The 4C's & Certificate

Diamonds are the hardest gemstone of all natural material. It is something superb and lustrous. Diamonds come in a range of colours and also vary in terms of rarity, and price. Colourless diamonds are the most common and most popular in today’s market.

 For special occasions like engagements, marriages and anniversaries, diamonds are used to represent the commitment to everlasting love. Today as throughout the centuries, the tradition of giving a diamond ring as a token of love still continues to symbolise the purity, strength and eternity of one's love from the heart.

 

 

The 4C's and Certificate

According to the international standard, there are 4 C's which determine the diamond's value; Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight. At Diamond Elite we believe that a certificate from a trusted diamond grading institute such as Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) is just as important.

 

Colour

Colour refers to the degree to which a diamond appears colourless. Diamonds are graded in accordance to their colours based on the colour scale, which range from D (colourless) to Z (light colour), established by the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA). Most diamonds are colourless but the rarest diamonds are the ones with fancy colours such as red, pink, blue and green, which makes a significant impact on the value of the diamond.

 

 

Clarity

Almost all diamonds contain minute pieces of non crystallised carbon. These identifying features are called inclusions. The size, nature, location, and amount of inclusions determine a diamond's clarity and subsequently affect its value. The clarity of diamond can be determined by identifying the inclusion found on the diamond which may cause to reduce the brilliance or value. The clearer the better, but do keep in mind a diamond does not have to be flawless (FL) to be beautiful.

 

 

Cut

Cut is the only factor defining a diamonds value which dramatically affects the beauty, brightness and brilliance of a diamond. The better the cut, the more the diamond appears to sparkle and to show more brilliance. Cut is also the only factor defining a diamonds value over which man has any control. The angles and proportions the diamond cutter has employed in fashioning the facets, can turn a dull rough diamond into a sparkling, bright polished gem.

 

 

Hearts & Arrows

Hearts & arrows are precision-cut round diamonds, meaning excellent cut. Its finest details are usually invisible to an untrained eye.

Precise craftmanship creates the pattern of a series of eight arrowheads in the diamond with the use of an H&A's scope. If the diamond is turned up-side-down, you will see a perfect pattern of eight heart shapes. These unique features are one of the few easiest ways to analyse a diamond.

 

 

Carat

Diamonds were traditionally weighed against the seeds of Carob tree until the system was standardised and one carat was fixed at 0.2 grams. One carat is divided into 100 points. This means that half a carat is described as 50 points or 0.50 carats. Larger diamonds are found much less frequently in nature. Thus, for example, a one carat diamond will cost more than twice that of a 0.50 carat diamond (assuming colour, clarity and cut remain constant).

 

Carat Weight

 

 

Certificate

 

A Diamond certificate identifies all characteristics of the diamond and its value. When shopping for a diamond check whether the diamond comes with a certificate either from GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) or any other reliable diamond grading institution. The diamond may have a laser inscription on it and that number should match the number on the certificate. We are members of trusted diamond dealers such as the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA).