Normal color range diamonds are graded by their relative lack of color. A diamond that is "whiter" has little or no visible coloration. Diamonds with less color are considered more desirable and have a higher value. Most diamonds used in jewelry are nearly colorless, and fall in the normal color range.
To summarize:
D-F: Colorless: perfect or almost perfect color. G-J: Near colorless: good to very good color. K-M: Light but noticeable yellow or brown tint.
At Firenze Jewels, we NEVER sell color treated diamonds. You can be certain that you will only purchase a 100% natural diamond that has never been artificially treated in any way.
CARAT WEIGHT
Diamonds are weighed in units of a metric carat (ct). One metric carat is just over .007 ounce.
One important point to keep in mind when considering the carat weight of a diamond is to know that the "per carat" price increase significantly as a diamond gets larger. For example, we know that all things held equal (same cut, color, clarity) larger stones are worth more than smaller ones. However, many people don't realize that a 2.00 carat diamond is worth more than just twice as much as a 1.00 carat diamond. This is because larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds. The more scarce the diamond is, the more it is worth.
Carat weight is an obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond. However, two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different prices, depending on their quality.
CLARITY
Diamonds have unique birthmarks or natural inclusions and blemishes. Clarity refers to the relative absence of inclusions and natural blemishes. A diamond's clarity is determined by using a 10X magnifying glass and a trained eye.
At Firenze Jewels, we NEVER sell clarity enhanced diamonds. You can be certain that you will only purchase a 100% natural diamond that has never been artificially treated in any way.
CUT
Cut refers to the proportions and finish of a diamond. Cut is what enables a diamond to make the best use of light. It is the work of a master cutter that allows the diamond to be cut in such a way as to permit the maximum amount of light to be reflected through the diamond.
The three important concepts to keep in mind with cut are: proportion, symmetry, and finish of the diamond. When the proportion, symmetry, and finish of a diamond are good, you will notice that the diamond is brilliant, sparkly, and full of 'fire' or scintillation.
DEPTH PERCENTAGE
Depth percentage is the ratio of depth of a diamond to its diameter. This is associated with how deep a diamond has been cut and is critical to the overall beauty and sparkle of a diamond. If a diamond has been cut too deep, it may appear to be narrow in shape, while those that have been cut too shallow may appear to be wide in diameter. Light leakage can occur in both cases so it is important to fall within the preferred depth percentage range to ensure proper proportions and optimal luminosity in a diamond.
POLISH
Polish describes how defined the edges of each facet are and whether any marks are noticeable as the diamond was smoothed out on a polishing wheel. Polish marks are almost always invisible to the naked eye, but can still slightly affect a diamond's overall brilliance. Upon magnified inspection, one will be able to visibly see the detail of just how crisp, clean and clear each facet is. The highest polish ratings of a diamond include ideal (ID), excellent (EX), very good (VG) and good (GD). When encountering polish ratings of fair (FR) or poor (PR), please be sure to request further information.
SYMMETRY
Symmetry describes how facets on a finished diamond align with one other and their precision. The more aligned or pointed each facet is, the better the symmetry. The highest symmetry ratings of a diamond include ideal (ID), excellent (EX), very good (VG), and good (GD). Ratings of fair (FR) or poor (PR) are often the result of an off-center table, off-center culet, uneven facets or consistency and thickness of the girdle.
TABLE PERCENTAGE
Table percentage is the ratio of the table diameter of a diamond to its overall diameter. This is expressed as a percentage of the average girdle diameter and plays a crucial role in a diamond's sparkle. The table is the largest facet and is easily distinguished as the flat surface area located at the top of a diamond. To ensure optimal luminosity of your diamond, be sure to stay within the preferred table percentage range.
FLUORESCENCE
When exposing a diamond to ultra violet radiation, it is possible to get a glowing color reaction. Most of the time the color is blue, but in rare instances however, other variations can occur. This glowing aura of color is referred to as a diamond's fluorescence. Fluorescence grades include None, Faint, Medium, Strong and Very Strong. A diamond grade of Very Strong can give a diamond with a near-colorless grade a whiter appearance. On rare occasions, this combination may also make the diamond look slightly oily or hazy. Most of the time the fluorescence of a diamond can only be detected under UV light, so under normal lighting conditions it will essentially look like a naturally white diamond. For the price conscious consumer, we recommend going with a diamond of strong or very strong florescence because they are typically priced lower than one with a faint or negligible grade.
