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.

A Short and Sweet Guide to Certified Loose Diamonds

You don’t need to read a novel to know the basics on certified loose diamonds and their key characteristics. Remember these easy tips when you’re shopping for your forever rock, because your heart can’t do all the thinking.

Diamonds go through a special grading system to receive a slew of different grades based on four characteristics, or the 4C's as they are popularly known. They are, in the order of importance, carat, cut, color, and clarity. Knowing these attributes helps you, the buyer, judge the quality rather than trusting the suave of your salesperson.

First decide on the carat you’re willing to buy. If your partner’s eyes are bound to gloss over at anything less than a carat, then this is something you don’t want to compromise on. She will be wearing this ring for the rest of her life so, get it right the first time.

Then, make sure the cut grade is closer to the excellent range than the poor rating. This will determine the sparkle that the stone emits. This also known as its brilliance in the jewelry industry.

Next, pay attention to the color. The diamond should be clear, bearing no shade of color at all as these are valuable and more desirable. For a warmer tone look for a stone in the H-J range as this can be paired well with vintage settings and they can be more affordable.

Finally, make sure there’s clarity. This means that no flaw should be visible to the unaided eye. If you can spot an inclusion (inside the diamond), keep on shopping. Now that you’re a professional diamond shopper, remember this last thing: don’t settle until it ultimately sits right with your soul.