Knowing the Four C's for Your Diamond Earring
When selecting a diamond earring set, it is
important to have an understanding of the 4 C's. But what are
the four C's and what in the world do they actually mean? Here
is a brief explanation of clarity, cut, color, carat weight and
what they mean when you are picking out diamond earrings or
other diamond jewelry (i.e. a diamond bracelet or a diamond wedding band).
1) The Clarity of a Diamond. Out of the four
C's this is probably the most difficult for an ordinary person
to distinguish when looking at a diamond earring, but is
possibly the most important. The clarity determines how
brilliant or dull the diamond will be depending on how much
light can reflect without the disturbances of flaws (also known
as inclusions). There are 12 different symbols that are used to
describe the clarity of a diamond. An "F" denotes that the
diamond is flawless while at the other end of the spectrum, an
I3 explains that a diamond has obvious flaws that are easily
seen with the naked eye. The ten grades in between these two
describe how easily flaws can be seen and with what type of
magnification.
2) The Carat Weight of a Diamond. While usually
thought to explain size, the carat weight of a diamond actually
is a measurement of the weight of diamond. One carat is equal to
0.2 grams or 0.007 of an ounce. It is therefore, not a measure
of quality but a measure of quantity. The larger the diamond,
the more valuable since larger diamonds are more rare than
smaller ones. It is also important to remember that just because
one diamond maybe double the weight of another diamond does not
mean that the diamond earring will double in price. The price of
diamonds rises exponentially.
2) The Cut of a Diamond. The term "cut" for a
diamond has two different connotations. The more basic of the
two, is the shape of the diamond. Diamonds come in various
shapes such as the round, oval, emerald, pear, heart, and
marquis. While these cuts are easy to distinguish and to choose
from, the more difficult "cut" to decipher is the different
angles, proportions, symmetry, finish and polish of the diamond
earring. This plays a large part in the beauty of the diamond
and how well it will reflect light. If it is a "shallow cut"
light will be lost from the bottom while if it is a "heavy cut"
light will be lost from the sides. The goal is to get a "fine
cut" where no light is lost. The quality of the cut depends on
the jeweler. A diamond is usually cut with 58 different facets.
If the cuts are mathematically correct and precise, then the
diamond earring will be able to reflect light with
brilliance.
4) The Color of a Diamond. The color of the
diamond helps determine the value of a diamond whether it is
completely without color or is tinted yellow. There is a scale
from D-Z that grades the color of the diamond. The letter D is
used for diamonds that are completely clear. Before assuming
that the farther along the scale you go less valuable the
diamond is, think again. Within the scale there are canary
yellow, blue, pink, and red diamonds that are considered to be
very precious. For example, the rare and valuable Hope Diamond
is not clear but blue.
Each of the 4 C's plays a large part in the value of a diamond
all must be taken into account when purchasing your diamond
earring set. After gaining a better understanding of these
important factors that affect the value of the diamond, decide
what is important to you so that you can find yourself the
perfect pair of diamond earrings.