THE FOUR C's:
What determines a diamond's beauty and value? Color, Clarity, Cut and
Carat Weight.
First among the "4C's" is the Cut, which determines a diamond's
brilliance and fire,
and more than any other factor unlocks the beauty within.
CUT
Unlike gemstones such as emeralds, rubies and sapphires, whose beauty
lies in their
intense color, a diamond's beauty is determined by its brilliance and
fire. A diamond
owes its brilliance to the skill of the diamond cutter, and the precision
of the Cut –
making Cut the most important of the 4C's.
PRINCIPAL PARTS OF A DIAMOND CHART
Unfortunately, most diamonds are not well cut. This is not because the
cutter made
mistakes or did a poor job, but simply because, to be cost effective,
diamond cutters
may sacrifice a stone's brilliance in order to produce a larger gemstone.
Not all
diamond cutters believe in the same criteria for brilliancy. While there
are many
constants which all diamond cutters agree upon, there can be small variations
in
proportions that will yield diamonds of very good brilliance. The Gemological
Institute
of America describes four classes of cut; we've included a synopsis of
these characteristics
for your review. You don't need to insist upon an ideal cut in order to
assure yourself of
a brilliant diamond,nor do you need a "D" color to get a white
diamond. However, don't
buy a diamond whose cut is unknown or described in ambiguous terms. For
a technical
discussion of this intriguing aspect of gemology, click on www.gia.edu,
and find the article
on "Demystifying a Diamond's Cut" in the Fall 1998 issue of
Gems and Gemology. There's
also an extensive explanation of the various cutting qualities of all
diamond shapes by
the Accredited Gem Appraisers (www.gemappraisers.com).
If you have any questions,
contact us directly at drosen@sydneyrosen.com.
