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Color

Diamonds are found in nature in a wide range of colors from white or colorless
(the most desirable) to yellow or brown. The most important thing to know about
color when it comes to diamonds is the less color a diamond has, the more
valuable it is. These colors are the result of natural forces. The yellow and blue
colors are considered fancy color diamonds. The color grading system for
diamonds uses the letters of the alphabet from D through Z, with "D" being the
most colorless and therefore the rarest and most valuable, and "Z" having the
least color within the normal range, and being the least valuable. Color variations
dramatically can increase or decrease the value of the diamond, thus the
GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has established a color-grading chart:

  D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S - Z
  Colorless Near Colorless Faint Yellow Very Light Yellow Fancy, Blue,
Bright Yellow
or Pink
       
Clarity        
Clarity is defined as the inclusions indicated in intervals that occur within a stone.
Inclusions (imperfections) in a stone is considered its birthmark. This is what
makes that stone unique. The imperfections may or may not be seen with the
naked eye. The grading of the stone is done on a 10x magnifying loupe.
Inclusions may look like black spots, feathers or clouds.
         
Grading Scale        
FL Flawless Clear stone, no flaws
IF Internally Flawless Inclusions can not be seen by expert
under 10x loupe
WS1-WS2 Very, Very Slight Included Minute inclusions and are difficult to
see with 10x loupe
SI1 Slight Inclusions Inclusions can be seen under 10x loupe,
eye
SI2 Slight Inclusions Inclusions are seen under 10x loupe
I1 Included Inclusions can be seen without
10x loupe
I2 Included More noticeable inclusions than I1
I3 Included Inclusions are very noticeable to the
naked eye
   
Carat Weight    
Carat weight is very easily explained. The carat is divided up into 100 points, thus
a 50 point diamond would be considered a 1/2 carat and a 25 point diamond would
be considered 1/4 carat. The thing to remember is that two diamonds of equal size
can have very different values, because of Cut, Clarity and Color.
       

View Diamond Gemstone Cut Shape Chart

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