How Much Does a Diamond Cost?
The cost of a diamond is directly related to the natural elements of the diamond. Each diamond is unique; therefore, it has its own value according to its unique characteristics. The valuation upon those characteristics is known as "the four Cs." These characteristics determine the cost and the value of the diamond and the jewelry it is used in. A perfect, large diamond is rare and exorbitantly expensive.
Cut: This refers to the shape of the diamond. The standard is round while all others are considered fancy cut diamonds. The fancy cuts are emerald, marquis, oval, baguette, pear, cushion, radiant, heart and briolette. The round diamond cutting allows for use of most of the diamond. The remaining cuts require removing more of the natural diamond. For that reason, the fancy cuts are more expensive than the round cut diamond.
Clarity: Clarity refers to naturally occurring imperfections in the diamond. These are inclusions, and they occur when the diamond was formed millions of years ago. These negatively affect the ability of light to pass through the diamond and therefore, they decrease its value. Diamonds with poor clarity look dull and this decreases value. Diamonds with inclusions that are visible to the naked eye are worth much less.
Color: Many people do not know that diamonds occur in almost every color. Most diamonds sold in jewelry stores are white diamonds. White diamonds can vary, though. They can contain hues of yellow or brown to hues of gray. The scale for grading white diamonds starts with colorless, which is perfect, to very light yellow or brown. The most valuable color grade for white diamonds is colorless.
Carat Weight: This represents the weight of the diamond, which relates to the size. Tiny diamonds are commonly only serve as accent stones since they are hard to see. The larger the diamond the higher its value is. Common carat weights for engagement rings are one-quarter, one-third, one-half and one carat. These measurements can cause a jump in value as they increase. If comparing two diamonds that are equal in the other four Cs, the larger diamond is worth more.