Diamond, Platinum and Gemstone Rings available at Cheshires Jewellers. CheshiresJewellers.co.uk

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THE 4C’s

At first glance two diamonds may appear to look similar but each has its own individual characteristics that determine the value. These are known as the 4C’s. Diamonds with the most perfect combination of the 4C’s are quite simply the most rare, therefore the most valuable. Please take a few moments to read all about the 4C’s we have noted below.

Cut

Cut is the only diamond characteristic directly influenced by man: the other three are dictated by nature. The shape (cut) of a diamond is a matter of personal taste. The round brilliant cut is the most popular. A good round brilliant cut releases the life, fire and sparkle of a diamond through the arrangement and proportions of its 58 facets. Other shapes are: pear, princess, oval, heart, emerald cut, marquise, asscher and radiant.

Colour

While most diamonds appear white, many of them display hints of colour barely discernable to the naked eye. The closer the diamond approaches colourless, the more rare and valuable the stone.

Clarity

A diamond’s clarity is determined by the degree to which it is free from naturally occurring inclusions, often called “natures fingerprints”. The number, type, colour, size and position of the internal birthmarks can affect a diamond’s value. However many are invisible to the naked eye requiring a magnification under a standard 10x loupe before they become apparent, the fewer the inclusions the rarer the stone.

Carat

Carat refers to the weight and the size of a diamond: one carat is divided into 100 points, therefore a diamond weighing 0.50 points is equal to half a carat. Size is the most obvious factor in determining the value of the diamond. However two diamonds of equal size can have very different values, depending on their Cut, Clarity and Colour.