When it comes to diamonds there are four C's that you need to consider: cut, colour, carat and clarity. Some qualities are more important than others when considering buying diamonds so we have put together a simplified guide on what you need to look for.
Cut is considered to be the most important of the 4 C’s because it has the largest effect on a diamond’s sparkle. Even if a diamond has a perfect clarity and colour grade, it can appear dull if it has a poor cut. When diamond cuts are made to the proper proportions, light is returned out of the top of the diamond. If the cut is too shallow, light comes out of the bottom, if it is too deep the light will escape out of the side.
Colour
The second most important quality to look for in a diamond is the colour. It is the first thing that you notice after the sparkle, and when it comes to diamonds, less is definitely more. The less colour a diamond has, the higher colour grade. If you want to avoid a pale yellow colour, choose a diamond grade H or higher.
Carat
Carat is often misunderstood as it is referring to the diamond’s weight and not its size. When you compare diamond carat sizes, keep in mind the cut of the diamond too: a high-carat diamond with a poor cut grade may look smaller, they could be cut deeper than a diamond with a smaller carat weight and a better cut.
Clarity
The clarity of diamonds refers to small flaws on the surfaces which are called blemishes or inclusions. Clarity is often seen as the least important factor when considering buying a diamond as more often than not the inclusions are microscopic and to an untrained eye, they would not be visible.
If you are looking to make a special purchase or maybe even propose, we have some stunning diamond jewellery available here. If you want some advice or you have a question about a certain piece, our in-house customer service team will be more than happy to help. You can phone us on 0161 205 3575 or email us at [email protected].
