Color
Not all white diamonds are colorless. In fact, the spectrum ranges from light yellow to totally colorless. To determine the amount of color in a diamond, a lettering system is used.
The system ranges from D to Z with D being awarded to only the rare, totally colorless diamonds.
A colorless diamond can be graded D, E or F; near colorless, G, H, I or J.
A white diamond’s beauty and value increase the more colorless it is.
Cut
A well cut diamond sparkles a lot because it reflects and refracts light better than one not cut as well.
When cut to ideal proportions, a diamond will reflect more light out of the top, resulting in greater fire and brilliance. A poorly cut diamond with unbalanced proportions will allow light to escape out the bottom and sides, resulting in a dull appearance. That’s why a good cut increases price.
Clarity
Because it requires trememdous heat and pressure from deep within the earth to form a diamond – the process can result in inclusions and blemishes. In other words – imperfections. While no diamond can be considered perfect, the more closely it approximates perfection the higher its value. While inclusions rarely effect a diamond’s aesthetics, they do impact the price.
Clarity is rated by the number, size, nature and position of these characteristics. No diamond is perfect, but the closer it comes, the higher its value.
Carat
Carat weight refers to a diamond’s size and weight. Larger diamonds are scarce, and therefore more valuable – so size does matter.
However, two diamonds with the same cut and weight can be priced quite differently. A half-carat diamond with great color and clarity may cost more than a three-quarter carat diamond that is not as colorless or clear.
It’s simply a matter of deciding what matters most to you, then finding the most beautiful combination that fits your budget.
