Diamond Education

No two diamonds are alike, so what makes one diamond more valuable than another? To better understand it we need to dive into the 4CS of diamonds:
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Diamond Cut

The cut of a diamond refers to its physical shape (round, heart, oval, marquise, pear) and to the diamond's ability to transmit light which determines its ultimate appearance.

A well-cut diamond will appear sparkly and brilliant whereas a poorly cut diamond will appear lifeless and gloomy. Thus, the cut of a diamond can greatly affect its appearance regardless of its clarity and color. The cut of a diamond is also extremely important for how big the diamond appears. Well-cut diamonds tend to appear larger than poorly cut ones, even if they share identical carat weight.

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Diamond Color

When shopping for a diamond, it is preferred to choose one with the least amount of color possible, meaning a colorless stone.

GIA's color-grading scale for diamonds is the industry standard. The scale ranges from the letter D, representing colorless, and goes down all the way to the letter Z in accordance to the changes in color. The color Z representing light yellow color.

Diamonds are valued by how closely they approach the colorlessness scaling – the less color- the higher the value of the diamond.

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Diamond Clarity

nd pressure, they often contain unique birthmarks, either internal (inclusions) or external (blemishes).

Diamond clarity refers to the absence of these inclusions and blemishes. Diamonds without these birthmarks are rare, and rarity affects a diamond's value. Using the GIA International Diamond Grading System™, diamonds are assigned a clarity grade that ranges from flawless (FL) to diamonds with obvious inclusions (I3).

Every diamond is unique. None is absolutely perfect under 10x magnification, though some come close. Known as Flawless diamonds, these are exceptionally rare. Most jewelers have never even seen one.

The GIA Clarity Scale contains 11 grades, with most diamonds falling into the VS (very slightly included) or SI (slightly included) categories. In determining a clarity grade, the GIA system considers the size, nature, position, color or relief, and quantity of clarity characteristics visible under 10x magnification.

Flawless (FL) - No inclusions or blemishes are visible to a skilled grader using 10× magnification
Internally Flawless (IF) - No inclusions and only blemishes are visible to a skilled grader using 10× magnification
Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) - Inclusions are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10× magnification
Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) - Inclusions are minor and range from difficult to somewhat easy for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification
Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) - Inclusions are noticeable to a skilled grader under 10x magnification
Included (I1, I2, and I3) - Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification and may affect transparency and brilliance

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Diamond Weight

Diamonds and other gemstones are weighed in metric carats: one carat is equal to 0.2 grams.

Just as a dollar is divided into 100 pennies, a carat is divided into 100 points. For example, a 50-point diamond weighs 0.50 carats. But two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different values depending on the other members of the Four C's: clarity, color and cut.

It's important to remember that a diamond's value is determined using all of the 4Cs, not just carat weight.

Which Carat Weight Is Right For You?

Personal preference and budget are the main determining factors in choosing the right carat weight. While some prefer a larger stone over a high color and clarity, while others prefer a smaller stone in a high clarity and color.

No two diamonds are alike, and so the options and variations are endless. There are various combinations of carat weight, color and clarity, and we are here to help you decide which combination is just right for you. At Elgrissy Diamonds, we will lay out for you the best possible options to perfectly suit your personal taste and budget.