J&C Martin - Diamonds


	Also See: Conflict Free Diamonds, Engagement Rings

	The Four C's Diamonds are graded by four characteristics: carat, clarity, cut, and colour. These properties determine the value of a diamond. Carat A carat is a unit of weight, there are 5 carats to 1 gram. There are 100 points to a carat (a 50 point diamond is half a carat). People refer to a diamonds size by its carat weight, but a 90 point diamond may have a bigger diameter than a 1 carat stone depending on the cut proportions. Clarity How clear is the stone? Clarity ranges from flawless to included. A good Si diamond is flawless to the naked eye, where a flawless diamond is perfect when viewed under strong magnification.

	Colour Diamond colours generally range from D - X for white and yellow diamonds. D is colourless and around S they become "Fancy" yellow Diamonds.

	Cut The cut refers to the proportions of a diamond, when cut correctly the diamond will sparkle more. Cut also refers to the shape such as: round, princess, marquise, pear, and oval.

Certificate
For diamonds of half a carat or more we usually recommend a certificated stone. It offers the customer an independent report on the diamond, and with larger stones does increase the value of the diamond.

For information on the Shepherd Market area visit ShepherdMarket.co.uk