What Determines Diamond Ratings?
Diamonds are something everyone would like to buy if they could afford them. While it is true that diamonds are normally synonymous with luxurious high-end shopping, you need not despair if you are not super rich and still want to possess a diamond. There are diamonds that are indeed priceless and there are diamonds which are relatively affordable. The price of the diamond mostly depends upon its ratings.
What Are Diamond Ratings?
Diamond ratings are the indicators that describe the quality of your diamond. You must have heard of the four C's which represent the clarity, color, carat and cut of the diamond. These diamond ratings would tell you how pure and valuable the diamond is.
Clarity Of The Diamond
The clarity of the diamond is judged by the amount of impurities it has trapped inside it. It is rare to find a totally flawless diamond and it is needless to say that such a diamond would be extremely costly. This diamond is rated as FL or flawless.
Most of the impurities are not visible to the naked eyes therefore you could buy a very impressive looking diamond even if it is not perfectly flawless. Some diamonds are flawless inside but have some tiny blemishes outside. Once again, these blemishes are not normally visible to the naked eye but require a powerful magnifying glass to see. These diamonds are rated as IF or internally flawless.
Color Of The Diamond
The color of the diamond is yet another important indicator of the grade and value of the diamond. The most expensive diamond is colorless, which is very rare. The color of the diamond is in fact caused by impurities and therefore the more colorful they are, the less valuable they are.
Carat Of The Diamond
Carat here means weight of the diamond, which also signifies its size. Therefore, the larger the diamond would be the higher price tag it would have. Of course, the other properties have their influence as well, but this is one of the most obvious of all.
Cut Of The Diamond
Most people think that "cut" indicates the shape of the diamond. In realty the cut refers to the way its facets have been shaped, which influences its brilliance and shine. The more complex is the cut, the more expensive would your diamond be.
Some Common Diamond Ratings
Based on the above indicators some popular diamond ratings are FL for flawless, IF for internally flawless, VVS1, VVS2, VVS3 for very, very slightly imperfect (where the higher number is more imperfect), VS1, VS2, VS3 for very slightly imperfect and I-1, I-2, I-3 for imperfect diamonds.
