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We often begin our discussion of diamonds by listing the 4 C's,
Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut. Unfortunately, these characteristics are often
misunderstood.
The Diamond Promotion Service, in an attempt to improve communication, devised a four
sided triangular visual aid. Carat is listed on one side. Color, clarity and cut are
listed on the three remaining sides. The point of the visual aid is to explain
rarity and how it affects the value of a diamond. Diamond with a tint of yellow
color and relatively common as well are gemstone with numerous inclusion. Large
diamonds are quite rare. Diamonds over one carat are one in a million. Putting
all this together a large diamond, with little or no body color and very small inclusions
is very rare and correspondingly will demand a higher price in the marketplace than a more
common specimen.
That's where most discussions end. We have talked about three of the 4 C's and
most people think they know all they will ever need to know about diamonds.
That's not the case, before we can determine value we need to explore the fourth C,
Cut.
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Until the 18th century, India was the only source of diamonds in the world. In the
second half of the 19th century , the first diamonds were discovered in Africa. |
