Every diamond is unique. What begins as just a lump of coal can be crystallised over time from intense heat and pressure, to form a perfectly unique diamond. When it comes to purchasing a diamond ring for yourself or for a loved one you may have the common notion stuck in your head of “the bigger, the better”. For diamonds, however, size isn’t everything.

One of the most luxurious stones in the world, diamonds can be judged much more accurately by the 4 C’s: cut, colour, clarity and carat. This universal standard for diamonds was introduced by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the world’s leading diamond graders. So, when designing a unique diamond ring, consider the 4 C’s over size alone.

Colour:

The colour of a diamond is graded from D – Z, which measures the degree of colourlessness. A chemically pure diamond will have no colour hue whatsoever and will be of higher value. D graded diamonds have the highest absence of colour and diamonds further down the scale will be a more yellow-brown colour.

Clarity:

As diamonds form, they are subject to intense heat and pressure. During this process, a variety of inclusions and blemishes can occur. The inclusions and blemishes are evaluated to determine how the position and size of these characteristics affect the overall clarity of the diamond.

Cut:

The term ‘cut’ measures how a diamond reacts with light and how much it sparkles. This is determined by how well the diamond has been cut, and the size of its facets.

Carat:

One ‘carat’ of weight is 200 milligrams. Heavier diamonds are much rarer and in-demand, so the higher the carat weight, the higher the price of the diamond. However, even if a diamond is large and has a high carat weight, its value will be considered with the other criteria above.

When purchasing a diamond for yourself or for a loved one, it is important not to become too focused on the size of the diamond and completely forget about the other diamond characteristics. Show the special person in your life how much you care by picking a diamond based on all of the 4 C’s and create a bespoke, one-of-kind diamond ring that no one else in the world will have.

Contact Roseanna Croft Jewellery today for more information, or visit our store for jewellery design services Derbyshire residents will love.