Many experts name colour as the number one consideration in choosing a Diamond.  A Diamond’s colour is graded on an alphabetical scale from D-Z, with D being the absolutely colourless and Z being light yellow.  Beyond “Z”, a Diamond is considered to be an exotic or “Fancy” colour.

If all factors are equal, the lesser colour in a Diamond or the higher rating, the more valuable a Diamond becomes.  Likewise, as the amount of colour increases, the price of a Diamond decreases (though this does not necessarily reduce the beauty of the Diamond).

 

Clarity

All Diamonds have identifying characteristics, but most are invisible to the naked eye.  To view a Diamond, experts use a 10x Magnifying Loupe which allows them to see the appearance of tiny crystals, feathers or clouds.  These natural phenomena are called “inclusions”.  There are five categories in class that anyone interested in purchasing a Diamond should be aware of when grading clarity.

Internally Flawless Diamonds reveal no inclusions and only insignificant blemishes on the surface under 10 x magnifications.

VVS1 - VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included)
Very difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. These are excellent quality diamonds.

VS1 - VS2 (Very Slightly Included)
Only looking through a 10X loupe can pinpoint the inclusions in this category and are nearly impossible to see with the naked eye. These are less expensive than the VVS1 or VVS2 grades.

SI1 - SI3 (Slightly Included)
Diamonds with inclusions easily identified under 10x magnification. Finding flaws in this category with the naked eye is difficult. The gems in this category maintain their integrity, depending on the location of the inclusions.

I1 - I3 (Included)
Diamonds with inclusions which may or may not be easily seen by the naked eye. The flaws on the stones in this category will have some effect on the brilliance of your Diamond.

 

Carat is often confused with size even though it is a measure of weight.

The cut of a Diamond can appear larger or smaller than its actual weight.

One carat is the equivalent of 200 milligrams.  One Carat can be divided into 100 “points”.  A 0.75 carat Diamond is the same as 75 points or a ¾ carat Diamond.

Since larger Diamonds are rarer than smaller Diamonds, the value rises exponentially with carat weight.

 

Please Note:  This diagram is for presentation purposes only and is not to scale.

 

Carat is often confused with size even though it is a measure of weight.

The cut of a Diamond can appear larger or smaller than its actual weight.

One carat is the equivalent of 200 milligrams.  One Carat can be divided into 100 “points”.  A 0.75 carat Diamond is the same as 75 points or a ¾ carat Diamond.

Since larger Diamonds are rarer than smaller Diamonds, the value rises exponentially with carat weight.