The value of a diamond is not judged by a single factor.  Just like a fingerprint or snowflake, no two diamonds are exactly alike – each has its own unique characteristics.  Jewelers use the combination of the 4 Cs – cut, color, clarity and carat weight –to determine the quality of each individual stone.

Cut

Cut is the most important factor in determining a diamond’s beauty and value.  Cut does not refer to the shape of the diamond but how the diamond refracts light. To make a diamond reflect light properly, facets are cut to exacting proportions to return the most brilliance or fire through the top of the diamond. The most popular shape is the round brilliant cut.  There are many other cuts, including marquise, oval, pear, emerald, radiant and princess. Whatever the shape you choose, the experts at Bill’s Jewelry will guide you in the selection of a stone that sparkles with every movement.

Color

The color of a diamond or, more accurately, its lack of color, is the second major factor in determining its value. The very finest diamonds are virtually colorless but most diamonds have at least a hint of yellow. The color grading scale ranges from colorless to light yellow to brown and grades get broader as they go down the scale. The differences between two adjacent grades are very subtle, so experts use master stones of known color to judge color grade. To show the range from the rarest, colorless diamonds, to those with varying degrees of yellow , the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) uses the a grading system with a scale from “D” (colorless) to “Z” (yellow). When buying a diamond from Bill’s Jewelry, you will be educated on the importance of color. Our staff will show you stones in the upper spectrum of the color scale and compare them to lower colors so you will understand why the value is affected.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is another major factor in determining its ultimate value. Diamonds, like all products of nature, contain at least some tiny flaws, known as "inclusions." A truly flawless diamond, with no inclusions whatsoever, is very rare and extremely valuable. The clarity grading scale ranges from flawless to imperfect and grades get broader towards the lower end of the scale. Bill’s Jewelry uses the GIA grading system and you will always be assured that the diamond you select is graded properly.

Carat Weight

Although carat weight is a factor, it isn’t the most important criteria in determining the value of the diamond. A superbly cut diamond with near flawless clarity and little color will be far more valuable than a larger carat stone that lacks these other important factors. Come to Bill’s Jewelry in Grinnell, Iowa and learn the importance of the four C's.