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Diamond Concierge info@kushdiamonds.com.au

The 4 C’s of Diamonds and the GIA Process

At Kush Diamonds, it’s not just our goal to sell you a diamond. Anyone can sell
you a diamond, but we strive to educate our consumers. We aim to give you a proper
education, and make sure you understand what makes a great diamond. Our diamonds
are second to none, but we want you to understand why.

Kush Diamonds only uses GIA certified stones. GIA is the Gemological Institute
of America. Founded in 1931, GIA is the creator of the International Diamond Grading
system and the 4 C’s of Diamonds. GIA is the industry leader for producing top quality reports on
diamonds. The best jewelers in the world rely on GIA for their accurate and thorough
diamond certification. When a stone is sent to GIA for reporting it goes through a
rigorous set of tests in the GIA lab, from assuring that it is a natural diamond, to giving
grades for clarity and colour, as well as grading the quality of the cut for round brilliants,
and giving exact measurements for the carat weight and stone proportions.

Lets start with the basic foundation that a consumer must know when buying
a diamond. 4 C’s of Diamonds. They are the following; Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat. These 4
characteristics set the worth and also the beauty of each diamond. These are the most
important points you want to understand when buying a diamond or diamond jewelry.

 

  • Cut: There are many different types of diamond shapes or cuts. Some are more popular than others, but when cut by a master cutter, all stones can be incredibly beautiful. The most popular style is the classic round brilliant, a round shaped diamond, with 57 or 58 facets. Also popular is the princess cut, a square shaped cut, the Emerald cut an elongated rectangle that employs a different type of faceting than a brilliant stone called a step cut , Pear cut which resembles a pear or teardrop, and the Marquise cut which resembles a diamond shape. In recent years the Asscher cut, and Cushion cut, both antique cuts popularized in the 1920s, have resurfaced and are hugely popular as is the Radiant a cross in shape between a Cushion and Princess cut, and meant to really sparkle due to it’s dimensions. Cut is really a matter of taste. Other than round brilliants, fancy cuts ( ie: anything other than a round brilliant) are not even graded on their shape and proportions, as it is all in the eye of the beholder.

 

  • Colour: In terms of price and value, colour is a major  factor. Colour refers to the absence or presence of colour within a diamond. Most diamonds on the market fall in the near colourless range, with the most expensive falling in the colourless range. The diamond colour range starts at D which is colourless, the clearest diamond in terms of colour that exists and goes all the way to Z which is diamonds with varying hues of yellow and brown. Colourless is DEF, while near colourless is GHIJ. At K there is a slight yellowing but for the average consumer, this is difficult to tell. With colour it really is a matter of price point. A J coloured stone can be incredibly beautiful, and if it’s clarity is good, it can be a wonderful stone that a loved one will cherish for generations; which leads us to our next C.

 

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