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 a diamond can be determined by identifying the inclusion found on the diamond which may cause a reduction in brilliance or value. Diamonds are graded under 10x magnification, so a diamond does not need to be flawless to be considered beautiful, as these inclusions are often invisible to the naked eye.

 

 

Cut

Cut is the factor that most strongly influences a diamond’s beauty, brightness, and brilliance. An excellent cut diamond reflects light beautifully, creating exceptional sparkle and fire. Unlike colour, clarity, or carat weight, cut is determined entirely by human craftsmanship. The angles, proportions, and symmetry chosen by the cutter can transform a rough stone into a dazzling 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 it comes with a certificate from GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) or another reliable grading institution. Our lab grown diamonds are also certified, with certification provided by IGI (International Gemological Institute). Any certified stone will have a laser inscription that matches the report number on the certificate. We are members of trusted diamond dealers and work with respected grading institutions such as GIA and IGI.