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All you need to know.
You've ogled the rocks in the windows of jewellery shops, you've drooled over the gorgeous settings in magazines. Now it's time to arm yourself with all the right information before you head off to buy one.
The 4 C' s
When buying a diamond, there are four crucial factors to consider: Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat.
CUT: The more precisely a diamond has been cut and polished, the greater its brilliance (and price). Well-proportioned diamonds reflect light internally from facet to facet and then disperse it through the crown or top of the diamond, giving the stone its brilliance. Diamonds that have been cut too shallow or deep let light escape through the side facets or the bottom of the diamond, hindering its brilliance.
COLOUR: Most diamond come in subtle shades, from colourless (the most popular) to yellow and brown. Other colours, such as orange, pink, blue and green, also occur. The most intensely coloured of these are referred to as fancies and are highly sought after.
CLARITY: This refers to the number and nature of any inclusions (or flaws), such as carbon spots or fractures found in the stone, as well as their size and position. The fewer inclusions, the better the passage of light through the diamond, and the higher the value.
CARAT: This is the unit which the weight or size of a diamond is measured. One carat equals 0.2g (200mg) and there are 100 points per carat. Obviously, the bigger the diamond, the higher the value. But the value of two diamonds of the same carat weight may differ depending on their cut, colour and clarity |
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