We have a qualified diamond grader in house who has successfully completed the Diamond Practical Certificate in diamond grading.

One of the most important points you need to understand about diamonds, is basically the 4C.

4Cs of Diamonds are Cut, Clarity, Carat, and Colour

4C'S BUYING GUIDE

Many people are confused about how diamonds are priced. The best explanation is that asking for the price of a diamond is like asking for the price of a house. An estate agent can't quote you a price for a house without knowing its size, condition, location, etc. This process is the same one used when buying a diamond. A diamond's beauty, rarity, and price depend on the interplay of all the 4Cs, Cut, Clarity, Carat, and Colour.

The 4Cs are used throughout the world to classify the rarity of diamonds. Diamonds with the combination of the highest 4C ratings are more rare and, consequently, more expensive. No one C is more important than another in terms of beauty and it is important to note that each of the 4Cs will not diminish in value over time.

Once you have established those 4C characteristics that are most important to you, a jeweller can then begin to show you various options with quoted prices.

THE DIAMOND QUALITY PYRAMID

A tool to help understand a diamond's value.

The Diamond Quality Pyramid is a framework to help you compare diamonds. While all diamonds are precious, those closest to the top of the pyramid possessing the best combination of cut, clarity, carat weight and colour are the earth's rarest and most valuable.

CARAT

Carat Refers to the weight of a diamond.

Carat is often confused with size even though it is actually a measure of weight. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. One carat can also be divided into 100 "points." A .75 carat diamond is the same as a 75-points or 3/4 carat diamond.

A 1-carat diamond costs exactly twice the price of a half-carat diamond, right? Wrong. Since larger diamonds are found less frequently in nature, which places them at the rarest level of the Diamond Quality Pyramid, a 1-carat diamond will cost more than twice a 1/2-carat diamond (assuming colour, clarity and cut remain constant).

Cut and mounting can make a diamond appear larger (or smaller) than its actual weight. So shop around and talk to your jeweller to find the right diamond and setting to optimize the beauty of your stone.

CLARITY

Clarity Refers to the presence of inclusions in a diamond.

Every diamond is unique. Nature ensures that each diamond is as individual as the person who wears it. Naturally-occurring features known as inclusions provide a special fingerprint within the stone. Inclusions are natural identifying characteristics such as minerals or fractures, appearing while diamonds are formed in the earth. They may look like tiny crystals, clouds or feathers.

To view inclusions, jewellers use a magnifying loupe. This tool allows jewellers to see a diamond at 10x its actual size so that inclusions are easier to see. The position of inclusions can affect the value of a diamond. There are very few flawless diamonds found in nature, thus these diamonds are much more valuable.

Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection, known as clarity, which was established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The clarity scale, ranging from F (Flawless) to Included (I), is based on the visibility of inclusions at a magnification of 10x.

Some inclusions can be hidden by a mounting, thus having little effect on the beauty of a diamond. An inclusion in the middle or top of a diamond could impact the dispersion of light, sometimes making the diamond less brilliant.

The greater a diamond's clarity, the more brilliant, valuable and rare it is and the higher it is on the Diamond Quality Pyramid.

Clarity	Description
FL - IF	Flawless/internally flawless
VVS1 - VVS2	Very, very small inclusions, very hard to locate under a 10x, unable to see with the unaided eye
VS1- VS2	Very small inclusions, hard to locate under a 10x, unable to see with the unaided eye
SI1 - SI2	Slight inclusions, easy to locate under a 10x, but unable to see with the unaided eye
I1 I2 I3	Inclusions – visible to the unaided eye

COLOUR

Colour Refers to the degree to which a diamond is colourless.

Diamonds are found in almost every colour of the rainbow, but white-coloured diamonds remain most popular.

Diamonds are graded on a colour scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) which ranges from D (colourless) to Z. Warmer coloured diamonds (K­Z) are particularly desirable when set in yellow gold. Icy winter whites (D­J) look stunning set in white gold or platinum.

Colour differences are very subtle and it is very difficult to see the difference between, say, an E and an F. Therefore, colours are graded under controlled lighting conditions and are compared to a master set for accuracy.

Truly colourless stones, graded D, treasured for their rarity, are highest on the Diamond Quality Pyramid. Colour, however, ultimately comes down to personal taste. Ask a jeweller to show you a variety of colour grades next to one another to help you determine your colour preference.

Nature has also created diamonds in intense shades of blue, green, yellow, orange, pink or ­ rarest of all ­ red. These diamonds are called coloured fancies and are extremely rare and highly treasured.

Here's a grid that will help you understand the colour grades of diamonds:

Colour of Stone	Description of Colour code
D	EXCEPTIONAL WHITE
E
F	RARE WHITE
G
H	WHITE
I	SLIGHTLY TINTED WHITE
J

CUT

Cut Refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond.

Nature determines so much about a diamond, but it takes a master cutter to reveal the stonešs true brilliance, fire and ultimate beauty.

Based on scientific formulas, a well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another and disperse and reflect it through the top of the stone. This results in a display of brilliance and fire, thereby placing well-cut diamonds higher on the Diamond Quality Pyramid than deep or shallow-cut diamonds. Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow lose or leak light through the side or bottom, resulting in less brilliance and ultimately, value.

Cut also refers to shape round, square, pear, or heart for example. Since a round diamond is symmetrical and capable of reflecting nearly all the light that enters, it is the most brilliant of all diamond shapes and follows specific proportional guidelines.

Non-round shapes, also known as "fancy shapes", will have their own guidelines to be considered well-cut.