Loose Diamonds: The Four C's That You Must Know

If you are in the market for a shiny diamond, then you should be aware of what to look for when shopping for these valuable gemstones. There are four C's of loose diamonds everyone should learn before venturing into a jewelry store to make that purchase.

The first C stands for Cut. This refers to the overall shape the diamond possesses and also the number and designs of facets that are cut into the stone. The facets reflect light and give it the sparkle everyone loves. The second C is Clarity. Since diamonds are formed naturally, they are rarely perfectly flawless. Most diamonds have varying degrees of flaws which are referred to as inclusions or blemishes. Most of these blemishes are invisible to the naked eye and will not affect its price tag too much.

The third C is Color. Most people usually purchase white diamonds, which actually lack color all together. However, there are many colors of diamonds: black, pink, brown, yellow, and blue. The final C of diamonds is Carat, or carat weight. This is a unit of measurement used to weigh your stone - the bigger the carat, the bigger the diamond. As you browse countless certified loose diamonds, keep all four of these factors in mind.