Diamond Eduction - 4 C's of Diamonds

Things to know when buying Diamonds, first we'll start with the 4 C's of diamonds (clarity, cut, color, carat) and then finishing with some other diamond facts. For more information and diagrams on the 4 C's of diamonds check out our ebay store diamond page: http://stores.ebay.com/OldCities-Estate-Jewelry/Diamond-Information.html.

THE 4 C's of Diamonds!

Cut - the most important of the 4

Cut refers to the shape of the stone and also gives of the brilliance of the stone. Diamonds can come in all different shapes from round, princess, emerald, pear, etc. You can also find diamonds uncut or rough, these diamonds are older and have much value, but little brilliance or luster. To grade the cut of a diamond you look at the shape of the cut, proportions and symmetry as well as outer marks, these are all taken into consideration. The brilliance of a diamond comes from the underneath table, how many facets there are, how they are cut and how the light hits off of each of those facets, this is what makes the diamond sparkle.

Color - How colorless is the diamond?

Diamond color is hard to judge by the naked eye, most use what is called a loop. Color is graded using the alphabet staring at D (best in color or colorless) all the way down to Z (a yellow diamond). Diamonds also come in what they call fancy colors: green, red, blue, purple and yellow, while also coming in brown and black. These stones are generally graded differently.

Clarity - How clear is the diamond?

Clarity refers to the internal/external flaws or inclusions the diamond has. Clarity starts as LR which is internally flawless or inclusion free when looking through a 10 X magnification, all clarity is judged with some sort of magnifier, never done by the naked eye, the naked eye misses many inclusions. If the stone has very few or minor inclusions it is graded VVS, VS is very small inclusions, going to SI small inclusions, to I distinct inclusions and rounding out at PI very large inclusions. To get the clarity of a diamond the best way to do it would to be to go to your local jeweler and ask.

Carat - How big is the diamond?

Carat weight is determined by the width, height, depth, stone shape and stones specific gravity.

OTHER DIAMOND FACTS:

Chemical composition -- Almost pure carbon, crystallized under extremes of heat and pressure.

Color -- Colorless to yellow, brown, orange, blue, green, pink, black. Most diamonds are slightly yellowish, and in this general color range, those most approaching absolute lack of color are most prized. However, brightly colored diamonds are much rarer and more expensive.

Optics -- R.I. 2.417. Dispersion 0.044 (high).

Durability -- Hardness 10 on Mohs scale. The hardest natural substance. Diamonds can be cut and polished only with other diamonds, and only because of slight directional differences in hardness and a perfect octahedral cleavage. While diamonds are tough, they can be chipped along sharp girdles or facet edges. Diamonds are also highly heat resistant, but they can be burned if subjected to prolonged high heat.

Crystal structure -- Isometric (cubic).

Specific Gravity -- 3.515.

Sources -- The major sources include southern Africa, Australia, and Siberia. In North America, the best known source is at Murfreesboro, Arkansas, although it has not been commercially developed. Significant deposits have been found recently in Canada.