The 4 C’s of Diamonds
Discover the best diamond
for your budget.
CUT
The cut of a diamond not only refers to a diamond’s shape,
but also how effectively it returns light to the eye. It is the most
important characteristic for determining a stone’s final beauty and value.
The higher a diamond’s cut grade, the greater the stone’s sparkle.
Cut Proportions
Light Reflection and Refraction
IDEAL CUT
Light entering the diamond reflects internally from facet to facet, then exits from the top only, allowing the diamond to exhibit maximum fire and brilliance
TOO SHALLOW
Light leaks out the bottom of the diamond before it can reflect, making it appear watery and dull.
TOO DEEP
Light passes through facets and leaks out the bottom and sides, making the diamond appear dark.
COLOR
A diamond’s color grade actually refers to its absence of color, or the “whiteness” of the diamond. Many of the color distinctions in grading are so subtle that they are invisible to the untrained eye but effect a diamond’s quality and price.
Color Grading Scale
While color grades D, E and F are reserved for the whitest of diamonds, if you are looking for the best value, consider a diamond with a near-colorless grade G, H, I or J.
CLARITY
In the natural process by which diamonds are created, internal characteristics called ‘inclusions’ and external characteristics called ‘blemishes’ are formed — their size, nature, position, color or relief and quantity (evaluated under 10x magnification) determine the overall clarity grade and factor into the value of a diamond.
Clarity Grading Scale
The clarity scale consists of 11 grades, with most diamonds falling into the VS (very slightly included) or SI (slightly included) categories.
CARAT
Contrary to popular belief, is actually a term that refers to the weight of a diamond, not its visible size.
Just like a dollar is divided into 100 pennies, a carat is divided into 100 units of measure called ‘points,’ which allows for very precise weight measurements.
Larger diamonds are more rare, making them worth more than smaller diamonds of the same quality. However, two diamonds of equal carat weight can vary considerably in value depending on the other members of the Four C’s: CUT, COLOR and CLARITY.
TIP:
When comparing stones, a general rule is that a diamond of double the weight costs around four times more.
JEWELRY CLEANING
We are happy to clean and inspect your jewelry for loose stones and wear at any time. Allow us to professionally clean and preventively inspect your pieces of fine jewelry at least once every six months – without charge.
It does not matter whether or not your jewelry was purchased at Gold’n Treasures.
THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE
TO SELECTING AN ENGAGEMENT RING
Congratulations! You’ve met the woman of your dreams and are ready to pop the question. We’re here to help you master the first big step — buying an engagement ring. The two major parts of the ring are the diamond itself, where most of the expense goes, and the setting, which plays a big role in the finished look of the ring.
WHERE TO START
Tastes vary. So…where do you begin gathering information about her preferred ring style? Here are a few approaches:
Pinterest
If your future bride has a Pinterest account, scan her pins for style cues, whether bridal related or not. Does she lean towards ornate or minimalistic items? Classic or contemporary styles?
Create a shared Pinterest board where she can discreetly save her favorite rings to help guide your selection.
PLAY TIME
Consider a “just for fun” visit to Gold’n Treasures – together or alone, your future bride can try on rings to help her narrow down her preferred styles, diamond cut, metal finish, size, etc.
We will keep her favorite rings or features on file for you to reference when the time is right to purchase.
temporary Solitaire setting
Propose with the diamond you have selected that Gold’n Treasures can set in a temporary setting. Later, return to Gold’n Treasures with your fiancé, where she can choose from thousands of ring styles to find her perfect ring.
