THE DIAMOND SELECTION

The 4 C’s
Because diamonds are so precious and rare, Gemsetter & Company wants to make certain that our criteria of comparison are exact. That is why you as a consumer will want to be familiar with the 4 C’s of the diamond industry, Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat.

Cut

The true beauty of a diamond can never be seen until it is properly cut and faceted. The angle between any two facets must be accurate to within very small tolerances to bring out the full fire and brilliance. Symmetry and polish are also critical to the sparkle in a diamond. Cut also refers to the shape of a diamond, whether it is round, princess, or a variety of other shapes, each has its own unique set of characteristics.

Color

This refers to the body color or interior color, of the diamond, not the surface rainbow of reflected light. That is why color is graded by looking through the side of the diamond, rather than the top. Other than the diamond size this is probably the most noticeable feature of a diamond and care should be taken to select a stone that shows little or no yellow.

Clarity

The clarity grade is an assessment of the degree to which the diamond is free of inclusions and impurities – often referred to as, feathers, included crystals, clouds, or carbon spots. In most cases, magnification is required to see the placement and degree of any inclusions. We’ll be happy to teach you how to use a 10X loupe (the jeweler’s eyepiece) and explain the differences.

Carat

Each diamond is accurately measured by carat weight. 100 points equals one carat, therefore 50 points equal exactly one-half carat. It is important to note that due to the rarity of larger diamonds, as the diamond size gets larger, the price per carat increases at a much greater rate. For example, a one carat diamond of equal quality to a one-half carat diamond will cost three of four times as much, rather than twice as much.