IGI Certified Lab-Grown Diamonds
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IGI Certified Lab-Grown Diamonds
Free Delivery & Returns
Hand Crafted in London Hatton Garden's
0% Interest Payments with Klarna (T&C's apply)
IGI Certified Lab-Grown Diamonds
Free Delivery & Returns
Hand Crafted in London Hatton Garden's
0% Interest Payments with Klarna (T&C's apply)
Here you'll find information on the four C's of diamonds; colour, clarity, cut, and carat. An all-in-one guide to help you select the perfect match for your dream piece of jewellery.
The diamond industry has adopted an alphabetical colour scale ranging from D to Z, with D being the highest grade. As you move down the scale, the diamond begins to exhibit a yellow or brownish tint.
Determining a diamond's colour involves comparing it against a master set of diamonds with different colours. Without direct comparison, distinguishing between a D and a G grade can be challenging.
Completely colourless diamonds, such as those graded D and E, are exceptionally rare, which is why they command a higher price premium. The decision of where to draw the line when selecting a diamond's colour depends on your budget and quality expectations. It's a matter of personal preference and what compromises you're willing to make in terms of colour versus other factors such as size or clarity.
At Clear Diamonds, we understand the importance of colour in diamonds. That's why we've leveraged our extensive network to offer only D to F colour diamonds. With our selection, you can rest assured that your diamond will be free from any unwanted tints or brownish hues, ensuring exceptional brilliance, beauty, and fire!
D is the highest colour grade assigned to a diamond, indicating that the stone is completely colourless or "white". Diamonds graded as D are exceptionally rare and prized for their purity and brilliance, commanding the highest prices in the market. This rarity and desirability make D-grade diamonds highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs alike.
The distinction in colour between a D and an E graded diamond is typically subtle and often only discernible to expert gemmologists using master stones for comparison. Whilst both D and E graded diamonds are considered colourless, an E graded stone may exhibit an extremely tiny hint of colour, though it remains exceptionally close to colourless. Despite this minimal difference in appearance, E graded diamonds are generally priced slightly lower than their D graded counterparts. However, to the untrained eye, the visual disparity between these grades is usually negligible.
The difference in colour between an E and an F graded diamond is typically very subtle and often only discernible to an expert gemmologist using master stones for comparison. Whilst both E and F graded diamonds are still considered near-colourless, an F graded stone may exhibit a slightly warmer tone compared to an E graded diamond. However, this difference is usually minimal and may not be noticeable to the untrained eye. As F grades are at the lower end of the premium colour scale, they are generally priced lower than higher-grade diamonds.
During the natural formation of diamonds deep underground, imperfections in the crystal structure can occur, and mineral impurities may become trapped inside the stone. In the case of lab-grown diamonds, such imperfections can still arise, albeit under controlled conditions.
The size and visibility of these impurities and imperfections determine the clarity grading of a diamond. Diamonds with minimal or no impurities are exceedingly rare and thus highly valued.
The clarity grading scale ranges from Flawless/Internally Flawless (FL/IF), indicating no visible inclusions under 10x magnification, to Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1/VVS2), Very Slightly Included (VS1/VS2), Slightly Included (SI1/SI2), and Included (I1, I2, I3), where inclusions are visible to the naked eye.
At Clear Diamonds, we uphold high standards of quality and craftsmanship. We do not sell diamonds below SI1 clarity grade, as they may not meet our stringent criteria for jewellery suitability. Generally, diamonds below a VS2 grading may have visible inclusions to the naked eye, although this can vary from stone to stone.
Very Very Slightly Included 1 is a high clarity grade indicating that there is only one minor inclusion within the diamond. This inclusion is extremely difficult to detect and is typically only visible under 20x magnification or higher. Diamonds with a VVS1 grade are considered to have excellent clarity and are highly valued for their purity and brilliance.
Very Very Slightly Included 2 is another high clarity grade, indicating that there are minor inclusions within the diamond. These inclusions are small and difficult to detect, typically only visible under 20x magnification or higher. Despite the presence of these minor inclusions, VVS2 diamonds still possess excellent clarity and are highly valued for their purity and brilliance.
Very Slightly Included 1 is a clarity grade indicating that there are several inclusions within the diamond. These inclusions are visible under 10x magnification but are typically not visible to the naked eye. Despite the presence of these inclusions, the diamond appears clean and free of imperfections when viewed without magnification. VS1 diamonds are considered to have very good clarity and are popular choices for engagement rings and other jewellery pieces.
Very Slightly Included 2 is a clarity grade indicating that there are several groups of inclusions within the diamond. These inclusions are visible under 10x magnification but may be difficult to see with the naked eye. However, a small percentage of VS2 diamonds may have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye, depending on the size and location of the inclusions. Despite this, VS2 diamonds are still considered to have good clarity and are often chosen for their balance of quality and value.
Slightly Included 1 is a clarity grade indicating that approximately 50% of diamonds in this category have no visible inclusions to the naked eye. However, it's crucial to note that the remaining 50% may have inclusions that are visible without magnification. Therefore, when selecting an SI1 diamond, it's important to ensure that the diamond is "eye clean," meaning that any inclusions present are not visible to the naked eye. Paying attention to the specific characteristics and location of the inclusions can help ensure that the diamond appears clean and free of imperfections when viewed without magnification.
The diamond cut is often misunderstood as referring to the diamond's shape, but it actually pertains to how well the diamond reflects light, which determines its sparkle. Cut encompasses three main aspects: Brightness (white light reflecting from the top surface), Fire (dispersion of coloured light), and Scintillation (flashes of light and sparkle).
Cut grades typically range from Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, to Poor. These grades consider various attributes of the diamond that may not be visible or measurable to the untrained eye. An excellent cut grade indicates the best light performance, largely influenced by the diamond's surface table and depth (neither too deep nor too shallow).
At Clear Diamonds, we provide only excellent cut grades based on equivalent parameters.
Diamonds are weighed in carats, which is a unit of measurement specifically used for gemstones. This should not be confused with "karat", which is used to denote the purity of gold.
In the diamond industry, one carat is equal to 0.2 grams. Therefore, a 0.50 carat diamond weighs 0.1 gram, and a 5-carat diamond weighs 1 gram.
When it comes to diamond size, as the carat weight increases, so does the physical size of the diamond. However, it's important to note that this relationship is not linear; instead, it follows a curve. Therefore, a 2.0-carat diamond will not appear to be twice as large as a 1.0-carat diamond. The increase in size is proportional to the increase in carat weight, but it's not a direct correlation.
While carat weight is a key factor in determining a diamond's size, the shape and cut of the stone also significantly influence its perceived size. Different diamond shapes can create optical illusions that make them appear larger or smaller than their actual carat weight suggests.
For example, an elongated shape like the Marquise cut or oval cut tends to have a larger surface area compared to a rounded shape like the Round Brilliant cut of the same carat weight. This increased surface area can make the diamond appear larger when viewed from the top.
Conversely, certain diamond shapes with deeper cuts or smaller table sizes may appear smaller than their carat weight suggests because more of the diamond's weight is distributed towards its depth rather than its width.
Therefore, when choosing a diamond, it's important to consider not only the carat weight but also the shape and cut to ensure that you find the perfect balance of size and appearance for your preferences.
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