The 4Cs:
Until the 1940s, there was no agreed-upon standard by which diamonds could be evaluated. At that moment, the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) created the now universal diamond grading system, the 4Cs: color, clarity, cut and carat weight. The creation of this system now creates the opportunity for us to communicate adequately, and for customers to understand the characteristics of diamonds they are about to purchase.
Color:
The diamonds we often see on the market are colorless diamonds. However, there is a scale to indicate how colorless your diamond is! In fact, the diamonds are graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z ( light yellow). We often suggest to go with diamonds in the D to H color scale, as they will appear white to the naked eye! However, if your diamond is set in yellow gold, you might even be able to go to I to K, as it will still appear white in the setting.
Clarity:
The clarity indicates the internal and external purity of a diamond, if it is free from any blemishes or inclusions. GIA established a scale from FL (flawless) to I3 (included), which indicates how many and where the inclusions of your diamond are located. We personally love to choose diamonds in which the inclusions are invisible from the naked eye. That way, the imperfections will not hide away the beauty of your diamond, or of your dream engagement ring!
Loving the salt and pepper diamond trend? Fear not, we totally understand! Going on the other spectrum of diamonds, are salt and pepper diamonds, which are basically heavily included stones. They have a certain charm which we completely love, and can still be a perfect option for an engagement ring! However, do to their lower value on the market, these are usually not GIA certified.
Cut:
Not to be confused with shape, the cut ultimately determines the brilliance of a diamond. If it is not cut adequately, either being too deep or too shallow, the light will not reflect properly on the facets. A beautifully cut diamond also means some much-enjoyed fire, brightness, and dispersion, even if your diamond is highly included.
Carat:
The carat ultimately indicates the weight of a diamond however, it does have an influence on the size. It is important to consider that if a diamond is too shallow, it may appear larger, and if a stone is too deep, it may also appear smaller than the same carat, well cut stone.
Extra (shapes!):
The 4 Cs are very important, but the shape of a diamond is also as important when buying an engagement ring. Some of the most popular styles right now are round, oval, pear shape, but there are also many other options as seen below.
If you are still unsure about diamonds after this guide, don't hesitate to send us an email with any questions, at hello@justinequintal.com. We will help you with any concerns.
