The Quality of a Diamond is Assessed in 4 ways: The 4C’s

Cut: Of all the 4C’s, cut is the one most directly influenced by man. The other three are dictated by nature. Diamonds are cut into a number of shapes, depending on the nature of the rough stone. The cut or make of a diamond will dramatically influence its fire and sparkle, for it is the cutter’s skill that releases its beauty.

Color: Although the majority of gem diamonds appear to be colorless, others can contain increasing tinges of yellow or brown, some of which are referred to as champagne diamonds. It is a totally colorless diamond that allows white light to pass effortlessly and be dispersed as rainbows of colors. Rare stones of exceptional color - green, red, blue, pink or amber - are known as "Fancies".

Clarity: Almost all diamonds contain minute traces of non-crystallized carbon or small non-diamond crystals. Most are not discernible to the naked eye and require magnification to become visible. Called inclusions, they are nature’s fingerprint and make every diamond unique. Minute inclusions neither mar its beauty nor endanger its beauty; however, the fewer there are, the rarer the stone will be.

Carat-Weight: As with all precious stones, the weight - and therefore the size - of a diamond is expressed in carats. The carat originated as a natural unit of weight: the seeds of the carob tree. Diamonds were traditionally weighed against these seeds, however, the system was later standardized and one carat was fixed at 200 milligrams (1/5 of a gram).

One carat is divided into 100 "points" so that a diamond of 25 points is described as a quarter of a carat or 0.25 carats. Size is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond, but two diamonds of equal size can have unequal prices, depending on their quality. And diamonds of high quality can be found in all size ranges.

Interesting Facts About Famous Diamonds

Koh-i-noor: This 105.60 carat oval-shaped diamond is one of the most famous diamonds in the world. Historically, the first mention of it is in India in 1297. It has been said that whoever owned the ‘Koh-i-noor’ ruled the world. It is now among the British Crown Jewels.

The Cullinan: The largest diamond ever found, the Cullinan originally weighed about 1 ½ pounds (over 3,000 carats). It was eventually cut into 9 major stones, two of which are in the British Crown Jewels, and 96 smaller stones.

The Centenary: The 599.10 carat Centenary Diamond was discovered on July 17, 1986. In its rough form it resembled an irregular matchbox. It took a select team of master cutters almost three years to complete its transformation into the 273.85 carat diamond it is today. The Centenary Diamond, which is now the world’s largest top color, flawless, modern cut diamond, was unveiled appropriately at the Tower of London in May 1991.

The Orloff: Legend has it that this stone, which served as the eye of an Indian idol, found its way into the Court of Russia in the 1700’s, where Prince Orloff gave it to his ex-lover, Catherine the Great. This stone is currently held in the Diamond Treasury in Moscow.

Taylor-Burton Diamond: This 69.42 carat pear-shaped diamond was sold at auction in 1969 with the understanding that it could be named by the buyer. Cartier of New York successfully bid for it and immediately christened it "Cartier". However, the next day Richard Burton bought the stone for Elizabeth Taylor, renaming it the "Taylor-Burton". In June 1979, the stone was sold for nearly $3 million and was last reported to be in Saudi Arabia.

The Hope: The Hope Diamond was once owned by Louis XIV. After being stolen during the French Revolution, it turned up in London in 1830 and was bought by the Hope family. While in their possession, the stone acquired its gruesome reputation for bad luck and the entire Hope family died in poverty. It is now in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington and weighs 45.52 carats.

A diamond is forever.

(DeBeers)