The 4 C's: Four Factors That Influence Diamond Value

Color

The best color is no color.

Diamonds are found in a range from colorless to yellow and they are color graded from "D" through "Z." The more colorless, or white, the diamond is, the higher the price.

It is the colorless diamond that is most valued because it's the rarest. The difference between one color grade and another is very subtle, particularly to the untrained eye. Although increasing shades of yellow reduce the value of a diamond, they do not necessarily reduce its beauty. If a diamond is well cut, its refraction and dispersion of light will often disguise a degree of color.

The two major groupings are colorless and near colorless. Almost all Genesis diamonds are in this range.

Color Chart

Clarity

It is a rarity.

The clarity or purity of a diamond is determined by the presence or absence of tiny natural birthmarks known as "inclusions."

Most inclusions are not visible to the naked eye, but only under powerful magnification. The fewer and smaller the inclusions, the more rare and beautiful the diamond. While inclusions usually cannot be seen, their presence reduces the price because the diamonds are more readily available.

Clarity is graded on a scale with a range from internally flawless to imperfect. Usually, an unaided eye will begin to see inclusions at I1 and below.

Genesis Diamonds offers clarity grades with an emphasis at the middle to upper-end of the scale.

Clarity Chart

Carat

The larger, the rarer.

Diamonds are weighed on a scale of metric carats, abbreviated "ct." It is equal to approximately 1/5 of a gram (or 1/142nd of an ounce) . A carat is broken down into 100 points, just like a pound is broken down into 16 ounces. When you see a diamond weight of 1.45 carat, that means one carat and 45 points.

The larger a diamond is, the rarer it is. Diamonds are bought and sold on a pricing concept known as "per carat." As diamonds get larger, the price per carat increases due to the rarity factor. This means that a diamond that weighs 2 carats will be worth more than twice as much as a 1 carat diamond.

Carat Chart

Cut

The sparkle and beauty.

These are the characteristics that control the fire, brilliance, sparkle and beauty of a diamond. This is the only "C" controlled by a person, how well the cutter has perfected the cut.

Did you know that the term diamond cut does not refer to its shape? When gemologists say "cut," they are talking about a diamond's proportions, such as its depth, diameter and the uniformity of its facets. These are all the characteristics that control brilliance, durability and other features we look for in a diamond.

The Cut Chart