Jewelry Information

Introduction

Diamonds

Colored Gemstones

Precious Metals

Fine Watches

Comparison Shopping

Scams

  Huge Discounts

  Investment Gems

Jewelry Appraisal

Jewelry Insurance

 

Diamonds

General Information

Diamond Cutting

Diamonds - the 4 Cs

  Carat Weight
  Clarity
  Color
  Cut (the most important)

Diamond Certificates

Diamond Treatments

Gems from the Lab

Moissanite

Diamonds - The 4 Cs

A diamond's value is based on four factors:

Carat weight
Color
Clarity
Cut Proportions

Carat weight refers to the size of the diamond. The other three qualities describe the gem’s quality.

One way to think about the 4Cs is to imagine a seesaw, with size (carat weight) on one end and quality (the other three Cs) on the other. Within a given price range, as size increases, quality must diminish. If quality improves, size must diminish. In other words, you can either spend more per carat for a higher-quality stone, or you can get a larger stone and settle for lower overall quality.

Buyer's Tip

Everyone talks about carat weight. Familiarize yourself with the importance of the other 3 Cs (especially cut proportions!) before you go shopping.