The 4 Cs are a universally recognised method for assessing the quality of any type of diamond, anywhere in the world. The same rules apply whether the diamond is mined, or like ours, grown in a lab.
The clarity of a diamond references how clear the stone is. The clearer it is, the higher grade it possesses. Determining diamond clarity involves evaluating the number, size, relief, nature and position of these characteristics, as well as how these affect the overall appearance. The diamond’s growth process can result in internal characteristics called ‘inclusions’ and external ones called ‘blemishes’.
This is not to be confused with the colour of the diamond. The evaluation of colour, is actually based on the absence of colour. A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue - just like a drop of clean water. This makes its value higher. The colour can be graded under precise viewing conditions, following a measuring system of D-Z. The highest being D. At Kimai, we focus on stones with a colour grading above H.
The Carat weight is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs. A ‘carat’ is the equivalent of 200mgs. And each carat can be subdivided into 100 ‘points’, which allows very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. The price of a diamond is directly affected by carat weight.
When we think of a cut, we tend to think of the classic diamond shapes (round, princess, pear, etc.) But the quality of the cut is crucial to the diamond’s final beauty and the cut grade is really about how well the stone’s facets interact with light. Precise workmanship is required to prepare a diamond, so its proportions, symmetry and polish, deliver to the brilliant reflection of light.