Diamond Grading Terminology
A diamond's cost is based on the characteristics known as the "4 C's". Clarity, Colour and Cut (proportion) are the quality elements which together with the Carat Weight determine the value of a stone. The closer a diamond grades to the left of one or all of these scales the rarer and the more costly it will be. While clarity is frequently assumed to be the most important factor of all the "C's", in fact, colour and cut (especially cut) have a more profound affect on the visual appearance of a diamond.
Carat Weight
Carat is the unit of weight for all gemstones. One carat is subdivided into 100 "points". Therefore a diamond measuring 75 points is 3/4 carat in weight, or 0.75ct. There are five carats in a gram. The word "carat" comes from the seed of the carob tree pod which is found in tropical climates. These seeds were used until this century to weigh precious gems.
Clarity
A diamond's clarity is determined by the number, nature, position, size and colour of internal characteristics called "inclusions" and surface features called "blemishes". These irregularities occurred in the liquid magma (volcanic rock) within which the diamond was created. Diamonds are mostly pure carbon, however, during crystallization other minerals nearby, or even other bits of carbon forming more quickly may have become trapped within the cooling mass. These show themselves as the various characteristics which make up the clarity of a diamond (included crystals, feathers, clouds etc). Clarity is measured on a scale ranging from pure (flawless) to heavily included (I-3). The clarity of a diamond is graded by using 10X magnification under good lighting by an experienced grader. The final clarity grade is usually determined by how easy the inclusions and blemishes are for the grader to see.
Colour
Ideally, a diamond should have no colour at all, like a drop of spring water. Increasing degrees of body colour are measured on a scale ranging from no colour at all (D) to deeply coloured (Z). Beyond "Z" is the range where the diamond's colour is vivid and rich, called "fancy colours". Diamonds of known colour are used as comparison stones for colour grading. Grading is done by comparing the diamond to be graded against these "master stones" under either artificial or natural north daylight ( in the Northern Hemisphere). A machine called the "Colorimeter" can be used for colour grading but there is no substitute for the trained human eye.
Cut
Cut, sometimes the forgotten "C", ensures that a given stone has maximum brilliance and sparkle which would not be the case were the stone cut for weight alone. We use the following scale to grade a stone on it's overall appearance. The proportion page shows angles and percentages for round brilliant cut diamonds; but angles and percentages are for diamond cutters and graders. Simply put, when looking at a diamond, if it doesn't catch your eye or if it doesn't flash in the light, it's probably not well cut. Good cutting is what brings fire to the ice.
Below you can see how we place an "ideal" cut stone on our scale and also a fairly average "deep" stone. In general given the same weight (carat) the stone on the left will command a premium in price, and exhibit more fire and brilliance.
Diamonds cut to "ideal" proportions, as shown in the diagram. This cutting yields a diamond of maximum brilliance and beauty. A stone cut to these proportions will be considerably more expensive than a diamond of the same clarity and colour but of poorer cut.
Good Cut (HWL Grade 2 to 3)
Diamonds cut just outside the tolerances of the ideal cut.
Average Cut (HWL Grade 4)
Diamonds cut to average proportions, with somewhat reduced brilliance and beauty to trained observer.
Commercial Cut (HWL Grade 5 to 6)
Diamonds cut with reduced brilliance to the untrained eye, or significant retention of weight from the rough.
Irregular Cut (HWL Grade 7 to 8)
Diamonds cut with distinctly reduced brilliance to the untrained eye, or significant retention of weight from the rough. Our appraisal is usually based on a hypothetical recutting to more regular proportion.
