What Makes a Perfect Diamond

First things first, no two diamonds are the same. Whether it’s the shape, size or color, every diamond is completely unique.

The value of a diamond is based on a number of different factors; one of the most powerful of those factors is its rarity, which in itself is dependent on various other factors.

Diamond professionals use a specific grading system that’s been around since the 1950s; the 4 C’s; Color, cut, carat weight and clarity.

Color

When it comes to color, the perfect diamond would be completely colorless. Even the slightest tinge of color can dramatically reduce the value and quality of the diamond.

However, it’s not quite that simple. Diamonds with a strong color, such as for example, red diamonds are incredibly rare and therefore have an incredible amount of value. So, when it comes to the ‘perfect’ diamond, one of this level of rarity could qualify.

Cut

Diamonds with a good cut are absolutely dazzling. Why? Because the cut has enabled it to be so. The cut allows every facet and angle of the diamond to interact with the light to the best of its ability.

Getting the correct balance of light and dark is not the easiest task. Diamonds with various proportions and decent polish make better use of the light, and will be bright, colorful, and scintillating.

The three factors that go into the perfect diamond are brightness (the white light reflections), fire (flashes of color) and the balance of light and dark (scintillation).

Carat Weight

A common misconception is the direct correlation of the diamond’s weight to its value as if it was the only factor. However, it is definitely not that simple. It is entirely possible for a small diamond to have a higher value and quality than a large diamond that falls short when it comes to the other three C’s.

That being said, a large diamond is rare and most of the time will be worth more than the value of even four small diamonds.

Moving on from that, the weight of a diamond is incredibly precise; divided into 100 points where one point is one-hundredth of a carat. Fractions of a carat can make an incredible amount of difference to the value of a diamond.

Clarity

In diamonds, there are features called inclusions and surface irregularities. These are more commonly referred to as clarity characteristics, the amount of these characteristics directly correlating with the level of clarity. The fewer the characteristics, the higher the clarity.

Other factors that can affect the clarity are scratches and chips on the surface as well as crystals that get trapped in the diamond when it forms.

There are sub-categories that go into deciding the clarity of a diamond, with flawless being the absolute highest, although these are incredibly rare. Because they’re so rare, it is often best to look out for the next best category; VVS (Very Very Slightly Included) diamonds, if you’d like to know more about these, there’s a handy comprehensive guide to them online: https://www.whiteflash.com/about-diamonds/diamond-education/vvs-diamonds-1600.htm