To ascertain the value of a diamond, jewelers consider
the following qualities of the stone:

Cut | Color | Clarity | Carat Weight | Certification

Each stone is a unique creation of nature that bears exclusive
combination of those 5 Cs. Most people consider carat weight to be
the dominant factor in determining a diamond's value. In reality,
however, dimensions of a diamond should be considered along with
clarity, color and cut. Identity of a stone cannot be duplicated,
unless a diamond was created artificially. Understanding the
5 Cs will not only make you an expert, but will also reassure the
value of your investment.

CUT

Cut is the most important and least understood quality of a
diamond. So,what is cut? Cut is a combination of proportion
and shape. Just like other transparent medium such as
water or glass the density of diamond will "bend" light at
a specific angle as it passes through.

A diamond that is cut proportionatly reflects
maximum amount of light from one
mirrow-like face to another and disperces it
throught the crown. When diamonds are cut
to shallow or too deap they loose spilling it
through the side or bottom. Consequently, a
poorly proportioned stone is less brilliant and
spectacular and accordingly posses less value.

During every stage of the fashioning process a craftsman will aim to create a proportionate diamond that reflects the maximum amount of light back to the eye. Most round, brilliant-cut or fancy-shaped diamonds possess 58 carefully angled flat surfaces, called facets. It is the precision of each facet's placement that will affect the amount of fire, brilliance and ultimate beauty of your diamond.

Ideal proportions for a round diamond, for instance, are 57% Depth (the proportion of the total height of the diamond compared to the girdle diameter) and 59% Table (the proportion of the table size compared to the girdle diameter). By definition, this is called the "ideal cut" and round diamonds showing these proportions are very expensive and highly sought after.

This does not mean, however, that only ideal cut diamonds will show brilliance and fire! There are many other factors to be considered (such as color, clarity and carat size) and any diamond close enough to this measurements will bring the scintillating effect generally sought in a diamond. A properly cut diamond will virtually explode with dazzling brilliance and color. An improper cut, often for the sole purpose of leaving added carat weight, will leave dark, glassy or watery looking areas in the diamond. Less than 10% of all Round Brilliants qualify for true Ideal Cut, and only about 20% of all diamonds qualify as Preferred Cut. That leaves 70% of the market cut with carat weight as the priority as opposed to brilliance.

Shape refers to the inherent shape of the diamond. Among the most common shapes available on the market are the round cut,the princess cut, the pear shape,the oval,the emerald cut, the marquise, the heart shape, the emerald, and the radient shape cut.

The shape you select is matter of individual taste, and today your choice is only limited by the skill of a craftsman.

COLOR

Diamonds vary in color from colorless to slight tones of yellow or brown. Colorless diamonds are most brilliant, most radiand most valuable. The D-J ratings are most desirable. The most prized diamonds are colorless, their beauty depends entirely upon their remarkable optical properties.

In these types of diamonds, all the colors of the rainbow are reflected back to your eye.The color grading scale varies from totally colorless to light color or tinted. The differences between one grade and its neighbor is very subtle.

The closer a diamond is to colorless the more valuable it becomes. Diamonds with no hint of color are very rare. Diamond color grades start at D (colorless) and continue through Z (light yellow/brown). The price of the diamond increases as you move along the scale from Z to D, with D stones being the most expensive.

The differences between grades are extremely subtle.
Sometimes, diamonds are naturally saturated with a lot of color such as pink, bright blue or yellow. These highly prized diamonds called fancies, are very rare and usually demand premium prices. Fancy colored diamonds are not graded on the above scale.

CLARITY

Because of their unique optical properties, diamonds, more than any other gemstones, are capable of producing the maximum amount of brilliance. While minute crystals of diamond or other minerals are contained in almost all diamonds, a diamond that is virtually free of inclusions and surface markings will be judged as flawless.

In these diamonds, nothing interferes with the passage of light nor spoils the beauty. But these diamonds are extremely rare and will command a high price. Most diamonds contain very tiny flaws known as inclusions. The clarity of a diamond is determined by the amount and location of these flaws when viewed under 10 power magnification. Mapping the inclusions within the stone is also used as a method of fingerprinting to help identify one particular stone from another. For fine jewelry, you will want to avoid inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.

Under the scrutiny of a jeweler's 10X magnifying loupe the appearance of tiny crystals, feathers or clouds can be identified. These natural phenomena are called inclusions. Large inclusions may interfere with the path of light cascading through a diamond, thus effecting its vibrancy. The fewer the natural inclusions, the higher the grade and the greater the value of the stone. The number, size, position, nature and color of the inclusions determine the clarity of the diamond. Clarity Grading Scale FL-IF No inclusions visible (by an expert) under 10x magnification. FL=Flawless, IF=Internally Flawless VVS1-VVS2 Minute - extremely difficult to find under 10x. VVS=Very, Very Slightly Included VS1-VS2 Minor - difficult to find under 10x. VS=Very Slightly Included SI1-SI2 Noticeable - relatively easy to find under 10x. SI=Slightly Included I1-I2-I3 Obvious under 10x - just visible to the naked eye. I=Imperfect What minute inclusions there may be make every diamond unique. These are, in fact, nature's fingerprints and do not mar the diamond's beauty nor endanger its durability. However, the fewer there are, the rarer your diamond will be.

CARAT WEIGHT

As with all precious stones, the weight-and therefore the size-of a diamond is expressed in carats. One carat is divided into 100 "points" so that a diamond of 25 points is described as a quarter of a carat or 0.25 carats.

Size is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond, but now you know that two diamonds of equal size can have very unequal prices depending on their quality. However, remember that diamonds of high quality can be found in all size ranges. Here are some other examples that show the approximate size of diamonds of varying carat weights. For example, a 0.75 carat diamond is the same as a 75-point diamond or a 3/4 carat stone. The larger the diamond, the more rare it is, therefore, the more valuable.

U.S. law allows a half-point tolerance measured to a carat (0.001) and rounded to the nearest hundredth (0.01). Example: 0.995 carat can legally be described and sold as a one-carat diamond in the United States. International trade and G.I.A.'s GemTrade round up to the next higher hundredth only from nine thousandths of a carat. Example: 0.999 carat = 1.00 carat, 0.998 carat = 0.99 carat Though larger diamonds are highly sought, a diamond of lesser size may have higher clarity and color or a more precise cut and be of equal value. It is important, also, not to confuse weight with size. Two diamonds with exactly the same size might weight differently.

CERTIFICATION

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is one of the most trusted names in the industry. The GIA is an unbiased, non-profit organization which established the world's most recognized and accurate system for grading diamonds.

While GIA is the most widely known laboratory, there are numerous other laboratories which are both reputable and accurate, including the American Gem Society (AGS), the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL), the Diamond High Council (HRD) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI). These certifications are quality reports and do not establish values.