If you’ve read about diamonds or shopped for them at a jewelry store you have most likely heard about the diamond “4 C’s”. They are Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut. There is also a 5th C that is of key importance to most of us – Cost! Therefore, the trick is to find the best combination of C’s that defines the diamond quality that is right for the occasion and the budget.
An important thing to understand about diamond quality is that there is not necessarily a direct correlation between grades and beauty. In fact, in the case of
diamond clarity there is virtually no correlation in the upper grades! That’s right – all other factors being equal there is virtually no difference in appearance between a Flawless diamond and one 6 or 7 grades down on the clarity grading scale.
In the case of
diamond color grades a similar situation is at play, but perhaps not as dramatic. The three top color grades (DEF) are all considered as “colorless” and these diamonds look icy-white. The next four color grades (GHIJ) are considered “near-colorless” and they do not create an impression of color to the casual observer. And while it can be agued that those with very keen color sensitivity can in fact appreciate small differences in beauty even among the top grades, most of us find it difficult to distinguish between the top 7 grades!
The 5
th C is, on the other hand, tied directly to these gemological grades. In fact,
diamond prices tend to increase exponentially with size as color and clarity grades increase. At some levels, a difference in clarity grade that is only detectable under a microscope can impact cost by many thousands of dollars. Because bigger diamonds with higher colors and clarities are rarer, they are more expensive.
The fact that diamond cost is driven more by rarity than by actual beauty is something that astute shoppers can (and do) use to their advantage. Very, very few buyers end up insisting on perfect
D Flawless diamonds. Compromises can be made in a number of diamond quality areas reducing cost without diminishing the beauty of the diamond.
The one exception to this advice is in the quality of the CUT. Even minor defects in
diamond cut craftsmanship can cause light leakage and diminished light performance. Because the primary aspect of diamond beauty is
Sparkle, any defects that reduce the brilliance or fire of a diamond will make it noticeably less beautiful. That is why more and more buyers today are seeking out certified
ideal diamonds to ensure the main beauty aspects are topping out. As added benefits of optimal light performance these diamonds also tend to look a bit bigger and whiter to the eye.
In conclusion, a good
diamond buying guide will tell you that you can get maximum bang for your buck by making some reasonable tradeoffs in color and clarity, while firmly holding the line on cut quality. This will enable you to get a diamond of extraordinary beauty at a fraction of the cost of a diamond with a higher technical grade.