Al Fardan Jewellery: How well do you know your diamonds? Discovering the 4C's

Everyone loves diamonds; since their discovery in the 4th century BC^[1], they have been a symbol of love and romance, and their appeal remains timeless and universal. It is also a given knowledge that diamonds are a girl's best friend. As a result, diamonds have long been the most sought-after gems. Their beauty and charisma are unparalleled, as is their value. However, there is much more to diamonds than the beauty which they lend. Beneath that glimmer lies a wealth of knowledge: its chemical structure, history, and an estimated impact of how it came to be on our planet. The history of diamonds is as old as civilization itself. Diamonds are so desirable that people have created a set of guidelines to help determine their quality. These guidelines include four grades often called the 4Cs of Diamonds: Colour, Clarity, Cut, and Carat.

Colour is the most critical factor in determining the value of a diamond. Colourless diamonds are rare and, therefore, more expensive than other diamonds. The colour of a diamond is graded on a scale from D to Z, with D having the least colour and Z being the most yellow. The closer the diamond is to a D grade, the more valuable it is. That said, not only does its value determine its price, colourless diamonds look much better because they reflect light more evenly and don't distract from other aspects of the jewellery piece.

Clarity refers to the absence of blemishes and inclusions; chips, cracks and pinpoints within the stone, which are more noticeable in lower-quality diamonds. Chips and cracks can change the shape of the rock and pinpoints appear as tiny black dots inside the diamond that are only visible through a magnifying glass or loupe. A higher clarity grade means fewer visible inclusions or blemishes whereas a lower grade means more visible blemishes.

The cut of a diamond refers to how well it has been polished and is an essential factor in determining a diamond's sparkle. The cut influences how light enters the diamond and reflects off its surface. A poorly cut diamond will have dulled edges and will lose much of its brilliance. A high-quality cut will reflect light out through the top of the stone rather than letting it escape through the bottom. Hence, well-cut diamonds look brighter and appear larger than they are because they reflect more light. Diamonds with excellent cuts have smooth surfaces and clean angles. They reflect light well from all angles, giving them a bright and clear appearance compared to diamonds with lower cuts.

Carat, the weight of a diamond, is determined by dividing the mass of a diamond by its volume. The higher the carat weight, the more rare and valuable a diamond is because they are expensive to cut, and there is less margin for error the more prominent the rock. In general, you should aim for a carat weight of at least 0.5 carats (or 50 points) when buying an engagement ring or other jewellery one wears daily. However, two diamonds of equal carat weight can still have very different values depending on their colour, clarity and cut.

At Al Fardan Jewellery, we pride ourselves on providing customers with the finest quality hand-cut diamonds and jewellery worldwide. We continue to set the highest standards, creating impeccably handcrafted, timeless designs for the modern woman. Every piece is a true masterpiece, be it diamond wedding rings, gorgeous earrings, or rings, among other fantastic pieces of jewellery.

alfardanjewellery.com | @alfardanjewellery.uae

^[1] "History Of Diamonds, Where Do Diamonds Come From". Brilliance.Com, 2023, https://www.brilliance.com/education/diamonds/history. Accessed 11 Jan 2023.