ALL ABOUT
DIAMONDS

Choosing the right diamond

Our guide to the 4Cs (carat, cut, colour and clarity) of diamonds will help you to understand the language of diamonds as well as enabling you to choose the right diamond for you and your budget.

From the Greeks, who thought diamonds were the tears of the gods to the Indians who thought of diamonds as good-luck charms, diamonds have been immensely valuable to many cultures. The rare, precious, magical and indestructible qualities of diamonds has made them the perfect symbol for romance and true love.

Carat

The carat is the unit of weight for diamonds. A carat weighs 0.20 of a gramme and is divided into 100 points, therefore a three-quarter carat diamond is 75 points, a half carat diamond is 50 points and a quarter carat diamond is 25 points and so on…

The derivation of the word carat is most interesting – Revolutionary Indian diamond traders in the 17th century used the locally-available carob seed as a comparison when assessing the weight of the rough diamond. The carob seed on one side of the weighing scales and rough diamonds on the other. By a miraculous feat of nature the weight of a single carob seed was always 0.20 gramme. Following this the unit of weight for diamonds was established and the name ‘carob’ became ‘carat’.

A one carat diamond is almost 6 and a half mm in diameter, a half carat diamond is just over 5 mm in diameter and a quarter carat diamond is just over 4 mm in diameter. This is purely a guide as the diameter of the diamond in relation to the carat weight will depend on the final proportions and overall volume.

Cut

The cut of a diamond is the result of human craftsmanship. It refers to how well a diamond’s facets interact with light, influencing its sparkle and scintillation. The precision of a diamond’s cut affects how light is reflected and refracted within the stone, ultimately determining its brightness and beauty. A well-cut diamond will appear more dazzling and luminous.

Ideal

The Perfect diamond cut. The proportions, symmetry and finish give you the finest possible quality to create the most incredible theatre of fire and brilliance. Some of our diamonds in this quality will be described as ‘hearts and arrows’, where a heart and arrow effect can be magically seen when viewed through a special scope. For those who only want the absolute finest.

Excellent

Reflects and disperses the light that enters the diamond superbly to create a magical theatre of fire and brilliance. Excellent proportions, symmetry and finish assure of a very fine make that beautifully brings your diamond to life.

Very Good

Reflects and disperses most of the light that enters the diamond, creating very good brilliance and fire. The proportions and symmetry are of a very high quality so that only a very slight amount of light is refracted through the sides (crown) and bottom (pavillion) of the diamond. Diamonds of this cut offer you a very good combination of value for money and very high quality.

Good

Reflects and disperses much of the light that enters the diamond. The proportions and symmetry fall outside of our premium cuts because the diamond cutter has chosen to create the largest diamond possible from the original rough crystal, rather than removing extra weight to produce a finer overall cut. Diamonds of this cut offer you a superb value for money without sacrificing the eternal beauty of the diamond.

Colour

The colour of a diamond refers to the presence or absence of colour within the stone. The most highly valued diamonds are those that are completely colourless, as they allow the most light to pass through and reflect back, enhancing their brilliance. Subtle differences in colour can significantly impact a diamond’s beauty, with colourless diamonds being exceptionally rare and highly sought after.

D & E / Exceptional white

Incredible whiteness and purity of colour that, in some cases, has a miraculous tint of incredible blue light. The absolutely finest quality of white diamonds and are extremely rare. For those who only want the absolute finest diamonds.

F & G / Rare white

Special whiteness and purity with no tint of colour (usually yellow or brown). A specialist trained eye could only tell the difference between exceptional white and rare white. Diamonds of this colour are very rare and offer you some of the very finest diamonds available anywhere.

H / White

Good white brightness with no tint of colour (usually yellow or brown). Diamonds of this colour are very rare and offer you an excellent combination of quality and value.

I & J / Slightly tinted white

Your diamond will have a slight tint of colour, usually yellow or brown. The level of colour is only noticeable when directly compared with white, rare white or exceptional white. Diamonds of this colour are more readily available, but offer superb value for money.

K & L / Tinted white

Your diamond will have a tint of colour, usually yellow or brown. The tint of colour is noticeable but a fine quality cut can still make the diamond look very special. Diamonds of this colour are more abundant, but offer superb value for money.

M - X / Tinted colour

Your diamond will have a strong tint of colour, usually yellow or brown, but not of the finest hue colour that would classify it as ‘fancy colour’. In most cases Icecool diamonds do not stock the lower spectrum of diamond colour quality.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond refers to the presence of internal or external imperfections, known as inclusions and blemishes. These imperfections can affect a diamond’s overall appearance and brilliance. High-clarity diamonds, which have fewer and smaller imperfections, are more rare and valuable. Clarity is an important factor in assessing a diamond’s quality and appeal, as fewer inclusions and blemishes allow more light to pass through the stone, enhancing its sparkle.

IF / Internally flawless

Absolutely no internal imperfections in the diamond. The purist of the pure. Magical. Amazing. Unbelievable. The perfect gift from nature. For those who only want the absolute finest and rarest diamonds.

VVS1 / Very very small inclusions

Very few inclusions in the diamonds can be seen using magnification of 30X. Inclusions not visible to the naked eye. Diamonds of this clarity are very rare.

VVS2 / Very very small inclusions

Few inclusions in the diamonds can be seen using magnification of 30X. Inclusions not visible to the naked eye. Diamonds of this clarity are very rare.

VS1 / Very small inclusions

Very few inclusions in the diamonds can be seen using magnification of 10X. Inclusions not visible to the naked eye. Diamonds of this clarity are rare.

VS2 / Very small inclusions

Few inclusions in the diamonds can be seen using magnification of 10X. Inclusions not visible to the naked eye. Diamonds of this clarity are rare.

SI1 / Small Inclusions

Very few inclusions in the diamonds visible to the naked eye on very close inspection. Diamonds of this clarity are more available.

SI2 / Small Inclusions

Few inclusions in the diamonds visible to the naked eye on very close inspection. Diamonds of this clarity are more available.

I1 to I3 / Evident inclusions

Inclusions in the diamonds visible with the naked eye. In most cases Icecool diamonds do not stock these lower clarity qualities.

Story of Diamonds

The youngest diamond is 900 million years old. The oldest known diamonds are more than 3 billion years old, which is older than many stars in the sky.

For thousands of years the only source of diamonds known to man was an area close to Hyderabad in south India. Today, the main sources are South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Russia, Canada and Australia.

Celebrations came in 1866 when, at last, a truly significant source of diamonds was discovered in South Africa. A farmer’s child was playing with some brightly coloured stones beside a river, one of which was recognised as a diamond. This diamond was appropriately named ‘Eureka’.

Despite modern methods, diamonds are still very difficult to find – from the frozen tundra of Siberia and Canada to the parched deserts of Africa, at least enough earth to fill a house must be carefully sifted to find a single diamond.

The word diamond comes from the Greek term ‘adamas’ which means unconquerable.

The carat is the unit of weight for diamonds. A carat weighs 0.20 of a gramme and is divided into 100 points, therefore a three-quarter carat diamond is 75 points, a half carat diamond is 50 points and a quarter carat diamond is 25 points and so on …

The derivation of the word carat is most interesting – Revolutionary Indian diamond traders in the 17th century used the locally-available carob seed as a comparison when assessing the weight of the rough diamond. The carob seed on one side of the weighing scales and rough diamonds on the other. By a miraculous feat of nature the weight of a single carob seed was always 0.20 gramme. Following this the unit of weight for diamonds was established and the name ‘carob’ became ‘carat’.

The quality and therefore the value of a diamond is evaluated using 4 criteria – carat, clarity, colour and cut. The weight of a diamond is fixed and precise, and the bigger the stone, the greater the rarity and therefore the higher the price per carat. A one carat diamond is one in a million diamonds.

The other 3 criteria are much more subjective –

Flaws and imperfections within the diamond will reduce the value. The very best is internally flawless.

To the untrained observer most diamonds will appear to have no tint colour, but most are slightly coloured and are evaluated on a scale from pure white to colours of the rainbow. Pure white is rare but fancy colours are extremely rare. The highest price paid per carat at auction for a diamond is US$1 million for a 0.95 carat red diamond.

The cut of a diamond is the final key to setting the value. The finest and most exacting cutting and polishing will maximise the diamond’s fire and lustre.

A fancy shape such as a pear shape will also increase the value. The most ever paid for a pear-shaped diamond of 42 carats is US$7.5 million.

Value is very much expressed through rarity – If you were to gather all the diamonds ever polished since the beginning of time, they would only fill one double-decker bus.
Each diamond is the result of an amazing natural journey which has turned an ancient element into the world’s most precious and mystical gem. Diamonds were pure carbon crystallised at high temperatures and pressures, 100 miles beneath the earth’s crust. There they remained, keeping their precious secrets, until powerful forces carried them upward within volcanic molten lava, only to be concealed again by falling ash and rock.

Over millions of years, the wrath of nature in the form of winds, water, heat and cold would rework the landscape time and time again. Only a small number of diamonds managed to survive this remarkable journey. Of those that did, only a tiny proportion that have been found are of a size and quality that can be cut, polished and set into jewellery. The diamond is a true miracle.
The magic and mystery of diamonds has fascinated and intrigued mankind for centuries.

No tool could cut them and no fire could burn them which led many to believe that diamonds had unique supernatural powers.

To the Greeks they were the tears of the God, while Romans believed they were shards from the stars. For the Indians they were good-luck charms warding off illness, thieves and forces of evil. To others they were stones that would heal and bestow knowledge.

Diamonds became eagerly sought after by the world’s most wealthy and powerful people. In fact it was a common belief among Kings that wearing a diamond into battle would magically protect the wearer. It was not uncommon to see royal armouries glittering with diamond-embellished weapons.
The custom of wearing a diamond on the fourth finger of the left hand comes from the ancient Egyptians, who believed that the vena amoris (vein of love) runs directly from this finger to the heart.

The romantic tradition of giving a diamond ring as a token of love and commitment began in the 15th century when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring on their engagement.

Today this tradition continues with passion and absolute importance. Every year throughout the world there are now hundreds of thousands of diamond engagement and anniversary rings gifted with love.

It is now a unique symbol of commitment, woven into our way of life.
No other gem expresses human emotion more powerfully than a diamond. Earth-grown, rare, precious, magical and indestructible. These essential qualities have made diamonds the perfect symbol for true love and romance.

Perhaps the most publicised diamond gifts in modern times have been diamond jewels given by Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor. These include a 33 carat brilliant cut diamond worth over US$10 million and a pear-shaped 69 carat Taylor-Burton diamond.

More recently, producer-director Bruce Paltrow demonstrated his love for, and pride in, daughter Gwyneth when, after winning the Best Actress award at the 1999 Oscars, he bought her the stunning 40 carat diamond necklace she had borrowed to wear to the ceremony.
After you have decided the shape you need to decide what style of jewellery design you are looking for. Surf the web, do some window shopping, do some celebrity spotting.

Identify some looks that you like and then go to a reputable jeweller to discuss your ideas. Icecool Diamonds have been around for a long time, have a special reputation and are committed to make your dream come true.

Finally, it helps if you have some basic knowledge of what makes up the value of a diamond.

The quality and therefore the value of every diamond is evaluated using 4 criteria – carat, clarity, colour and cut.

The weight of the diamond is fixed and precise, and the bigger the stone, the greater the rarity and therefore the higher the price per carat. The other 3 criteria are much more subjective. Flaws and imperfections within the diamond will reduce the value. The very best are internally flawless.

To the untrained observer most diamonds will appear to have no tint colour, but most are slightly coloured and are evaluated on a scale from pure white to colours of the rainbow. Pure white is rare but fancy colours are extremely rare. The highest price paid per carat at auction for a diamond is US$1 million for a 0.95 carat red diamond.

The cut of a diamond is the final key to setting the value. The finest and most exacting cutting and polishing will maximise the diamond’s fire and lustre.

Value is very much expressed through rarity – If you were to gather all the diamonds ever polished since the beginning of time, they would only fill one double-decker bus. Come to find your special, individual and rare dream at Icecool Diamonds.

Let's start your journey

Contact Nina

Black and White Portrait of Nina from Icecool Diamonds London Jeweller
Get In Touch

 

Icecool Diamonds
Hatton Garden Jewellers

5th Floor
County House
14-15 Hatton Garden
London
EC1N 8AT
Email: info@icecooldiamonds.com

 

Follow Us

 

   Twitter Link   Instagram Link

 

Sign Up to Our Newsletter
Processing...
Thank you! Your subscription has been confirmed. You'll hear from us soon.
ErrorHere