Diamonds are among the most popular gemstones in the world. Formed from carbon that has been heated and pressurized in the earth, only a diamond can scratch or measure the hardness of another diamond. Diamonds are also synthetically made in laboratories. Diamond jewelry is rated based on four characteristics; cut, color, clarity and carat weight.
Cut
The cut of a diamond can refer to its shape, with the standard being round, but also available in marquise, pear, oval, and emerald cuts, among others.
Color
Diamond color is graded on a scale that uses letters from D to Z, with D being the clearest and most valuable, and increasing in yellowness along the scale towards Z.
Colored Diamonds
Rare colored diamonds, are not rated on the same scale and are considered valuable for their deep colors, which are formed as a result of additional physical conditions that the stone undergoes.
Clarity
There are 11 grades on the GIA scale to rate clarity, ranging from flawless to imperfect. The more inclusions and blemishes a diamond has, the more imperfect it becomes.
Carat
Carat weight measures the size of a diamond, and each fraction of a carat affects a diamond's value. The larger the diamond, the higher the number of carats.
Value
All characteristics are considered when determining the value of a diamond. Natural diamonds are considered more valuable than synthetically made diamonds.
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