Diamonds

CARAT

Carat is the most widely known of the 4 Cs and refers to a diamond’s weight. If you’re new to diamond buying, you’re probably thinking about carats and keen to get as high a carat as possible. Of course, large diamonds tend to weigh more so have a higher carat, but it’s a common misconception to think that carat refers to size. A very high carat diamond will be exceptionally valuable as it’s so rare. Our advice is always to look for a happy balance among the 4Cs rather then get too drawn in by carat weight.

At Alicia J, we will always show you a selection of different carat diamonds once we’ve discussed what you’re looking for and what piece of jewellery you’re thinking of creating with us. Our job is to guide you through all the different aspects of diamonds, including shape and style as well as the 4Cs.

CLARITY

Another of the four key ways we measure diamonds is by their clarity – literally how clear they are. So, if there are any faults – known as blemishes if they’re on the surface, or inclusions if they’re within the stone – these affect the value of the diamond. Having said that, many inclusions and blemishes are almost impossible to spot with the naked eye. They are measured at 10x magnification by a skilled grader to earn their rating.

The most perfect clarity for a diamond is the Flawless rating – but even if you add up the Flawless diamonds with those in the next category down, Internally Flawless, this makes up only half a percent of all the diamonds in the world – they’re extremely rare and very valuable. Our job is to advise you on the best clarity within your budget, while concentrating on a balance of the 4Cs to get the most beautiful and best value diamond for you.

COLOUR

This is often the least well known of the 4Cs – because we tend to assume that diamonds are clear and not coloured. However, these sparkling little gems hold secret tints, including subtle yellows and pinks. The most truly colourless diamonds are known as white diamonds and are the most valuable.

So, one of the grading systems of diamonds is an expert look at its colour. There are also other aspects of a diamond which will influence how we perceive its colour, from the metal its paired with to what diamond shape you choose. We often advise choosing a higher colour grade (our diamonds are graded by the GIA) if you are picking particular shapes including oval or pear, as the clear brilliance shines out with these shapes, and colour impairments can be more visible.