At Take Shape Studio we LOVE working with gold and fine gemstones, especially on meaningful and unique custom projects. While our favorite stone to work with is sapphire for its sturdiness, color, and depth, we can't resist the sparkle of a diamond. We primarily work with lab grown, antique, and heirloom (the ones you bring to us!) diamonds, and we do have a source for traceable new diamonds.
We wanted to give you an overview of how the quality and value of diamonds are determined: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight.
Breaking Down the Four Cs
Cut
The cut is arguably the most critical of the Four Cs, directly affecting a diamond's sparkle and visual appeal. A well-cut diamond reflects light in a way that maximizes its brilliance, fire, and scintillation. The GIA grades diamond cuts from Excellent to Poor, considering factors like proportions, symmetry, and polish.
Color
Color refers to the presence or absence of color in a diamond. The color grades range from:
- D, E, F: Colorless (most valuable)
- G, H, I, J: Near-colorless
- K, L, M: Very faint yellow
- N-Z: Deeper color
Colorless diamonds are considered the most rare and expensive, but it's very much about personal preference. We love a champagne colored stone!
Clarity
Clarity measures a diamond's tiny internal markings or imperfections. The GIA created a grading scale based on rarity:
- Flawless (FL): No inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification
- Internally Flawless (IF): No internal inclusions, only surface blemishes
- Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1/VVS2): Minute inclusions difficult to see
- Very Slightly Included (VS1/VS2): Minor inclusions
- Slightly Included (SI1/SI2): Noticeable inclusions
- Included (I1/I2/I3): Obvious inclusions that may affect transparency
Many imperfections are difficult to see without magnification, making clarity potentially the least important of the Four Cs.
Fun fact: Salt and pepper diamonds are characterized by their unique mix of black and white inclusions. These inclusions give the diamonds a distinctive speckled or galaxy-like appearance. Inclusions can be black carbon spots or other minerals like graphite, pyrite, or even tiny diamonds within the diamond.
Carat Weight
Carat is a precise weight measurement, with one carat equaling 200 milligrams. While larger diamonds are generally more valuable, if a large diamond was poorly cut it would greatly reduce its value. It's the combination of all 4 Cs that determine each diamond's quality.
Bonus info: Some consider a fifth "C" to be Certification, emphasizing the importance of having diamonds graded by reputable institutions like GIA