Engagement rings - using the four C's to select the perfect one

You have probably heard of the \"three Rs\" in school, but have you heard of the \"four Cs\"? If you need to buy an engagement ring, then you should become familiar with them. While diamonds remain some of the most attractive gemstones on planet Earth, the majority of them never become available to consumers. Why is that? Most diamonds contain too many imperfections, so companies use them for various industrial applications. However, other diamonds become part of various types of jewelry, such as engagement rings. Here are the \"four Cs\" that professionals use to evaluate such diamonds:

1. Carat

\"Carat\" refers to how heavy a diamond is. A single carat is equivalent to approximately 200 milligrams. However, you should consider that a diamond\'s weight is not synonymous with its dimensions. For instance, certain cuts in diamonds can allow you to view a larger surface area of the gemstone. This creates the illusion that the diamond is larger than another diamond with the same shape and carats.

2. Clarity

This particular term indicates the dimensions of a diamond\'s \"inclusions\" or flaws. The range of clarity of a diamond can vary from \"Flawless,\" to \"Very Very Slight (VVS),\" to \"Very Slight (VS),\" to \"Slightly Included (SI).\"

3. Color

Ironically, this term can actually refer to how much color is absent in clear diamonds. The scope of the scale is from \"D to Z.\" The clearest diamond on the scale is Icy White, while the most \"colorful\" scale is the light yellow diamond. Icy White diamonds are the most expensive clear diamonds.

4. Cut

As the term suggests, it indicates how someone has cut the diamond. It is related to the geometry of the diamond. Here is how the process works. When someone cuts the diamonds, they form \"facets\" in the gemstones. This creates the final shape of the diamond. The quantity of facets in the diamond influences the diamond\'s \"fire\" or sparkle. Common shapes of diamonds include:

• Emerald

• Heart

• Marquise

• Oval

• Pear

• Princess

• Round

The round shape is the most popular one, due primarily to the extreme brilliance it can create.

Finally, diamonds also have other characteristics that are unique among gemstones. These include dispersion of light, luster, and transparency. The \"dispersion of light\" is related to refraction within the diamond. Refraction involves the bending of light as it strike\'s the surface of the diamond. Secondly, the \"luster\" of a diamond refers to the external bouncing of light between the various facets of the diamond. Lastly, diamonds that only contain carbon are totally transparent. However, other diamonds contain elements in addition to carbon. This causes the diamonds to have colors such as pink, red, blue, green, violet, and black.

When selecting an engagement ring with diamonds, it is important to know the \"four Cs.\" While not every diamond is perfect, you can determine exactly how perfect one is. Have a trained professional use the \"four Cs\" scale, to determine the grade the diamond gets.

You have probably heard of the \"three Rs\" in school, but have you heard of the \"four Cs\"? If you need to buy an engagement ring, then you should become familiar with them.