Wonders of Nature
There is no other gemstone quite like a diamond. It is found in the most remote places on earth, and the fact that it forms at all, is something of a miracle. It takes about one ton of rock to recover less than half a carat of rough, making the diamond one of the rarest and most desired gemstones in the world. A diamond is a testament of endurance and strength - and not surprisingly, the ultimate symbol of love.
At Sharfmans, we understand that purchasing a diamond can be an overwhelming experience. When you make the decision, you should first become familiar with the “4 Cs” – cut, color, clarity and carat. These characteristics influence a diamond’s appearance and quality. Sharfmans’ diamond consultant will answer any questions you may have and will assist you with your choice of a perfect diamond…for that perfect person.
Cut
The GIA Cut Scale ranges from Excellent to Poor. GIA provides a cut quality grade for standard round brilliant diamonds that fall in the GIA D-to-Z color range.
A polished diamond’s beauty lies in its complex relationship with light: how light strikes the surface, how much enters the diamond, and how, and in what form light returns to your eye.
The result is a magnificent display of three attributes. Brightness is the combination of all white light reflecting from the surface and interior of a diamond. Fire describes the “flares” of color emitted from a diamond. Scintillation describes the flashes of light you see when the diamond, the light, or the observer moves.
A polished diamond’s proportions affect its light performance, which in turn affects its beauty and overall appeal. Diamonds with fine proportions, symmetry, and polish optimize their interaction with light, and have increased brightness, fire, and scintillation.
Carat Weight
One carat equals 200 milligrams in weight. For diamonds under one carat, each carat is divided into 100 points - similar to pennies in a dollar. 0.75 ct. = 75 points, 1/2 ct. = 50 points.
The 4Cs provide a way to objectively compare and evaluate diamonds, but numbers alone can’t describe a diamond’s mysterious and captivating beauty - for that, you’ll have to visit Sharfmans to see one for yourself.
carat weight
Clarity
The GIA Clarity Scale includes eleven clarity grades ranging from Flawless to I3. Because diamonds form under tremendous heat and pressure, it is extremely rare to find a diamond that lacks any internal and external characteristics. These characteristics are a by-product of its formation and help gemologists separate natural diamonds from synthetics and simulants, and identify individual stones.
Clarity Scale
Color
Color grades are determined by comparing each diamond to a master set. Each letter grade represents a range of color and is a measure of how noticeable a color is.
Some diamonds can emit a visible light when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, but flourescence is not a factor when determining color or clarity grades. However, a description of its strength and color is provided on GIA Reports as an additional identifying characteristic.
Color scale