If buying an engagement ring is something that you’re looking to do in the near future, then people who know of your plans will probably start preaching the importance of learning the 4 Cs. While you might not know much about diamonds now, a crash course is certainly necessary to ensure that you get the best value for your dollar.
Indra Jhaveri is the owner of AMI Diamond & Jewelry, a Phoenix store specializing in a variety of precious stones and jewelry items, and according to him, anyone in search of an engagement ring should at least be mildly familiar with the manner in which diamonds are valued. The quality of a diamond is based on four distinct characteristics that are known, collectively, as the 4 Cs – cut, carat, clarity, and color.
Cut
“Cut” refers to the reflective qualities and proportions of a diamond. (Contrary to what some might think, a diamond’s cut is not the same thing as its shape.) The more well cut a diamond is, the higher its price is likely to be. Some people believe that the more facets a diamond has, the more brilliant it is likely to be, as diamond facets work to capture the maximum amount of light and cause it to bounce and reflect. However, the number of facets in a given diamond will not necessarily correlate to its overall sparkle and shine; rather, it is the precision with which the diamond is cut that determines this aspect of quality.
Carat
A carat is a unit of measurement used to weigh a diamond. The larger a diamond is, the more expensive it is likely to be due to its carat size. Additionally, since larger diamonds are more rare, a single one-carat diamond will probably cost far more than two individual half-carat ones.
Clarity
The term “clarity” describes the clearness and purity of a diamond. There is a widely-accepted clarity scale that jewelers use to grade diamonds. Diamonds with the best clarity will have a ranking of F (Flawless), followed by IF (Internally Flawless). The lower a diamond ranks on the clarity scale, the more defects it will possess that are visible to the naked eye – a fact that can certainly contribute to its overall price and quality.
Color
The color of a diamond can be a huge factor in its overall value. Colorless white diamonds are generally the most desirable (and expensive) since they allow for the greatest movement of light. Similar to clarity, diamond coloring is ranked on an extensively-accepted scale. A diamond that is colorless will fall in the D-I range (with D being the best), while a diamond that is nearly colorless will be ranked J-L. A diamond with an M rating will have some shades of yellow in it, while diamonds tagged with the letters N-Z will be more and more visibly yellow.
Of course, the important thing to realize about the 4 Cs is that what a diamond might lack in one area, it could make up for in another. Therefore, when choosing a diamond, you’ll need to prioritize as far as the 4 Cs are concerned. If having a flawless, colorless diamond is important to you, then you might need to choose one that’s smaller. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a sizable diamond in order to impress your girlfriend, then you might need to compromise on clarity and cut. Fortunately, a good jeweler can help you weigh the various options against one another to help you find the diamond that offers the greatest amount of beauty and value.
Although an engagement ring most certainly symbolize your love, it is also a rather significant investment. Before you start picturing that magical proposal in your head, do some research and talk to a trusted jeweler who can help you find the ring that will give you the most monetary bang – and sparkle – for your buck. After all, buying an engagement ring is something that, if all goes well, you’re only going to have to do once in your life. So learn about the 4 Cs and go out there equipped with the knowledge to truly find the perfect diamond for the lady of your dreams.
