Diamonds have always been a woman's best friend. But when you examine the best types of diamonds, things get confusing. All Diamonds are beautiful and unique because they are the products of time and natural changes. It is an overwhelming process to test the types of diamonds. So, it is essential to follow the general standards of evaluation.
As we speak of the best types of diamonds, it is worth mentioning that until the middle of the twentieth century, there were no specific standards to evaluate the quality of diamonds accurately. Later on, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created a universal standard to assess and describe diamonds, which is called the 4Cs.
The 4Cs standard analyzes diamonds according to their:
This standard allows diamond purchasers to get an exact background of what they are about to buy. Following is a detailed description of how each of the 4Cs affects the quality of a diamond.
The general rule about diamonds' color is that the more colorless a diamond is, the more valuable it becomes. Thus, a diamond's lack of color is an advantage because it is an indication of chemical purity. To measure a diamond's colorlessness degree GIA has published the (D-to-Z diamond color grading system). A diamond is examined by putting it under specific lighting and viewing conditions to determine its colorlessness degree. The GIA diamond color grading system starts with grade D because some other methods that were followed previously have used grades A, B, and C to rate diamonds colors. The GIA intended to start fresh by using D as the first grade. Diamonds Colorlessness Grading System Guide:
Conclusion: Diamond's quality and prices, according to colors, are determined by the diamond's alphabetical order on the scale. For example, the F-grade diamonds are of less quality and fewer prices than the D-graded ones.
But what are inclusions and blemishes? When natural diamonds were once pieces of carbon buried deep in the earth, they got exposed to tremendous heat and pressure. As a result, each diamond gained a variety of internal and external characteristics. The internal characteristics are called "inclusions," while the external ones are known as "blemishes." Diamonds clarity evaluation depends on the nature, number, size, and position of those characteristics, and how they affect the diamond's overall appearance. Eventually, no diamond is 100% pure, but the closer it gets to purity, the higher rating it receives..
Diamonds Clarity Grading System Guide:
This system is divided into six categories. Some of those are also broken into sub-categories. As a result, we get 11 specified grades.
Conclusions: When buying a diamond, keep in mind that FL and IF diamonds are so rare and start choosing from VVS and downwards, as those are considered to be the best available types according to clarity.
Out of all the 4Cs, the cut is the most important one and has the primary effect on a diamond's sparkle and brilliance. So, when buying a diamond, it is wise to put this factor as a priority. Usually, when diamonds cut are mentioned, people think of it as something related to the diamond's shape (round, heart, oval, marquise, pear, etc.). Still, a diamond's cut +actually refers to the interaction between a diamond's facets and surfaces with light. Grading a diamond's cut quality is done through calculating the measurements of a diamond's facets proportions because the accuracy of those proportions is what mainly increases the diamond's interaction with light to produce a sparkling look. Each diamond produces specific visual effects. Following are the most essential three effects to evaluate cut grading:
There are other factors to consider grading a diamond's cut, which are:
According to the previous factors, diamonds cut grading system ranges from excellent to poor.
Diamonds Cut Grading System Guide:
Conclusion: it is now clear that the cut quality is what creates a diamond's fire, sparkle, and brilliance, which are the essential characteristics of a diamond and what charm people the most. As a result, the best types of diamonds in the world must always have an excellent cut grade, or at least very good.
In simple words, a diamond's carat weight is its actual weight on the scale. There are some general essential measurements related to carats. One carat equals 200 milligrams, and each carat is divided into 100 points. This system guarantees accurate measurements. For example, any diamond below one carat could be measured by its points alone. So, a diamond that weighs 0.75 carats could be referred to as a "seventy-five pointer." On the other hand, diamonds that weigh more than one carat are described by carats and decimals. For instance, a 1.05-carat diamond is referred to as "one, point O five" carats. Conclusion: the higher a diamond's carat weight reaches, the more expensive it gets because large diamonds are rare and desirable. However, if two diamonds have equal carat weight, their prices and values will be different according to the three previous factors: color, clarity, and cut.
After reaching this part of the article, you become aware of the factors that determine the quality of a diamond, and the categories each factor includes, ordered from the highest to the lowest quality. But those universal factors are a bit general, and you still need some buying tips to choose the best type of diamonds according to you. Following are those buying tips that you would find handy when you need to pick the best diamond according to your budget:
Have you ever wondered about the order to follow when you intend to reduce the quality without affecting the appearance? We advise you to start reducing the diamonds carat weight, then the clarity grade, later on, comes color, while the diamond's cut ranks last on the quality reducing scale. Try never to reduce a diamond's cut grade.
At last, when we think of the amazing process of diamonds formation, and that each diamond is between 1 billion and 3 billion years old, we will realize that there could never be a bad diamond. But as diamonds became the most sought-after gemstone, it is now a must that we treat ourselves or our loved ones with the best types of diamonds that would amaze every observer.