The Problem with Buying a Diamond Based on the 4Cs
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Wouldn't it be great if you could buy a diamond simply by comparing the grading reports and finding the best report with the lowest price? Unfortunately, it’s just not that simple. If you purchase a diamond solely off of its grading report, you might end up with an expensive document and a potentially disappointing diamond.
Here’s what you need to know about buying a diamond based on the 4Cs alone.
Although this was not necessarily the intention behind creating the 4Cs, this common terminology has revolutionized the way people buy diamonds. It’s come to the point where some people will buy a diamond based solely on its paperwork -- without ever seeing the diamond!
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding diamond grading is that you’ll have a beautiful diamond if you purchase a diamond that looks good on paper.
This depends on what your goals are -- are you looking for a diamond that is rare and valuable? Or do you want to purchase a diamond that performs a certain way and gives you a particular look? You have to determine what you want your diamond to do, and then find a diamond that does THAT!
If a 1-carat round diamond is cut well, it should be about 6.5mm wide. However, we’ve seen 1-carat diamonds ranging from 5.8mm wide to almost 7mm wide!
If a 1-carat diamond has a 7mm diameter, it means that it was cut with less-than-ideal proportions to create a bigger look. The shallow cut means that the diamond will not sparkle as much, because light will escape out the bottom of the diamond (also known as the pavilion). Meanwhile, a 1-carat ideal cut diamond will look slightly “smaller” (diameter-wise) but will have much more sparkle. Diamonds can each have the same weight but a very different look.
The other problem with carat weight is that a “1-carat diamond” can weigh anywhere from .95ct to 1.10ct. So, purchasing a 1-carat diamond can mean you get one at the lower or higher end of that range.
Along the way, there are often disruptions in the formation process that will create a crystallization inside the diamond. The fewer crystallizations in that diamond, the more clear your diamond will be (and the higher it will rank on the clarity chart).
The highest grade on a clarity chart is “flawless.” Flawless diamonds are so rare that most jewelers have never even seen one. Most diamonds on the market range from I2 to VS1.
The problem with buying a diamond based on its clarity is that diamonds are graded under 10 times magnification, so clarity differences are often hard to discern with the naked eye. This means that you might pay a premium for a higher clarity diamond that has no visible difference versus a lower-priced one.
Color differences within diamonds can be so slight that professional diamond color-graders often only work in the morning. They don’t continue grading color in the afternoons because, by that time, the human eye is too fatigued to detect these slight variations in color.
The average person would never notice these subtle color variations. This is important to keep in my mind when looking at a diamond’s grading report. Again, you can end up paying a premium for a rare quality that makes no visible difference (at least not to the naked eye).
The only diamond shape that has a cut quality assigned to it is the round diamond. Cut quality is subjective for every other diamond shape. Most cutters will cut a diamond to preserve the most carat weight rather than try to maximize performance.
We ask guests all the time: “What do you want your diamond to do?” The answer is almost always: “I want my diamond to sparkle.”
If that’s your goal too, then the “C” you should be most focused on is cut. After all, it isn’t color, clarity, or even how large a diamond is that catches someone’s eye across the room. It’s the light reflecting from the diamond that travels across a room.
Here’s what you need to know about buying a diamond based on the 4Cs alone.
Why the 4Cs Were Created
If you’ve begun to research diamonds, you’ve probably heard about the 4Cs. The 4Cs were created by the Gemological Institute of America (also known as the GIA) to give consistency to the market and create a common language about diamond quality.Although this was not necessarily the intention behind creating the 4Cs, this common terminology has revolutionized the way people buy diamonds. It’s come to the point where some people will buy a diamond based solely on its paperwork -- without ever seeing the diamond!
The Problem with the 4Cs
The problem with buying a diamond based on its report is that the 4Cs can be misleading. The 4Cs -- which include color, cut, clarity, and carat weight -- are meant to determine rarity and therefore, the value of a diamond. However, the 4Cs do not speak to the beauty of a diamond in any way.One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding diamond grading is that you’ll have a beautiful diamond if you purchase a diamond that looks good on paper.
This depends on what your goals are -- are you looking for a diamond that is rare and valuable? Or do you want to purchase a diamond that performs a certain way and gives you a particular look? You have to determine what you want your diamond to do, and then find a diamond that does THAT!
The Problem with Buying Based on Carat Weight
Carat weight refers to the weight of the diamond. Many people say things like, “I want a 1-carat diamond” but don’t really know what that means.If a 1-carat round diamond is cut well, it should be about 6.5mm wide. However, we’ve seen 1-carat diamonds ranging from 5.8mm wide to almost 7mm wide!
If a 1-carat diamond has a 7mm diameter, it means that it was cut with less-than-ideal proportions to create a bigger look. The shallow cut means that the diamond will not sparkle as much, because light will escape out the bottom of the diamond (also known as the pavilion). Meanwhile, a 1-carat ideal cut diamond will look slightly “smaller” (diameter-wise) but will have much more sparkle. Diamonds can each have the same weight but a very different look.
The other problem with carat weight is that a “1-carat diamond” can weigh anywhere from .95ct to 1.10ct. So, purchasing a 1-carat diamond can mean you get one at the lower or higher end of that range.
The Problem with Buying Based on Diamond Clarity
Clarity is a lack of inclusion within a diamond. When a diamond is formed, it’s under an intense amount of heat and pressure. The process is long and occurs deep beneath the earth’s surface until the diamond rises to where we can mine them.Along the way, there are often disruptions in the formation process that will create a crystallization inside the diamond. The fewer crystallizations in that diamond, the more clear your diamond will be (and the higher it will rank on the clarity chart).
The highest grade on a clarity chart is “flawless.” Flawless diamonds are so rare that most jewelers have never even seen one. Most diamonds on the market range from I2 to VS1.
The problem with buying a diamond based on its clarity is that diamonds are graded under 10 times magnification, so clarity differences are often hard to discern with the naked eye. This means that you might pay a premium for a higher clarity diamond that has no visible difference versus a lower-priced one.
The Problem with Buying Based on Diamond Color
Diamond color is simply the presence or absence of a natural hue within the diamond. Most diamonds will have at least some natural color -- most commonly a yellow or brown hue. This color is a warmth within the diamond, not a vibrant color like you’d find in fancy-color diamonds (fancy-color diamonds fall outside of the normal D to Z color scale).Color differences within diamonds can be so slight that professional diamond color-graders often only work in the morning. They don’t continue grading color in the afternoons because, by that time, the human eye is too fatigued to detect these slight variations in color.
The average person would never notice these subtle color variations. This is important to keep in my mind when looking at a diamond’s grading report. Again, you can end up paying a premium for a rare quality that makes no visible difference (at least not to the naked eye).
Why Cut is the Most Important “C”
Cut quality is how well the diamond is cut. Diamond cut does not mean diamond shape. Cut refers to a diamond’s angles and the proportions and how they work together to produce and maximize brilliance.The only diamond shape that has a cut quality assigned to it is the round diamond. Cut quality is subjective for every other diamond shape. Most cutters will cut a diamond to preserve the most carat weight rather than try to maximize performance.
We ask guests all the time: “What do you want your diamond to do?” The answer is almost always: “I want my diamond to sparkle.”
If that’s your goal too, then the “C” you should be most focused on is cut. After all, it isn’t color, clarity, or even how large a diamond is that catches someone’s eye across the room. It’s the light reflecting from the diamond that travels across a room.
