Diamond education
4C s of diamonds
A diamond truly is a unique gemstone. The word diamond comes from the Greek word Adamas which means unconquerable. Nothing compares to the hardness of a loose diamond. The diamond is the king of gemstones because of its rareness, optical qualities, and hardness. Makhafola Minerals sells only natural, certified loose diamonds that meet strict quality standards.
We even reject diamonds that other online dealers may sell because we want you to be sure that you have a quality gemstone with impeccable quality. We never sell enhanced/syntactic diamonds, only natural stones.
That is how we can ensure your total satisfaction. We can help you find the right diamond that will provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Your appreciation of diamonds will come from your understanding of the 4 Cs known as Cut, Clarity, Colour, and Carat-weight.
Cut
Diamond cut of the 4 Cs, the diamond's cut is an essential factor in determining its brilliance and beauty. There are many shapes that diamonds are cut. But a diamond cut refers to how well proportioned the diamond has been transformed into its form. A diamond's profile can be round, oval, pear, heart, marquise, emerald, or princess. When speaking of a diamond's' cut grade,' we refer to its proportions, symmetry, and polish. Ideally, the cut of the diamond is done to reflect best the light that shines into it. This is what produces the sparkle and fire we see in a beautifully cut diamond.
When a diamond gemologist says "cut," that's a reference to how well the diamond is cut to enhance its reflective qualities; it refers to how well proportioned the diamond is. An ideal cut reflects the light up, giving a diamond its brilliance.
GIA grading reports show depth % and table % ratios as compared to the width of the diamond. A good table cut should be 53-64%, and a good depth cut is 58-64%. If the diamond is cut too heavy or too shallow, most of the light entering into the crown is released through t pavilion's bottom, resulting in an overall dull appearance. On the other hand, an ideal cut diamond returns most of the light that enters it back through the crown, giving it a very pleasing sparkle effect.
Colour
Grading color begins with D, E, F (colorless), G, H, I, J (near colorless) then on through L, M, N and continues to Z. When jewelers or gemologists refer to color, they mean the presence or absence of color in a diamond. Color is a result of the diamond's composition, and under normal conditions, this never changes over time. A colorless diamond is like a clear window: it allows more light to pass through it than a colored diamond. Colorless and near-colorless diamonds emit more sparkle and fire. The formation process of a diamond ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colorless. Thus the whiter a diamond's color, the greater its value.
| # | Colour | Diamond color description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | The highest color grade and the diamond are colorless. |
| 2 | E | Colorless |
| 3 | F | Colorless |
| 4 | G-H | Near colorless |
| 5 | I-J | Near colorless |
| 6 | K-M | Faint yellow |
| 7 | N-Z | Light yellow to yellow |
Clarity
Most diamonds contain inner flaws or inclusions that occur naturally. They are part of Mother Nature's imperfection. It used to be one way to tell if a diamond was real. These flaws give a diamond its distinctive beauty and make each stone unique. They are identifiable, much like fingerprints – no two diamonds are alike. The visibility, number, and size of these inclusions determine what is called clarity.
- IF – Internally Flawless – Perfect clarity - no inclusions whatsoever.
- VVS – Very Very Slight Inclusions - Tiny microscopic pinpoints of inclusions. Only visible under the microscope & nearly invisible under 10x powered loupe
- VS– Very Slight Inclusions – Just barely visible pinpoints of inclusions. Visible with 10x powered loupe, almost always invisible to the naked eye
- SI – Slightly Included - Visible with 10X powered loupe, and most are not visible to the naked eye.
- I - Included – inclusions are from barely visible to very visible to the naked eye.
| # | Rating | Diamond POLISH Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excellent | Clean diamond surface – no polish abrasions visible at 10x magnification |
| 2 | Very Good | Mostly clean diamond surface – polish abrasions are extremely difficult to find at 10x magnification. |
| 3 | Good | The polish abrasions are difficult to find at 10x magnification. |
| 4 | Fair | The polish abrasions are noticeable at 10x magnification and might be visible with the naked eye. |
| 5 | Poor | Polish abrasions are visible with the naked eye. This rating will impact the quality of the stone. |
Diamonds with a rating of Excellent or Very Goodwill do not affect the diamond's appearance or value. Makhafola Minerals is dedicated to providing quality certified diamonds to our customers, and therefore we do not sell any diamonds with a polish rating of Fair or Poor. Our standards are higher for your protection.
Diamond Fluorescence
Fluorescence is the effect of a diamond to give off light when exposed to ultraviolet light. Some diamonds give off light when exposed to ultraviolet light, and some do not. Under normal lighting conditions, this effect is not discernible to the eye. There is still some controversy over whether fluorescence is beneficial or detrimental to a diamond's value. In some cases, depending on the clarity and color of a diamond, fluorescence will make the diamond appear whiter.
Carat Weight
Carat refers to how much a diamond weighs. According to many sources, the term carat comes from the Greek word meaning "fruit of the carob tree." In ancient times, the carob pod seeds were used as standards for weight measurements since the size of their sources was almost always identical. It provided a natural standard of measurement.
In 1907, at the 4th General Conference on Weights and Measures, it was agreed that a modern diamond carat should equal precisely 200 milligrams. It is technically known as a metric carat. It's the standard diamond weight that is used universally today. Also, 1 carat is equal to 100 points. A one-point diamond is slightly larger than a period at the end of a typed sentence. A 1.50 Carat (Ct.) diamond is 150 points.