THE 4 C'S - WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER?
A diamond consists of the element carbon crystallised under high pressure. It is harder than any other natural material, and each diamond is unique in its properties. With the right cut, it reflects light in an unrivalled way, and for many it has become a symbol of love and engagement.
In the guide below, we describe the different characteristics of diamonds, the four Cs, and how we consider these when selecting our diamonds at Gold of Sweden. Of course, what you consider most important may vary from person to person, but we believe that you should prioritise them in the following order to get the best possible diamond for your budget:
Cut
We believe that the most important characteristic of a diamond is its cut, which determines how much light it reflects and therefore how much it sparkles. With the right cut, a diamond also appears larger than a stone of the same carat weight with a poorer cut.
A diamond's cut is graded on a five-point scale: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. The brilliant-cut diamonds we offer as standard for Gold of Sweden rings always have an Excellent cut, which is the highest grade. For other diamond shapes, such as princess, oval or emerald, the GIA does not currently have a system for grading the cut. For these diamonds, you should therefore refer to the assessment of polish and symmetry, and for Gold of Sweden's standard diamonds, these parameters are always at least Very Good.
Carat
This is probably the characteristic that most people think of first and feel most familiar with. Carat is a measure of a diamond's weight, where 1.00 carat equals 0.2 grams, and therefore not necessarily its size. Depending on how the diamond has been cut, it can appear to be different sizes even though it has the same carat weight.
When it comes to carats, it is worth bearing in mind that you can often save money by choosing a stone that is just below the even carat weights. You cannot see the difference between a stone that is 0.99 carats and 1.00 carats with the naked eye, but the price can vary significantly because there is high demand for stones with even weights. Ask us if you want to know more or would like a price quote!
Clarity
A diamond's clarity describes how pure it is, i.e. how many and how large inclusions it has. It is important to remember that inclusions are not the same as flaws, but rather a natural variation in the characteristics of diamonds that makes each stone unique. A diamond's clarity is assessed according to the following scale:
FL/IV - (Flawless/Internally Flawless) - Completely free from inclusions.
VVS1/VVS2 - (Very Very Slightly Included) - Very, very small inclusions, difficult to see even under 10x magnification.
VS1/VS2 - (Very Slightly Included) - Very small inclusions, visible under 10x magnification but very rarely to the naked eye.
SI1/SI2 - (Slightly Included) - Small inclusions, in some cases visible to the naked eye.
I1/I2 - (Inclusions) - Inclusions that are usually visible to the naked eye.
When it comes to clarity, we believe that the most important thing is that the diamond appears ‘eye clean’, i.e. looks clean to the naked eye. We have chosen to use natural diamonds with SI1 clarity as our standard option, and because we are careful to select stones that are eye clean, we believe that this allows you to get the most out of your budget. Our lab-grown diamonds come with a minimum clarity of VS1. Of course, we are happy to help you find a diamond with a different grade if you wish!
Colour
Most people want a diamond that is as colourless as possible, but that does not necessarily mean that choosing a stone with a warmer colour is wrong. This is really a matter of taste and not the quality of the diamond. The reason colourless diamonds are valued more highly is simply because they are rarer. When it comes to the colour of diamonds, there is an international classification system that grades the colour from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow/brown). In the Nordic countries, however, a different system is used, ranging from River (colourless) to Yellow. At Gold of Sweden, we have chosen to use the international designations. Our natural diamonds have a standard colour of H, which corresponds to the Nordic Wesselton grading. Our lab-grown diamonds have a minimum colour of F, which corresponds to Top Wesselton.
Our diamonds
At Gold of Sweden, we have extensive experience with diamonds and are accustomed to viewing and assessing different stones. Thanks to our long history in the industry and a stable network of suppliers, we are able to hand-pick the stones that we believe offer the best value for money. Our diamonds are guaranteed conflict-free and we only work with suppliers who comply with the Kimberley Process, a certification system that prohibits the trade of diamonds from conflict regions. We also offer lab-grown diamonds. Read more about this here.
All our round diamonds from 0.30 carats and above come with a certificate attesting to their authenticity. For shapes other than round, diamonds come with a certificate from 0.50 carats and above. This applies to both natural and lab-grown diamonds.
Our natural diamonds are certified by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), which is the most highly regarded institute in the market, and a certificate from them certifies that the diamond has been checked by an international independent party. The certificate contains a complete analysis of the diamond's measurements, proportions, colour, cut and other characteristics, which provides security for you as a buyer. There are a number of different institutes on the market that issue certificates, and they do not always assess diamonds in the same way. We have chosen to work with GIA because they are considered to set the highest standards and be the most consistent in their assessments. Our lab-grown diamonds come with a certificate from the IGI (International Gemological Institute), which is the certification body with the most experience in certifying lab-grown stones.
If you would like us to help you find a diamond that meets your specific criteria, please use our form. We will always respond within 48 hours with suggestions and price information.
