Diamond Smarts
Diamond Smarts
A Diamond’s cut is not only about its shape, but how effectively it can return light back to the eye. A well-cut Diamond will appear very brilliant; while poorly cut stones can appear dark and lifeless, regardless of the Diamond's color or clarity.
Clarity refers to the presence of internal impurities, external blemishes, and other visually identifiable characteristics within a Diamond. While not always seen by the naked eye, clarity characteristics are what make every Diamond completely unique. There are no two Diamonds that will have exactly the same inclusions in the same location.
Carat is a term that refers to the weight of a Diamond, with one carat being equal to 0.2 grams. Before the twentieth century, Diamonds were measured by using the carob seed due to the belief that there was little variance in their mass distribution. From these origins, the carat was born, and has evolved into the standard unit of measurement for gemstones and precious metals.
When shopping for a Diamond, it is generally preferred to have the least amount of color possible. Diamond color is divided into five broad categories: colorless, near colorless, faint color, light color, and full color. Diamonds that are of the very highest purity are totally colorless, and appear a bright white as light reflects through them.