What makes a diamond special?
Diamond surely reigns supreme as the empress of these, given these factors:
- Diamond is the only gem made of a single element. It is typically about 99.95% carbon
- Diamond forms under high temperature and pressure conditions that only exist within a specific depth range beneath the earth’s surface
- Every diamond is unique- no two diamonds have exactly the same clarity characteristics
- Diamonds come in many shapes, sizes, and colors with a variety of internal and surface characteristics
- Diamond is so hard that you can only scratch it with another diamond
- The magic combination of composition, structure and formation gives diamonds the qualities that make them extraordinary
- Diamonds are forever because of it’s ability to be durable. It can withstand wear, heat and chemicals
- Diamond is the most durable gemstones
- Diamonds are rare and costly to mine
Diamond Value Factors- Meet The Four C’s
Diamond experts use a four value factors to describe and classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. These are known as the four C’s. They describe the quality of a finished diamond, which is directly related to it’s value.
Clarity
Diamonds have internal features, called inclusions and surface irregularities called blemishes. Together they are called clarity characteristics. The very different inclusions found in natural diamonds, synthethic diamonds, and simulants (diamond imitation) help gemologist separate them from each other.
Color
Brightest and purest colors are the most desirable!
The bigger the diamond, the more obvious its color.
The difference in color can be subtl, but they can cause dramatic variations in price.
Cut
Well cut diamond can make light perform in breathtaking ways. Three important attributes to a cut of a diamond: brightness, fire, scintillation.
Carat Weight
Diamond weights are stated in metric carats (cts). An important aspect of this value factor is the relationship among rarity, weight and value. Large diamonds are more rare than small small ones. The more scarce something is, the more it’s worth.
Synthethics and Simulants
Synthethic
A manmade gem with essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure and properties as a natural gem.
Simulants
Materials that simply look like a gem. E.g. plastic, glass, cubic zirconias and moissanite.