Defining two of the four C’s…
The four C's in the diamond world are carat, cut, color and clarity. These features asses diamond quality. However, people often confuse color with clarity and what these characteristics truly mean. We’re here to explain the differences between these two attributes and what to look for when choosing the perfect gemstone for your jewelry.
Clarity
Clarity has everything to do with imperfections and flaws. The higher the clarity, the less visible flaws the diamond will have. Experts grade diamond flaws by what can be seen with the naked eye and also upon closer inspection with microscope magnification. The stone can contain these flaws internally (known as inclusions), or externally (known as blemishes) on the surface. When a stone has lower clarity, these imperfections may show up as small black spots or lines.
Color
Higher quality diamonds are colorless. Therefore, diamond color grade measures a diamond’s quality by how much or how little color it possesses. For instance,
the top color grade a diamond can receive is D. This grade classifies the diamond
as completely colorless. As you move down the color grade scale, the more it will appear to have a yellow tint.
Similar to clarity however, only a professional or magnification can detect differences between certain color grades. Oftentimes, diamond grades are grouped together because of how similar they appear to the naked eye in color difference. For example, D-F Color Diamonds are classified as colorless, G-J Color Diamonds are near colorless, and K and below have faint color.
Color vs. Clarity
Now that you know the difference between color and clarity, which is more important when shopping for jewelry? Although both characteristics attribute to diamond quality, color comes off as more detectable overall, making it more important when choosing a stone. This is especially apparent in a platinum or white gold setting where the light hue of the metal will contrast much more with a faint color diamond.
By comparison, the majority of diamond blemishes and inclusions won’t be visible to an untrained or naked eye. Additionally, these imperfections can be found in any number of combinations, making it possible to find a lower clarity diamond with blemishes in places that are unnoticeable.
Albert always ensures to inform and educate his clients about the jewelry he makes so there are no questions when it comes to great quality that fits the budget at hand. Rest assured he has a well trained eye to find the perfect diamond with all of the qualities you desire.
