Two diamonds of equal weight can have very different values because the quality is still determined by the color clarity and cut.
Diamond cut clarity and color chart.
Fl or flawless is the highest grade for clarity.
If while shopping for a diamond you are ever given a color range e g.
With a high quality cut you can get away with a diamond lower in color and clarity.
An fl diamond has no imperfections even when magnified 10x by a professional.
If you re buying a diamond for the first time you ve probably done at least some research.
If you ve really done your homework you probably also know that gemologists grade diamonds based on the 4 c s clarity color cut and carat.
Each of the four c s carat weight cut color clarity is accompanied by a diamond chart illustrating the differences between grades.
A stone much larger than one carat should usually have a clarity of vs2 or higher and preferably a color grade around g or h.
While flawless and colorless diamonds are extremely rare cut determines a diamond s true value.
This is why expert and accurate assessment of diamond clarity is extremely important.
Clarity is the absence of imperfections.
Knowing what diamond clarity truly means helps you understand the factors that contribute to diamond quality and price.
To the naked eye a vs 1 and an si 2 diamond may look exactly the same but these diamonds are quite different in terms of overall quality.
Carat color cut and clarity working together.
Cut is the most important.
The heavier the diamond the greater the carat weight.
A perfectly cut diamond will exhibit a lot of brilliance to the point that it masks inclusions.
The ftc provides no guidelines for the use of the term fancy color in the us but there is general agreement in the international trade about what diamond color range is customary for fancy color diamonds.
Finally here are some last rules of thumb to go by when purchasing a diamond.
Every diamond certified by the gia undergoes a thorough independent evaluation.
These are either yellow or brown diamonds that have more color than a z master stone or they exhibit a color other than yellow or brown.
In step cut shapes such as emerald cut and asscher cut diamonds the shallow pavilion and open table accentuate the clarity of the stone and can make characteristics more easily visible.
G h as opposed to a specific grade the diamond is not certified by gia.
For color d or completely colorless diamond is the highest grade.
A lower color diamond with a higher cut grade will have more sparkle and visual appeal than a higher color diamond with a lower cut grade.
Never skimp on cut.
Diamonds are measured in terms of weight not size.
You might have your heart set on a certain diamond shape or know which settings will complement it well.
The importance of diamond clarity is affected by the other diamond qualities such as shape and size.