Certified Loose Diamonds: How They Are Evaluated (Jack smithTerry)

For those of us who are just getting familiar with the way that gemstones and their evaluation processes work, the certification process can seem very complex and overwhelming. This article will simplify the basic steps of the certification process unique to diamond gemstones, especially certified loose diamonds.

The 4 Cs are graded on a scales. Color, clarity, carat weight and cut are all contributing factors to the general value of a diamond or any other gemstone. Specifically, when it comes to a diamond, color becomes a very important issue. One of the most distinguishing characteristics between a diamond and cubic zirconia, for example, is color. Diamonds are very rarely colorless and often contain traces of brown or yellow upon close examination. The amount of color and the richness of the tints will affect the price, for better or for worse, and can be chemically treated to enhance or remove certain tints.

The clarity spectrum ranks the amount of imperfections, blemishes, inclusions and scratches, their severity and also how hard they are to see by a trained professional as opposed to an everyday person who might encounter the diamond. Trained jewelers and gemologists look at jewelry much closer than customers do. The intensity through which they look at the gemstones is just about second nature, so it makes sense that the ranking system includes it. The ranks marked on this spectrum will also be a part of what makes the diamond affordable or not, factoring heavily into how high of quality the piece is.

Cut doesn't really refer to the shape, but more about what contributes to the shape - the faceting and proportioning of a gemstone in order to show off its brilliance best. There are many kinds of cuts available, and the execution of said cuts will be a contributing factor in what mark the gemologist gives the stone. Lastly, carat weight is the way that we measure mass, at least when it comes to diamonds. The bigger a diamond is, the higher the carat weight. The more weight a diamond has to it, the more it's worth. Weight is a huge factor in the price, as is size, and they go hand in hand.

Loose diamond certification takes place at any one of several international labs that examine the diamonds underneath extremely high powered magnification, allowing trained professional gemologists to get a really good look at the inclusions, scratches and blemishes on the diamond itself. Even the smallest traces of imperfections will be marked down and graded on one of the many scales used to evaluate the overall quality of the diamond.

Jack Terry is a well-known writer who writes extensively about engagement rings and loose diamonds. For more information about Certified Diamonds Placentia CA.