Treasure of Time How GIA Grades Your Diamond Wonder of Nature GIA has been entrusted with grading some of the GIA 4Cs of Every diamond is unique. Each reflects world’s most famous diamonds, and brings the There is no other gemstone quite like same unmatched expertise to grading yours. the story of its arduous journey from Diamond Quality a diamond. It is found in the most Independent and nonprofit, GIA is considered deep inside the earth to a cherished the final word on a diamond’s authenticity remote places on earth, and the object of adornment. Yet all diamonds and quality. GIA developed the 4Cs and the fact that it forms at all is something International Diamond Grading System™, the share certain features that allow of a miracle. It takes about one ton standard used around the globe. of rock to recover less than half a us to compare and evaluate them. GIA screens every gemstone to identify These features are called the 4Cs. synthetics, simulants and known treatments. carat of rough, making diamond Expert gemologists examine each diamond under one of the rarest and most desired controlled lighting and viewing conditions, in order to provide the most rigorous assessments gemstones in the world. A diamond of a diamond’s 4Cs. is a testament of endurance and Every GIA grading strength – and not surprisingly, report contains these the ultimate symbol of love. assessments along with additional descriptive information and state-of- the-art security features. Buying a diamond is a momentous decision. GIA reports let you make it with confidence.
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COPYRIGHT ©2015 GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FC0815EN GIA 4Cs Color Clarity Cut Carat Weight The GIA Color Scale extends from The GIA Clarity Scale includes eleven The GIA Cut Scale ranges from One carat equals 200 milligrams in weight. D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). clarity grades ranging from Flawless to I . 3 Excellent to Poor. For diamonds under one carat, each carat is Although many people think of gem Because diamonds form under A polished diamond’s beauty lies in its divided into 100 points – similar to pennies in a quality diamonds as colorless, truly tremendous heat and pressure, it complex relationship with light. The dollar. 0.75 ct. = 75 points, 1/2 ct. = 50 points. colorless diamonds are actually very is extremely rare to find a diamond magnificent display you see is made up rare. Most diamonds used in jewelry that lacks any internal and external of three attributes: Brightness is the are nearly colorless with tints of yellow characteristics. These characteristics combination of all white light reflecting from or brown. are a by-product of its formation and the surface and interior of a diamond. Fire help gemologists separate natural describes the “flares” of color emitted from a diamonds from synthetics and simulants, diamond. Scintillation describes the pattern 0.50 ct. 0.75 ct. 1.00 ct. 2.00 ct. 5.00 ct. and identify individual stones. of light and dark areas and the sparkle you see when the diamond, the light, or the observer moves. D H N Z A diamond’s proportions affect its light performance, which in turn affects its beauty Color grades are determined by and overall appeal. Diamonds with fine comparing each diamond to a master proportions, symmetry, and polish optimize Beauty and Its Beholder The 4Cs set. Each letter grade represents a their interaction with light, and have increased provide a way to objectively compare and range of color and is a measure of how brightness, fire, and scintillation. evaluate diamonds, but numbers alone can’t describe a diamond’s noticeable a color is. VVS2 VS2 GIA assesses these factors for standard mysterious and captivating Fluorescence Some diamonds can round brilliant diamonds in the D-to-Z beauty – for that, you’ll have emit a visible light when exposed to color range. star length to visit your local jeweler to ultraviolet radiation, but fluorescence table size crown see one for yourself. is not a factor in determining color or girdle angle thickness crown height clarity grades. However, a description of its strength and color is provided total depth pavilion angle on GIA Reports as an additional SI2 I2 pavilion depth
identifying characteristic. lower girdle/half Sample Clarity Diagrams facet length culet Anatomy of a Diamond