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The cut is widely considered the most important of the 4Cs because it has the greatest influence on a diamond's sparkle. A well-cut diamond reflects light internally from one facet to another and disperses it through the top of the stone.
Expertly cut diamonds display three main optical effects: brilliance (white light reflections), fire (flashes of color), and scintillation (sparkle).
Diamond color is actually a measure of the lack of color. A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue, like a drop of pure water, and consequently, a higher value.
The GIA color scale extends from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). While many diamonds appear colorless to the untrained eye, many contain subtle hints of yellow that affect their quality and price.
Natural diamonds are the result of carbon exposed to tremendous heat and pressure deep in the earth. This process can result in a variety of internal characteristics called "inclusions" and external characteristics called "blemishes."
Evaluating diamond clarity involves determining the number, size, relief, nature, and position of these characteristics, as well as how they affect the overall appearance of the stone.
Diamond carat weight is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs. A metric "carat" is defined as 200 milligrams. Each carat can be subdivided into 100 "points." This allows very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place.
All else being equal, diamond price increases with diamond carat weight, because larger diamonds are more rare and more desirable. However, two diamonds of equal carat weight can have very different values (and prices) depending on three other factors of the diamond 4Cs: Clarity, Color, and Cut.
