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D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Colorless Near Colorless Faint Yellow Very Light Yellow Light Yellow
Colorless Near Colorless Faint Yellow Very Light Yellow Light Yellow
But those professionals who evaluate (“grade”) individual diamonds are required to
assess each of the “Cs” against well-defined standards, agreed-upon by the
professional diamond industry. Those standards are used to determine a diamond’s
value.
Carat
Many assume “carat” to be a unit that measures diamond size. Instead, “carat”
measures diamond weight. One “carat” equals 200 milligrams, or 20% of a gram.
Not all diamonds of the same carat-weight appear to be the same size, however.
Apparent size depends upon the shape of the rough stone and precisely how it was cut
and finished. For example, a one-carat diamond that is unusually deep may appear
smaller (looking down from the top) than a better-proportioned, more expertly cut one-
carat stone (see “Cut”, below).
Gemstone weight also is expressed in “points:” One carat equals 100 points. So a half-
carat gem is “50 points,” a quarter-carat gem can be described as “25 points.” A gem
greater than one carat can be described in both carats and points, for example as “1.63
carats,” or “one carat, sixty-three points.”
Diamond price is founded on rarity. Obviously, large diamonds are radically more rare
than small ones. Therefore, the price of a diamond that weighs, say, a full carat is
dramatically greater than twice the cost of a similarly graded half- carat diamond.
The combined carat-weight of all the stones in multi-gem jewelry frequently is described
in terms of the total carat weight (TCW) of all combined stones in the piece.
(Don’t confuse “Carat,” [gemstone weight] with “Karat,” [percent of pure
gold in an alloy]. For example, 24-karat is 100% gold; 12 karat is 50% gold;
other metals comprise the remaining 50% of the alloy.)
Color
A very few diamonds naturally exhibit “fancy” colors – purple, pink, green, blue, strong
yellow, champagne, cognac, others. They carry premium price-tags that reflect their
rarity. But the vast majority of diamonds in the marketplace are (or aspire to be)
colorless. Still, almost all those “colorless” diamonds reveal ever so slight tones of
yellow, brown or gray.
To a greater or lesser degree – and depending upon the diamond’s “Other Cs” – the
saturation of that color/tint can impair a diamond’s fire, brilliance, and capacity to “kick
color.”
assess each of the “Cs” against well-defined standards, agreed-upon by the
professional diamond industry. Those standards are used to determine a diamond’s
value.
Carat
Many assume “carat” to be a unit that measures diamond size. Instead, “carat”
measures diamond weight. One “carat” equals 200 milligrams, or 20% of a gram.
Not all diamonds of the same carat-weight appear to be the same size, however.
Apparent size depends upon the shape of the rough stone and precisely how it was cut
and finished. For example, a one-carat diamond that is unusually deep may appear
smaller (looking down from the top) than a better-proportioned, more expertly cut one-
carat stone (see “Cut”, below).
Gemstone weight also is expressed in “points:” One carat equals 100 points. So a half-
carat gem is “50 points,” a quarter-carat gem can be described as “25 points.” A gem
greater than one carat can be described in both carats and points, for example as “1.63
carats,” or “one carat, sixty-three points.”
Diamond price is founded on rarity. Obviously, large diamonds are radically more rare
than small ones. Therefore, the price of a diamond that weighs, say, a full carat is
dramatically greater than twice the cost of a similarly graded half- carat diamond.
The combined carat-weight of all the stones in multi-gem jewelry frequently is described
in terms of the total carat weight (TCW) of all combined stones in the piece.
(Don’t confuse “Carat,” [gemstone weight] with “Karat,” [percent of pure
gold in an alloy]. For example, 24-karat is 100% gold; 12 karat is 50% gold;
other metals comprise the remaining 50% of the alloy.)
Color
A very few diamonds naturally exhibit “fancy” colors – purple, pink, green, blue, strong
yellow, champagne, cognac, others. They carry premium price-tags that reflect their
rarity. But the vast majority of diamonds in the marketplace are (or aspire to be)
colorless. Still, almost all those “colorless” diamonds reveal ever so slight tones of
yellow, brown or gray.
To a greater or lesser degree – and depending upon the diamond’s “Other Cs” – the
saturation of that color/tint can impair a diamond’s fire, brilliance, and capacity to “kick
color.”
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