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The 4C's Explained

Avital & Co.

If you can imagine it, we’ll create it since 1957

Diamond Cut

The first of the 4C's that Avital and Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC), recommends you should take into consideration when looking to purchase your diamond is the cut. The reason for this is that the cut of the diamond has the greatest influence over the beauty of your diamond and will determine what we refer to as sparkle.

 

Diamond Cuts

 

The cut of the diamond is in reference to the diamond's balance of symmetry, proportion, and polish, which is achieved by the diamond cutter. When your diamond is ideally cut, the diamond will shine and sparkle because the cut allows the light to travel through your diamond and exit in an heirloom radiance of a colorful rainbow. If the diamond is cut too deep, light escapes out the side of the diamond and if cut to shallow, light escapes out the bottom of the diamond. Both of these poor cuts will cause the diamond to appear dull, lifeless and thus will not have a radiant sparkle.

The cut also determines the shape of the diamond. The most popular shape is called round brilliant. Other diamond shapes are asscher, emerald, oval, marquise, pear, radiant, princess, heart, cushion, baguette, and trillion. Some of the less popular diamond cuts are bullets, trapezoid, and half-moon. Click Diamond Shapes and Cuts for more information.

All of the diamonds that Avital and Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC), acquires are carefully selected by our trained gemologists to emphasize the brilliance of your diamond.

 

Diamond Cut Grades

Ideal:

This diamond cut grade represents the top 3% of diamond quality based on cut. This type of diamond cut creates the optimal combination of brilliance (refers to the white light that is reflected back to the eye from the diamond) and fire (the rainbow of colors that is reflected back to the eye from the diamond). This diamond cut reflects nearly all of the light.

Very Good:

This diamond cut grade represents the top 15% of diamond quality based on cut. This diamond cut is similar to ideal but at a lower cost to you.

Good:

This diamond cut grade represents the top 25% of diamond quality based on cut. Cut is optimizing the size of the diamond without sacrificing quality or beauty. Reflects most light that enters the diamond.

Fair:

This diamond cut grade represents the top 35% of diamond quality based on cut. This is an adequate cut, which maximizes weight and reflects sun light.

Poor:

Reflect minimal amount of light. At Avital & Co., we take tremendous amount of pride in the diamonds we acquire. Therefore, Avital and Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC), does not sell poor cut diamonds.

Avital & Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC), offers many beneficial services such as free jewelry cleaning, free verbal appraisals, free consultations, and many other services. Click here to learn more and become our customer.

To all of you, from all of us at Avital & Co. - Thank you and Happy Shopping.

 

Avital & Co.

If you can imagine it, we’ll create it since 1957

Diamond Color

Color is the next important characteristic that you should look for when purchasing your diamond.  The color of a diamond refers to the lack of color that is found in the diamond grading and is based on the whiteness of the diamond.  Due to natural traces of nitrogen that are present in a diamond from being formed under the Earth's crust, most diamonds exhibit slight hints of yellow, brown, or gray.  For this reason, a diamond's color is graded on a scale from D-Z.  The less color that is visible to the naked eye, which allows more light to pass, the higher the letter the diamond is given and thus making it more valuable.  So a diamond that is graded from D-F is considered colorless, G through J are considered near-colorless, K through M are faint, and N through R are very light, and S-Z are referred to as light yellow or brown.

 

Diamond Color Scale

 

 

Diamond Color Table

D

This color diamond is considered absolutely colorless or "icy white.”  This color diamond is extremely rare and the most expensive diamond to purchase.

E

This color diamond is considered colorless which means that only miniscule traces of color will be detected by an expert gemologist.  This color diamond is considered a very rare diamond.

F

This color diamond is considered colorless which means that only miniscule traces of color will be detected by an expert gemologist.  This color diamond is considered a rare, high quality diamond.

G-H

These color diamonds are considered to be near colorless.  Color may be noticeable compared to diamonds of better grades, but these types of diamonds offers excellent value.

I-J

These color diamonds are considered to be near colorless.  Color may be noticeable compared to diamonds of better grades.  These color diamonds are considered a good value.

K-Z

These color diamonds are considered slight or obvious color.  These diamonds are considered to have a noticeable color to them that detracts from the beauty as well as the value of a diamond.

In addition to these types of diamonds, which are known as white diamonds, Avital and Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC) also carries natural fancy colored diamonds.  Fancy colored diamonds range in many colors such as yellow, blue, black, pink, and many other colors.  Fancy colored diamonds are graded on a different scale than white diamonds.  For more information about Fancy colored diamonds that are carried by Avital and Co., please see our section on Fancy Diamonds.

Avital & Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC), offers many beneficial services such as free jewelry cleaning, free verbal appraisals, free consultations, and many other services.  Click here to learn more and become our customer.

To all of you, from all of us at Avital & Co. - Thank you and Happy Shopping.

 

Avital & Co.

If you can imagine it, we’ll create it since 1957

Diamond Clarity

Diamonds are the result of carbon exposed to extreme pressure and heat deep within the Earth's crust. Consequently, most diamonds have tiny imperfections, which are called inclusions or flaws and blemishes. Clarity of a diamond refers to the absence of inclusions and blemishes within the diamond itself.  Most of these imperfections are not visible to the naked eye.

To judge the clarity of a diamond, gemologist will examine a diamond carefully using a lens with a magnification of 10 x.  The diamond should be loose and not in any type of setting.  They will then judge the clarity of the diamond using five clarity factors: size, number, position, nature, and color or relief.  The clarity grade is assessed based on the most noticeable inclusions, the so-called "grade setting inclusions.”[1]

Once these clarity factors are taken into consideration, gemologists use the following scale to assign the clarity quality of the loose diamond stone:

Diamond Clarity Information

FL

Flawless.  There are no internal or external inclusions or blemishes in the diamond when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x. This is the rarest and most precious diamond there is.

IF

Internally Flawless.  There are no internal inclusions or blemishes but may have some minute irregularities in the external finish of the diamond when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x.

VVS1

Very Very Slightly Included 1.  There are minute imperfections in the diamond that are extremely difficult to see even when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x.

VVS2

Very Very Slightly Included 2.  There are imperfections in the diamond and are extremely difficult to see even when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x.

VS1

Very Slightly Included 1.  There are minute imperfections in the diamond when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x.

VS2

Very Slightly Included 2.  There are imperfections in the diamond when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x.

SI1

Slightly Included 1.  Imperfections are noticeable in the diamond when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x.

SI2

Slightly Included 2.  Imperfections are noticeable in the diamond when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x.

I1

Included 1.  Imperfections in the diamond are noticeable when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x and most likely to the unaided eye.

I2

Included 2.  Imperfections in the diamond are noticeable when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x and most likely to the unaided eye.

I3

Included 3.  Imperfections in the diamond are noticeable when viewed by a gemologist using a lens with a magnification of 10 x and most likely to the unaided eye.

 

Diamond Clarity Explained

 

Here at Avital & Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District located in New York City (NYC), our goal is to sell you the perfect diamond that will fit in your budget.  Therefore, our certified gemologists and specialists will guide you on picking out the perfect diamond for your diamond engagement ring, diamond wedding band, diamond eternity band, diamond necklace, diamond bracelets, diamond pendantsdiamond earrings, or diamond studs.

Avital & Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC), offers many beneficial services such as free jewelry cleaning, free verbal appraisals, free consultations, and many other services.  Click here to learn more and become our customer.

To all of you, from all of us at Avital & Co. - Thank you and Happy Shopping.

 

Avital & Co.

If you can imagine it, we’ll create it since 1957

Diamond Carat Weight

The way gemologist measures a diamond is called a carat.  Carat weight is often confused with the visual size of the diamond even though it is actually a measurement of weight.  This small unit of measurement is equal to 200 milligrams.  When considering the diamond size, Avital & Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC), recommends that you look at two other factors:

  • the diamond's cut grade
  • the distance across the top of the diamond measured in millimeters.

The reason why Avital & Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC), recommends this is because how you will view your diamond is by looking at it from the top.

After the other 4C's have been ascertained, the carat weight of a diamond can be easily established to fit within your budget.  Due to the fact that larger diamonds are more rare, the larger the carat, the more expensive the diamond.  For example, a 1.00ct diamond could cost 4 times more than a 0.50ct diamond.

When cutting a raw diamond, a diamond cutter uses “magic numbers” (as they are known in the industry) or cutoff weights.  The diamond cutoff weights are 0.50 ct., 0.75 ct., 0.90 ct., 1.00 ct., 1.50 ct., and 2.00 ct.

When you purchase your diamond engagement ring or diamond wedding band, the jeweler will refer to the weight of the ring in total carat weightThis phrase represents the complete weight of all of the diamond stones in the ring including the setting and the center stone.  For example, a diamond engagement ring that has a 1.50ct center diamond stone and 0.50ct side stones will have a total carat weight of 2.00ct. Click Diamond Carat Weight Table to see a comparison of the various shapes and cuts of diamonds.  

We here at Avital and Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC), want to stress to you the importance of all of the 4C's when choosing your perfect diamond. What determines the value of your diamond is the combination of the 4C's. After making your appointment, one of our gemologist will help you decided which diamond stone is perfect for you based on these qualifications and on your budget.

Avital & Co., located in the heart of the world famous Diamond District in New York City (NYC), offers many beneficial services such as free jewelry cleaning, free verbal appraisals, free consultations, and many other services.  Click here to learn more and become our customer.


To all of you, from all of us at Avital & Co. - Thank you and Happy Shopping.


[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_clarity