DIAMONDS GUIDE
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
Diamonds are made of compressed carbon and is the only mineral made of one single element. Natural diamonds are more than a billion years old. They are formed at high temperatures between 1.000 – 1.300 °C and high pressures that only exist more than 150 kilometers beneath the earth’s surface.
THE 4C's
All diamonds are unique, and a diamonds value is based on a combination of four value factors also called the 4C’s created by GIA, Gemological Institute of America. Combined the 4C’s – color, clarity, cut and carat weight describes each diamonds unique quality.
Diamonds used by NUIT et LINETTE are conflict free and ethically sourced. All diamonds between 0.01 ct and 0.18 ct used by NUIT et LINETTE all have the following qualities. Color G or H, VS or SI – very slightly included, slightly included and excellent or very good cut.
COLOR GRADE
The color grade of a diamond refers to the absence of color. Colorless diamonds are graded on a scale starting from D to Z. The less color in a diamond, the rarer and more valuable it is. When creating engagement rings NUIT et LINETTE will help each client select a diamond with one of the following color grades D, E, F, G or H.
CLARITY GRADE
Almost all diamonds have small natural imperfections as internal inclusions and external blemishes. The clarity grade is based on the size, placement, quantity and nature of these imperfections also called clarity characteristics. Most of these characteristics are to small to be seen by the unaided eye and must be seen with a 10X magnification. The clarity grades go from Flawless (FL) with no inclusions and no blemishes to Included (I) with obvious inclusions under a 10X magnification. NUIT et LINETTE diamonds will range from Flawless (F) to Slightly Included (SI1) clarity grade
CUT GRADE
The most important factor of the 4 Cs is the diamonds cut. The polish, symmetry, proportion and arrangement of the facets determines how well the diamond interacts with light. On a well cut diamond the light will enter through the crown reflect inside from one pavilion facet to another and exit through the crown, reappear to the eye as fire, brilliance and sparkle. The cut grade ranges from Excellent to Poor. For center stones in engagement rings NUIT et LINETTE will only select diamonds with Excellent and Very Good cut grades.
CARAT WEIGHT
Carat refers to the diamonds weight and 1.00 carat equals 0.2 grams. Generally, diamonds with a higher carat weight will have a higher value. But two diamonds with the same carat weight often vary in value as they differ in color, clarity and cut. Therefore, it is important to consider all aspects of the 4Cs when two diamonds with equal carat weight is being compared.