ENGAGEMENT LEARN AND FOUND

Every diamond is as unique as the person who owns it. Just as a diamond reflects the color of the light it bears, it should also reflect the personality of the individual who wears it.

When choosing the perfect ring, it's important to learn about each aspect that goes into creating and maintaining a diamond.

Diamonds are graded using a system that judges the stone on its carat , color, clarity and cut - commonly known as the "4Cs."

In this section, you will learn what each of the Cs mean and how they affect the value of the diamond. Understanding their importance can help you make the right choice when selecting your ideal diamond.

Carat:
Carat weight is an obvious feature and is the easiest to understand of the 4Cs. A diamond's weight is measured in carats. The carat is subdivided into 100 equal parts called points. One point equals .01 carat or 1/100 carat. 100 points add up to one carat. Carat weight is written in decimal numbers, but it is frequently expressed in fractions which are easier to understand. It is important to note that weight fractions are approximate and usually refer to ranges of weight.

WEIGHT FRACTIONS - Diamond Council of America©

Fraction - Weight

9/10            0.90 - 0.95 ct
7/8            0.84 - 0.89
3/4             0.70 - 0.83
5/8            0.57 - 0.69
1/ 2            0.47 - 0.56
3/8            0.38 - 0.46
1/3            0.30 - 0.37
1/4            0.23 - 0.29
1/5            0.18 - 0.22
1/6            0.15 - 0.17
1/8            0.12 - 0.14
1/10            0.09 - 0.11

As the carat measurement increases the diameter of the stone increases, as does the price and value. Expect to pay premium for stones that are above a full carat weight. For example, a 1 ct. (carat) stone is rarer and will cost significantly more than two 1/2 ct. stones combined.

In jewelry pieces with more than one diamond, the carats are described in terms of total carat weight (T.W.). This is the combined total weight of all the diamonds in the piece.
Determining the carat weight that is right for you depends primarily on your budget and taste.

Color:

Choosing the right color for your diamond is based on personal preference. It's important to remember that you are generally searching for a stone with little to no color.

Diamonds are colored when the crystals grow inside the earth. Tiny traces of some elements like nitrogen can color the crystals. In addition, the pressure involved in the diamond formation creates distortion in the crystal structure which is believed to also contribute to its color.

Diamonds occur in a wide range of colors. The normal market range is colorless to light yellow, brown or grey. Diamonds with natural colors outside this "normal" range are classified as fancy colors.

Fancy colors include bright yellow, pink, champagne, blue and green. Colors like red, purple and orange are extremely rare.

Color is graded most frequently using the GIA Color Grade Scale which consists of 23 letter grades ranging from D (Colorless) to Z (Heavily Tinted). "Fancy" diamonds are grade Z+.

- D grade is absolutely colorless

- E and F are essentially colorless. The difference between D, E, and F is so slight that only experts can see it when the diamonds are unmounted.

- K, L, and M are faintly tinted. Diamonds under 1/2 carat appear colorless when mounted. Diamonds over 1/2 carat may show a tint of color.

- Grades N through Z have a light tint, and it is visible.Diamonds with less color are more rare and valuable. Only about 5,000 of the polished diamonds produced each year weighting 1/2 carat or more are colorless. Most of the diamonds sold are grades G to L. For fancy diamonds, the value goes up with the intensity of the color.

How the diamond is set can make a difference in color too. Color is more important in rings than earrings and pendants because the diamond is usually larger. Here are some tips.

- Putting a truly colorless diamond in a yellow gold setting will reflect on the stone causing a yellowish tint.

- Colorless and near-colorless diamonds come alive in a platinum or white gold setting.

- A slightly yellow-tinted diamond will appear whiter in a yellow gold setting.Keep in mind that color is only one of the 4Cs so even when a stone has a visible tint, it can still be very lovely when mixed with good clarity and cut.
   
 

Clarity:

A flawless diamond with little to no imperfections is often desired due to its rarity, but they are also the most costly. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that it is very common for diamonds to be formed with slight imperfections.

These imperfections are known as "inclusions" and usually occur during the diamond's crystallization period within the earth, or from the stresses of mining and processing. Inclusions are anything from tiny white points to dark dots, cracks or scratches. The fewer inclusions, the more valuable a stone is.Clarity is evaluated using a 10-power magnification. This means that the object viewed appears 10 times its actual size. This is also the standard under FTC guidelines. The diamond grader examines the clarity characteristics with respect to the nature and number of characteristics, as well as their size, color and position. The clarity grade assigned reflects the degree of visibility of the characteristics.

The GIA Diamond Clarity Grade scale has five main categories of clarity characteristics with 11 grades in all.

Clarity's effect on value is based on rarity. The fewer and less significant the characteristics, the higher the clarity grade will be making it more rare and more expensive.

About 2% of all gem quality diamonds are actually flawless. Most retail stores carry VVS as their highest grade. VS or SI are considered by most as "fine quality" diamonds.

For the most past, diamonds used in jewelry are clean to the naked eye; therefore a choice in clarity is based on personal preference. Choose the diamond you find to be the most beautiful.
   
      

Cut:

The term "cut" has two references. One is to the diamond's shape. The other is to the quality, determined by its proportions, symmetry and polish.

The top-selling diamond cut shape is round brilliant. All other cut shapes like emerald, oval, pear, heart, princess and marquise are considered fancy cuts or shapes. Learn about Diamond Shapes

The cut of a diamond is considered to be the most important factor with respect to its beauty. The cut determines how light is reflected (brilliance), dispersed and scintillated.  Unlike color and clarity, there is not a single grade that defines it. Furthermore, two diamonds equal in carat weight, color and clarity can differ in appearance and value because of differences in cut quality.

The cut is the most complicated of the 4Cs. Unlike carat weight, color and clarity, whose value and rarity are related to the diamond's natural formation, cut quality is the result of human decision and diamond cutting skills.

There are three factors that determine a diamond's cut quality:
- Proportions- the relative sizes and angles  of the diamond's parts and facets
- Symmetry- the precision of the cut design, especially the facets
- Polish- the smoothness and luster of the diamond's surface

Consequently, the elevation of the cut involves site estimation, measurements, and calculations. Cut grading continues to evolve because of the number of organizations involved in creating grading systems, e.g., GIA and AGS, and the increasing sophistication of the technology used for measurements.

The cut grades are referenced on a diamond's certificate often using the GIA standards of Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. For the most part, the actual measurements are mainly on the laboratory reports.

The quality of a diamond's cut always speaks for itself.
   
      

Diamond Care:
Caring for your diamonds keeps them looking their best and protects them from loss or damages.Cleaning

Professional:
A professional cleaning is recommended regularly, such as every six months. Diamond jewelry can easily acquire a buildup of dirt, makeup and other materials that diminish brightness, especially if it is worn every day.  Zales offers in-store professional cleanings. Our Jewelry Consultants will check for loose diamonds, bent or broken prongs and worn settings.

At-Home Options:
If you wear your jewelry every day, you should clean it once a week. Ultra-sonic cleaners are convenient and effective.

A Tip: Avoid using ultra-sonic cleaners if your diamond has a serious crack or inclusion. The vibrations of these cleaners may enlarge such flaws.

- Use any soft toothbrush with warm water and a clean liquid detergent.
- Rinse with fresh water.

A Tip: Plug the sink. Check after washing that all diamonds are in place.

Preventing Scratches
Diamonds scratch other diamonds.  Diamonds also scratch other gems or jewelry, especially soft items like pearls

A Tip: To prevent scratches, separate diamond jewelry in your jewelry box. If available, store in soft pouches.

Preventing Loss:
We don't recommend wearing your diamond jewelry for activities such as household chores, gardening or sports.  When you go in for a cleaning, ask the jeweler to check the setting and make sure the stone is secure.

A Tip:  If your diamond seems loose, your prongs seem bent or your setting is worn, bring it in for repair immediately.