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Diamond Characteristics

This short tutorial explains the Four C’s- Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight - these are most important characteristics Goldman Diamond Exchange considers when buying a diamond.

 

 

Diamond Shape
 

As the name suggests, shape (round, princess, radiant, etc.) describes a diamond’s form, primarily as viewed from above. Since all diamond shapes are very different, unique characteristics determine quality for each shape.  

Diamond Clarity

 

Almost all diamonds have tiny imperfections. Diamonds with few or no imperfections receive the highest clarity grades. Basically, there are two types of flaws: inclusions and blemishes. Inclusions refer to internal flaws and blemishes refer to surface flaws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diamond Cut

 

The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance. Put simply, the better a diamond is cut, the more sparkle it will have.
 

Diamond Anatomy
 

A diamond is comprised of five main components:
 

Table
 

• The largest facet of the diamond, which comprises the flat surface on the top of the stone, resembling a ‘table’.
 

Crown
 

• This is the top portion of the diamond, located above the girdle and extending below the table.
 

Girdle
 

• Forming the outer edge of the diamond, this is where the crown and the pavilion meet.
 

Pavilion
 

• Located at the bottom of the diamond, the pavilion bridges the girdle and the culet.
 

Culet
 

• The smallest facet of a diamond, the culet is located at the very bottom of the stone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diamond Carat Weight
 

This is the term with which people are most familiar, but bear in mind that carat is specifically a measure of a diamond’s weight. A carat (ct.) is the unit of measurement specifically used to describe the weight of a diamond (or other gemstones).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Chart is for guidance only as it will appear different on every computer. 

 

 

Diamond Colour
 

A diamond’s colour grade actually refers to the lack of colour. In other words, diamonds that are white, containing little or no colour, receive higher quality grades than those with visible colour. The diamond colour evaluation of most gem-quality diamonds is based on the absence of colour. A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue, like a drop of pure water, and consequently, a higher value.

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