How the Quality of Diamonds Is Measured

Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on earth, and are desired by people all over the world. Monsoon rains first brought diamonds to the coasts of India. Those who found them thought they were hardened lightning. They are measured in various ways, and their measurements determine the price.

Dealers are trained to efficiently and accurately determine their quality. Putting the standards into language everyday people could understand proved to be a challenge in the past. Not until the Gemological Institute of America came up with a new scale that is now used around the world was it made easier.

There are several factors to determine a stone's quality and value. These are the clarity, the color, the cut, and the carat weight. Clarity is determined by the size and number of blemishes that occurred when the stone was being formed by pressure. When clarity is measured, it is measured from pure to heavily included. It is measured under very good lighting with 10 times magnification.

Another thing that determines the price and quality of the stone is the carat weight. The word "carat" comes from the word carob -- gems were once measured against carob seeds. A carat is divided by 100 points and the total weight is how many points it has.

The best diamonds have no color and should appear as pure as a bottle of spring water. It is measured from no color to deeply colored. If it has any color, it is then graded according to the color of grading stones. The best way to do this is by the human eye.

Not only do clarity, color, and carat weight matter, but the cut matters, too. This tells you how beautiful the gemstone will be and is partly a result of nature and the jeweler who cuts it. When you look at several different gems, it is the cut that often causes one to stand out above another, as it may sparkle more than others of the same style. The cut is often forgotten, but it is one of the most important parts of the whole buying experience. The lower on the chart the stone is, the better cut it is. A good diamond will not be cheap, so you should expect to pay more for the best ones.

When you are looking to buy a diamond, you should by one that is the best in color and clarity in the price range that you can afford. Unless you are looking to resell your gemstone, the numbers don't really matter and if it is for an engagement ring, it will look great to its recipient.