Buying guide: how to choose your diamond
The 4Cs that make every diamond unique:
Each diamond is a unique marvel, assessed according to four essential criteria: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat. These 4Cs determine not only a diamond’s beauty and value, but also its distinctive character. Understanding these criteria will help you choose the perfect diamond to match your tastes and your budget. Whether you are looking for the dazzling brilliance of an exceptional cut, the purity of an inclusion-free diamond, or the rarity of a particular color, the 4Cs will guide your decision.
Cut: The Diamond’s Dazzling Factor
Cut is not just about shape, but about how the diamond is fashioned to reflect light. A well-cut diamond will shine more, whatever its shape. From the classic round brilliant cut to the elegant pear shape (like our Loop Pear ring!), each cut has its own charm.
It is important to note that certain diamond cuts can make a stone appear larger than its carat weight. For example, pear and marquise cuts tend to look larger than their actual carat weight, offering excellent visual value for money.
Cut quality is assessed according to three main criteria:
1. Cut: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor
2. Polish: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor
3. Symmetry: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor
At LAUREDI, all our diamonds are graded “3X,” meaning they have received an “Excellent” grade for these three criteria, ensuring optimal brilliance and sparkle.
Color: When Less Is More
For white diamonds, the less colour they show, the more valuable they are. The scale runs from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Here is what these colour grades mean:
- D, E, F: Colourless (the rarest and most valuable)
- G, H, I, J: Near colourless
- K, L, M: Slightly tinted
- N to R: Very slightly tinted
- S to Z: Tinted
At LAUREDI, all our white diamonds are graded D, E, or F, ensuring exceptional colour purity.
If you love vivid hues, coloured diamonds such as blue, pink, or green are prized for their distinctive tones. These diamonds are assessed differently, ranging from “Faint” to “Fancy Vivid”. Our coloured diamonds are all graded “Vivid”, offering the most intense and most sought-after shades.
Clarity: Nature’s Fingerprint
Clarity refers to the tiny imperfections inside a diamond, known as inclusions. They are like nature’s fingerprints, making each stone unique. The clarity scale ranges from:
- FL (Flawless): No inclusions visible under 10x magnification
- IF (Internally Flawless): No internal inclusions, but may have minor external characteristics
- VVS1, VVS2 (Very Very Slightly Included): Inclusions extremely difficult to see, even for an expert
- VS1, VS2 (Very Slightly Included): Minor inclusions, difficult to see under 10x
- SI1, SI2 (Slightly Included): Inclusions visible under 10x, sometimes to the naked eye
- I1, I2, I3 (Included): Inclusions visible to the naked eye, which may affect transparency and sparkle
It is important to note that I3-grade diamonds carry a higher risk of fragility due to their significant inclusions. By contrast, a VS1 diamond with inclusions that are not under the table (the diamond’s flat top surface) is generally considered excellent, as these inclusions are less visible and do not significantly affect the diamond’s brilliance.
At LAUREDI, all our diamonds are graded VS1 or higher, ensuring exceptional clarity and lasting beauty.
Carat: Size and Weight
The carat is a unit of measurement that indicates a diamond’s weight. One carat equals 0.2 grams. It is important to understand that carat measures weight, not the diamond’s visible size. As a result, two diamonds with the same carat weight may appear different in size depending on their cut and shape.
While larger diamonds are often more valuable, remember that clarity, color, and cut quality also play a major role in a diamond’s value. A smaller, high-quality diamond can be more valuable than a larger one of lower quality.
Laboratory-Grown Diamonds: The 4Cs in the Lab
Laboratory-grown diamonds, like those we use in our Loop Pear ring, are made of exactly the same material as diamonds mined from the earth. As a result, they are graded according to the same 4Cs and by the same independent laboratories as mined diamonds. This identical assessment highlights that laboratory-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds.
Scientists can control the growth conditions, enabling exciting possibilities:
\- Cut: Laboratory-grown diamonds can be grown to optimize the cut, potentially achieving excellent cut grades more consistently.
\- Color: While most laboratory-grown diamonds are grown to be colorless, scientists can also create a range of fancy colors, offering more options for distinctive, vivid hues.
\- Clarity: The controlled environment often results in fewer inclusions, but laboratory-grown diamonds are not always flawless—they can also display unique clarity characteristics.
\- Carat: Laboratory-grown diamonds can be grown to the desired carat weights, offering a wide range of size options.
At LAUREDI, our laboratory-grown diamonds undergo the same rigorous grading process as mined diamonds. This means you receive the same brilliance and the same quality, with the added benefits of ethical sourcing and technological innovation.
Diamond Certification
All our diamonds of 0.3 carat and above are certified to these criteria by IGI (International Gemological Institute) or GIA (Gemological Institute of America). These certifications guarantee the authenticity and quality of our diamonds, whether mined or laboratory-grown.
\- The IGI (International Gemological Institute): Founded in 1975, IGI is one of the largest independent organizations for grading and certifying diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry. It is globally recognized for its high standards and expertise in assessing laboratory-grown diamonds.
\- The GIA (Gemological Institute of America): Established in 1931, the GIA is the most respected institution in the field of gemology. It developed the 4Cs system for diamond grading, which has become the global standard. The GIA is particularly renowned for its mined-diamond reports, but it also certifies laboratory-grown diamonds.
These certifications provide an objective, detailed assessment of each diamond, ensuring that you receive exactly what is described, whether it is a mined diamond or a lab-grown diamond.
Remember: whether mined or lab-grown, the 4Cs help ensure you receive a diamond that meets your expectations in terms of beauty and brilliance. The choice between the two often depends on personal preferences and values.
FAQ
Question 1: What are the 4 essential criteria for evaluating a diamond?The 4 essential criteria for evaluating a diamond are Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat. They are commonly referred to as the 4Cs.
Question 2: What is a diamond’s Cut and what are the grading criteria? A diamond’s Cut does not refer only to its shape, but to the quality of its faceting, which influences how it reflects light and sparkles. It is graded according to three main criteria: Cut, Polish, and Symmetry, each rated from Excellent to Poor.
Question 3: How does Color affect the value of a white diamond?For white diamonds, the less color there is, the more valuable they are. The color scale ranges from D (colorless, the rarest and most valuable) to Z (light yellow or brown tint).
Question 4: What is a diamond’s Clarity and how is it assessed?A diamond’s Clarity refers to the presence of tiny internal imperfections (inclusions) and external blemishes. It is assessed on a scale ranging from FL (Flawless, with no visible inclusions) to I3 (Included, with inclusions visible to the naked eye that may affect the stone).
Question 5: What does a diamond’s Carat represent?Carat is a unit of measurement that represents a diamond’s weight. One carat equals 0.2 grams. It is important to note that carat measures weight, not the diamond’s visible size.
Question 6: Are lab-grown diamonds different from mined diamonds in terms of grading?No, lab-grown diamonds are made of exactly the same material as diamonds extracted from mines and are graded according to the same 4Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat) by the same independent organizations.
Question 7: What are the main diamond certification bodies mentioned in the article?The main diamond certification bodies mentioned in the article are IGI (International Gemological Institute) and GIA (Gemological Institute of America). These certifications guarantee the authenticity and quality of the diamonds.
