Fredric H. Rubel - Selecting a Diamond

Selecting a diamond is the experience of a lifetime. Your decision is a lasting one, so it is important to know what to look for. Use this selection guide developed by Lazare Diamonds to help you find the diamond that is right for you by understand the 4C's of SELECTING A DIAMOND:
Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat.

1 - CUT

Not to be confused with the shape of a diamond, cut refers to the arrangement of a diamond's facets. Cut is the most important of the 4C's because it determines the optimum combination of brilliance, scintillation and fire.

This combination has the greatest effect on a diamond's beauty. Cut is the only "C" under man's control.

2 - COLOR

Diamonds range from colorless - the rarest and most valuable - to various degrees of yellow, with a spectrum of shadings in between. Color can only be seen with proper lighting against a white background.

3 - CLARITY

Clarity is the degree to which identifying characteristics known as
inclusions are present in a diamond. A "flawless" diamond has no
inclusions which are visible under a 10-power magnification.

4 - CARAT - WEIGHT

This is the standard measurement for diamond size. The most obvious
variable, it is the least important in determining the brilliance and
beauty of a diamond.

5 - WHAT IS AN IDEAL CUT DIAMOND?

When a diamond is ideally cut, light rays from all sides are bent toward the center of the stoned and are reflected back through the top in a blaze of light. If a diamond isn't ideally cut, light will "leak" out through the side or bottom of the diamond. The ideal cut guarantees you a spectacular balance of brilliance, scintillation and fire.

DIAMOND DEFINITIONS

Brilliance: Internal and external reflection of white light to the eye from a gemstone.
Carat - Weight: Standard Measurement for a diamond size.
Clarity: The degree to which tiny marks of nature called inclusions are present in the diamond.
Color: Diamonds range from colorless - the rarest and most valuable - to yellowish, with a spectrum of shadings in between.
Crown: Top part of the diamond above the girdle.
Cut: Not to be confused with the shaper of a diamond, cut refers to the arrangement of a diamond's facets. A diamond which is "ideal cut" captures and releases the maximum play of light.
Fire: Flashes of different rainbow colors resulting from the dispersion of light.
Flawless: Diamond without external or internal blemishes or inclusions seen under 10 x magnifications.
Girdle: Circumference of a diamond which is usually held by prongs of a setting and separates the crown and pavilion.
Inclusions: Natural impurities in a diamond which were formed during the crystallization process.
Pavilion: The bottom part of the diamond below the girdle.
Shape: Not to be confused with cut, manes the geometric form of the stone. Popular shapes include the round brilliant, marquise, emerald cut, pear and oval.