Selecting a Quality Diamond: The Four C’s
At Wight Diamonds we are experts in supplying beautiful, top quality engagement rings. An engagement ring says a lot about someone and their husband-to-be. Getting it right—or wrong—can mean the difference between glowing in anticipation or wanting to shrink into a corner whenever someone brings it up. There’s a lot to think about when choosing the perfect engagement ring. So how do you decide on the perfect diamond engagement ring—a ring that will hopefully be on your hand for the rest of yours or your fiancés life?
The focal point of most engagement rings: the diamond. You want to select a stone your fiancé will be dying to show off to her friends.
When selecting a diamond, you’ll want to take into account the “4 C’s:” cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. All four of these factors determine the quality and cost of the diamond.
Cut. Cut doesn’t refer to the shape of the diamond, but rather the angles and proportions of the stone. While nature determines the other three C’s, the diamond’s cut is determined by a cutter. A well cut diamond reflects light from one facet to another and projects the light through the top of the stone. This is what gives a diamond its sparkle. Out of all the four C’s, cut is the most important. Even if you have the perfect colour, clarity, and carat, if the cut isn’t right, the diamond won’t have that fiery brilliance that your fiancé will show off to her friends.
Colour. To many peoples surprise, diamonds come in a variety of colours. Diamond colour is graded on a scale that ranges from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow). Truly colourless diamonds are the most rare and most expensive. White colour diamonds are the most popular. But when it gets down to it, diamond colour is all about preference. Look back at your notes from your ring reconnaissance to see what your lady prefers.
Clarity. The fewer imperfections a diamond has, the more clear, and consequently, more expensive it is. Like colour, clarity is measured on a scale. SI1 and SI2 are slightly included but you won’t be able to see the imperfection with the naked eye. Try to find a diamond in this range. When looking at a diamond, avoid stones with inclusions on the top and in the middle, as this can impact the dispersion of light, making it less brilliant.
Carat Weight. Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. The heavier the stone, the more you’re going to pay. However, there’s no need to get to caught up on the carat weight. Through proper mounting and shaping, a master jeweller can make a diamond appear larger than its carat weight might suggest.
