Diamond Certificates of Authenticity and the 4Cs

Certification of diamond jewelry is vitally important. Putting it scientifically a diamond is a transparent crystal of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms and crystallizes into the face centered cubic diamond lattice structure. However a diamond is much more than this. Many people around the world consider diamonds great treasures. Television ads portray them as the ultimate gift of love. Diamonds are widely used for rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other similar jewelry pieces. Being such an invaluable item it is well worth ensuring that when you buy this treasure of diamond jewelry that you have it properly certified.

When considering the value of diamond jewelry there are the "4 C's" of diamond classification and they stand for cut, color, clarity, and carat. A diamond certificate, also called a diamond grading report, diamond dossier, or diamond quality document, is a report created by a team of gemologists and takes into account these four Cs. The diamond is evaluated, measured, and scrutinized using trained eyes, a jewelers loupe, a microscope, and other industry tools. A completed certificate includes an analysis of the diamond dimensions, clarity, colour, polish, symmetry, and other characteristics

The weight or size of a diamond is measured in carats. This is a highly accurate grading scale used to determine the weight or size of a diamond. The larger the diamond, the more it costs if the other 3 C's also fall in line. Jewelers must take into account the other 3 C's of classification because two diamonds of equal carat can have drastically different prices based on color, clarity and cut.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) classifies low saturation yellow and brown diamonds as diamonds in the normal color range, and applies a grading scale from 'D' (colorless) to 'Z' (light yellow). It is most desirable to find a diamond that is close to the D rating in color. Color grades D through F are naturally the most valuable and expensive because of their rarity. Oddly enough, diamonds graded Z is also rare, and the bright yellow color is highly valued.

The number, size, color, relative location, orientation, and visibility of inclusions can all affect the relative clarity of a diamond. The setting diamonds are placed in also affect the performance of light through a diamond. Clarity is a measure of the number and extent of the flaws in the diamond Generally speaking, the fewer the flaws, the more valuable the diamond. Prior to providing a certificate a jeweller will take all of these factors into account. Completely flawless diamonds are extremely rare -- only a few hundred "FL" diamonds are produced per year worldwide.

When diamonds are cut properly they will enhance any piece of jewelry. " Popular fancy cuts include the baguette (from the French, meaning rod or loaf of bread), marquise, princess cut (square outline), heart, briolette (a form of the rose cut), and pear cuts. When a diamond is cut for too much "fire," it looks like a cubic zirconia, which gives off much more "fire" than real diamond. Sometimes the cutters compromise and accept lesser proportions and symmetry in order to avoid inclusions or to preserve the carat rating. A trained jeweller can pick up these distinctives. Distinctives that can not generally be picked up by the average shopper.

Diamonds are a wonderful acquisition, however they are expensive. The expense does not stop anyone interested in fine jewelry who are willing to pay the money to own the best jewelry available. This should not mean though that a buyer should ignore gaining a certificate indicating the value of diamond jewelry. Reputable internet jewellery sales websites will not hesitate to provide this certification to you.

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