Characteristics of diamonds. Diamond clarity - scale

“a girls Best friend – diamonds», - stated in the famous song. And each friend need to learn, that is, to the core. Diamonds are no exception. How to understand the world of jewelry terms and choose the right stone? On that note, making such a significant purchase? Try to understand.

For that value diamonds

What is the brilliant – faceted diamond, they know everything. And what nature creates so many of these stones, also known fact. And even the fact that the diamond-the hardest of known minerals, is not news. So what is the characteristics of diamonds is most important?

And what attracts jewelers in the diamond? The answer is - glitter. The name of the stone translates from French as “brilliant”. When the diamond reflects the light, it shimmers like a rainbow. Best diamonds reflect artificial lighting. That's when the light bulb brightness and the playfulness of the stone manifest in all its glory. By the way, this is one of the reasons to wear diamond jewelry before 5 p.m. is considered not quite respectable.

Profitable investment

Now the fashion for wearing diamonds ‘always and everywhere" was held. Buying the diamond ring is seen more as an investment than the definition of status in society. Compared with other precious stones diamonds are not “getting older” with time. They are afraid of a direct blow with a hammer or stone. All other external factors are not essential for them. And from the point of view of investments it is necessary to study how diamonds differ from each other. And what is the characteristic of diamonds are preferable in different occasions.

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Based on the 4C system

There are not many diamond-producing countries. And they are located in different parts of the world. But buyers are much more. And everyone wants to buy if not the most beautiful, the “correct” stone. World practice the valuation of diamonds has been a long time and is based on the fact that the characteristics of the diamond described by four parameters: weight, color, clarity (transparency) and cut. Until then, until the stone was cut, he's only diamond. No light and jewelry worth. Only properly and professionally cut stone is able to refract light and sparkle. And to be called diamond. In fact, the 4C system got its name by the first letters of words in the English language, which characterise the classiness of the stone: carat (weight), color (color), clarity (purity), cut (cut).

Diamond Weight

Weight as with all precious stones is measured in carats. 1 CT – 0.2 grams. That's how much weighed 1 grain wood CT, which in ancient times was used as a standard measure of weight for gems. A modern carat is divided into 100 parts. Because the weight (and size) can be attributed to the diamond to one of the groups: small (up to 0.29 carats), medium (from 0.3 to 0.99 carats) and large, or solitaire (about 1 carat).

The Diamond, weighing more than 6 carats, was destined to only be sold at a private auction. Of course, there is still important, and other characteristics, but the same weight will be enough to the cost of such a giant were exorbitant. Therefore, those wishing to purchase a large diamond prefer to do it behind the scenes.

Small stones evaluated by diameter, not weight. But for large and medium stones mistakenly believe that the more – the heavier the diamond. The stone feature sometimes allows you to make a unique cut that the large diameter will give a relatively small weight.

Defectiveness of diamonds

Of Course, you always want to buy the best. But in life we are guided by a rule: to choose the optimal ratio "price-quality". And diamonds are no exception. Absolutely clean stones found in nature are very few. And, accordingly, they are very expensive.

Most Often in nature, there are diamonds with inclusions of carbon and foreign crystals. Very rare to come across samples with internal cracks. On the one hand, to consider it all with the naked eye is impossible. But on the other – when you buy a diamond that does not shimmers in the light (or very dim), and even more so when making an investment in the stones, want to see the characteristics of diamonds was worthy.

There are several standards by which to assess the quality of diamonds. For example, the purity of the diamond. Scale on which all rocks are divided into categories depending on the quantity and quality of inclusions, according to the Russian standard consists of 12 groups, where group 1 – the purest diamonds, and the 12th – “dirty”. In fact, only starting from 9-th group can be considered inclusions without a microscope. But before that, you need at least a tenfold increase under a microscope to detect defects in the stone.

Perhaps that is why American diamond clarity scale which consists of 9 groups, not considering the clean rocks and stones with hardly visible inclusions in different ways. They belong to the same category.

Brillianty assigned to the 7th and then the groups are considered to be technical and in a jewelry case are not used. In the industry more valued the hardness of diamond than the refractive characteristics.

Color

Of Course, the most popular white diamonds. But the same as and is absolutely clean stones, they found a little bit. Most often in jewelry we offer diamonds of yellowish tint. But to specify it on the eyes – human vision, such a subtle distinction does not perceive.

In nature, there are diamonds of different colors-from white to black. Until recently, the concept of "black diamond" did not apply, and in jewelry, these stones were not used. They literally considered a waste. But fancy yellow and blue diamonds – it is quite another matter. Being interested in a set, they can become a real decoration of the collection.

Generally, the term color of a diamond is very complex. Russian standard uses terms such as “subtle”, “colors”, “barely perceptible", etc. i.e. the assessment of the colour of the stone can be very subjective. However, this characteristic of a diamond (table, which will help to understand the ratio is different standards that should be in every store) plays an important role in determining the price. Prior to the eighth band colored diamonds are white with different shades. Starting from 8th – the color is determined as yellow. But there are 3 subgroups.

Cut

Diamond Cutting – it is very difficult. To describe the quality of the cut are three characteristics: symmetry, proportion and Polish. According to these parameters, according to the American standard, you can evaluate any diamond. In the Russian system the quality of cut stone can be attributed to one of the groups A-G. the Diamonds are cut which does not fit into defined for these groups of parameters are not evaluated on the other.

Besides the quality of the cut, there is form. This is something that can be estimated by very simple principle: like - not like. It is considered that classic round stones (sometimes called Russian). Oval, Marquis, emerald, drop – all cuts of diamonds.

How to choose a diamond

The Price of a diamond is the sum of the ratios of all four quality indicators. Ask in store diamond marked 1/1 (the first group of class according to color and purity) means to show themselves not just ignorant, but pompous snob. Even require that feature diamonds 2/2 was also indecent. The sale often comes diamonds with the color settings, 3-5 and 3-6 of purity.

From the point of view of investment when choosing a diamond it is better to give in color than clean. Because a variety of inclusions alter the refractive ability of the stone, and so, the diamond catches the light. In addition, many defects can lead to a division of diamond in case of a fall. Here it is not just a shame.

When Choosing a diamond, pay attention to how the stone is hidden in the frame. The larger the frame or its elements hide the facets of a diamond, the greater the likelihood that the product used poor quality stone.

Each diamond is a label. It shows all the parameters: shape, number of faces, weight, color, clarity, cut group. It looks like this: 1 Кр57 – 0.43 and – 4/3A. The first digit indicates the number of diamonds in the product.

Diamonds of different purity

As already noted, the fall diamonds of different quality. The most common are 3/5, 4/5, 6/6. What are the characteristics of diamonds 3/5, and how they are fundamentally different from 2/2, for example? All in good time.

Diamonds high class

The nature of these stones (with the characteristic 2/2) as little as absolutely pure. But by the standards of diamonds 2 of the first group of acceptable purity a few bright spots. A few – no more than two. And to see them from the platform to the naked eye is impossible. If the store is a stone marked 2/2, it is necessary to check its certificate, and the certificate of GIA (American Gemological Institute).

The Most popular diamond is round, with color and clean 4. The Gemological characteristics of diamonds 4/4 allows us to consider these rocks as a solid investment. The price never falls and gives a stable increase. In addition, these indicators of structural defects and color no doubt.

So, what is a diamond with a purity of 4? Such a diamond can be 2 minor blotches in the Central part, or 2-4 small defect in other parts. And to consider all this is possible only in the multiplication.

By the Way, diamonds with a deficiency of 5 can be much cheaper representatives of the 4th group. This is because on small (up to 0.29 carats) stones defects of the 5th category can already be seen without a microscope. But on the bigthe rocks of the inclusions are still not visible to the naked eye. Characteristics of diamonds 4/5 means that in the middle of the stone there is a small “cloud”, crack or 5-6 tiny dashes. If the blotches are on other stone surfaces, it is allowed the presence of small cracks.

Large stone of average quality

If the buyer average level of need the largest of the diamonds, it is necessary to pay attention to the 6-th class of purity. The larger the stone, the more spread out it blotches. Them again, you can see only in the multiplication. But the cost of these diamonds is significantly less than their more pure "counterparts". Characteristics of diamonds 6/6: throughout the area are scattered 8 light points or small patches of graphite; valid up to 5 dark pixels.

There is a perception that the size of the stone on the bride's finger and determines the degree of love in her groom. Because in natural light the defects of the stones of the 6th group of indistinguishable, you need to choose a ring with such a stone – large and beautiful.

Characteristics of the diamonds (see table illustrates this) significantly affects their cost. The table lists the price in dollars of medium and large diamonds.

Before you purchase tiny, but the purest diamond, think about it: it might be worth to lower the quality criteria, but to increase the size.