Diamond Grading

If you are planning of buying a diamond, it is essential that you must know about diamond grading. Diamonds are assessed based on four quality elements (or four C's) in order to determine its value. These four quality elements or four C's of diamond grading are the diamond's cut, color, clarity and carat. These four quality elements along with the carat weight determine the value of the diamond. Most people believe that clarity is the most important aspect of all the quality elements, however, color and cut has more weight on the visual form of a diamond.

Carat
Carat is the unit used in measuring all gemstones. The carat weight is the calculation of the mass of the diamond. A single carat is subdivided into a hundred points. Hence, if a diamond has a measurement of 75 points, it is ¾ carat in weight or 0.75 carat. A single gram is composed of five carats. The word "carat" is derived from the Greek word "keration" meaning "fruit of the carob". The seeds of the carob tree pod where used primarily for their reputation of having the same weight. Carob seeds were used during the earlier centuries to weigh precious gemstones.

Clarity
Clarity is the diamond grading element that determines the number, nature, position, size and color of internal features called "inclusions" and "blemishes" of a diamond. The clarity of a diamond is mostly determined by looking for flaws within the diamonds and on the surface of the diamond. The clarity of a diamond is categorized in six levels. From "F" which stands for flawless to "I" for imperfect and included.

Colors
The color of a diamond ranges from vibrant hues of the rainbow to colorless. The colors of the diamond are categorized into four groups. These are colorless, nearly colorless, light yellow, gray or brown and fancy colors. Diamonds with hues contrasting yellow or brown shades are more valuable and much rarer. Gemologist have developed a grading system for the diamonds that has fancy colors, although these grading system of colors for these kinds of colored diamond are not widely used because of the rarity of diamonds with fancy color.

Cut
Cut is the most neglected diamond grading element. Diamond stones can be cut in various ways. It is not determined by the shape of the diamond but the manner of the workmanship and the angles of how the diamond is cut. One of the easiest ways to determine this element in the diamond grading is by looking at the diamond; if the diamond does not flash in the light or if the diamond does not glitter when it is shined with a direct beam of light, chances are that diamond is not well cut.