The Four C’s of Diamonds for Engagement Rings

There are four important elements that can be used to ascertain how rare each diamond is compared to all others on the market. These factors can all be included in a grading report issued from an independent laboratory. The Gemological Institute of America, or GIA is probably the best known but there are others like the American Gem Society, or AGS; European Gem Labs, or EGL; or the International Gem Institute, or IGI. These organizations do not buy or sell diamonds and issue a certificate to identify each diamond according to the four factors. You can also get a grading report or an appraisal from a jeweler but it does not carry the same weight of credibility as the independent report. Since almost all engagement rings are diamond rings, knowing these factors can be a valuable asset. The first C is Cut. This refers to the shape and proportions of the stone. Shape means the outline that would be formed if you traced the diamond with a pen onto a piece of paper. The most common shapes are round, oval, emerald, marquise, radiant, princess, pear shaped, and heart shaped. Proportion means how the diamond reflects the light that hits it. The proportion is comprised of brilliance, which is the light that goes from the diamond into the viewer’s eye; and fire, which is the light absorbed into the diamond and bounces from facet to facet.

Together these two important technical elements give diamonds the beauty that makes engagement rings so cherished and so valued. The second C is Color. This is determined by comparing the stone in question to a set of real diamonds certified by GIA. Color is very important when allocating a value to a diamond. D, E or F diamonds are spectacular. But one should be sure that the cost is worth it to your own happiness. The third C is Clarity. All diamonds have tiny imperfections that can only be seen under a 10-power microscope. Most of these do not detract from the beauty of the stone. Because of this, clarity has less impact on the value of a diamond. If it is important to the buyers, VVS1 diamonds can be selected for the engagement rings. This stands for very, very small inclusions and means that only an expert can see the flaws under a 10-power microscope. The fourth C is Carat. This means the size of the stone according to weight. A one carat diamond weighs two tenths of a gram. Larger diamonds are worth more per carat than smaller ones because there are less of them in the world. Putting these four factors together, the choice for which diamond to buy can be made logically. If cost is not an issue, the best of all elements can be included. But for most buyers there must be some compromises. Some will opt for a bigger stone but with less clarity or perhaps slightly less clarity and slightly less fine color. Others may decide they want the highest quality diamond they can afford and will be happy even though it is smaller.