Diamonds are traditionally a symbol of wealth, but what makes them so? What's the secret behind the 4Cs of the diamond--and is it really enough to know that one diamond is clear, clean, perfect and complete on its own?
What is a Diamond?
Diamonds are a type of precious stone that is made from carbon. Diamonds are usually found in the form of an octahedron shape. Diamonds are extremely rare and valuable because of their unique properties.
One of the most important properties of a diamond is its hardness. Diamonds are about 7 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which means they can only be scratched by diamonds higher on the scale. This makes diamonds very resistant to damage.
Diamonds also have a very high thermal conductivity. This means they can transfer heat quickly and easily, which is why they are used in hot stones and jewelry. Diamonds are often used as settings for other gems because of their heat retention ability.
Some other properties of diamonds include their lightness and rarity. Diamonds are one of the least abundant types of stones, so they are very valuable in terms of their weight and size.
The Four C’s of a Diamond
The Four C’s of a Diamond stand for Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Color.
Carat weight is the size of the diamond. A diamond with a higher carat weight is bigger and more valuable than a diamond with a lower carat weight.
Cut refers to how well the diamond has been cut. The closer the diamond is to being round, the better the cut. A poorly cut diamond can have lots of blemishes and may be less valuable than a well-cut diamond.
Clarity is how many defects or inclusions there are in the diamond. A flawless diamond has no inclusions whatsoever. A slightly included diamond has small bumps and valleys that can cause it to lose some of its shine. A high clarity rating means that most of the defects are below average and not worth worrying about. Also gia vs igi comparison comes on the basis of consistent on clarity.
Color is measured on the scale from D (no color) to Z (a very intense yellow). A D-quality color means there is only trace amounts of color present; a Z-quality color means there is a lot of color present. Generally speaking, diamonds with a higher quality rating have fewer and smaller diamonds that give more light and transparency when they’re.