can help guide you as you make your buying decisions.

Certificate

Diamonds that are certified give you added peace of mind when you make your purchase. GIA is the most widely recognized authority when it comes to grading diamonds, while EGL is another highly regarded laboratory in the US. GIA-certified diamonds are recognized for their value around the world, while EGL-certified diamonds don’t have the same authority in other countries. Diamond Treasures sells both GIA and EGL-certified diamonds.

The certificates contain information about the cut, color, clarity, and carat weight, as well as the polish and symmetry of the stone. These certificates serve as a report card of sorts for your diamonds. Our experts can show you all the important information on your diamond certificates.