Diamond Characteristics
There are many characteristics that control a diamond's appearance and durability. Four important factors are often lumped together and called the
Four Cs: diamond color, clarity, cut and carat weight. Each of those topics is important on its own, but it's up to you to combine them in different ways to find a diamond that suits your style, your needs and your budget.
A diamond's color can be natural or it can be altered by treatments. Diamond color can be affected by fluorescence--a characteristic that makes diamonds shift color in different lights. There are several topics to explore to begin understanding diamond color.
A perfect diamond with perfect clarity--or clearness--is rare. Most flaws that exist in jewelry grade diamonds cannot be seen without looking at gemstones through a jeweler's magnifying loupe. Become familiar with diamond clarity and the terms associated with it so that you can ask the right questions--and understand the answers--when you shop for a diamond.
Did you know that a diamond's cut does not refer to its shape? When gemologists say "cut," they are talking about a gemstone's proportions--its depth and width and the uniformity of its facets--all characteristics that control brilliance, durability and other qualities we look for in a diamond.
Carat weight affects a diamond's appearance and its price, making it a characteristic you should definitely understand before you buy a diamond.
