A diamond’s molecular structure and crystal lattice arrangement make it the hardest natural substance on Earth, with unparalleled durability and resistance to scratches and abrasions.
Visually and chemically indistinguishable, lab-grown diamonds mirror natural diamonds in every way. The difference lies in how they’re created: natural diamonds formed billions of years ago, hundreds of miles beneath the Earth’s surface, while lab-grown diamonds are produced using advanced technologies over a matter of months.
The term WOW factor applies to both natural and lab-grown diamonds. Simply put, achieving this doesn’t require selecting the very top grades - the human eye is surprisingly limited in what it can detect. Choosing the right balance of grades delivers that WOW effect. However, because lab-grown diamonds are significantly more affordable, higher grades are often well within reach.
A diamond’s colour refers to how much colour is noticeable, so the whiter, the better. However, the human eye can only detect a certain amount, so a WOW factor diamond doesn’t have to be the highest grade to look stunning. This is easily demonstrated when I show you a WOW factor diamond.
A diamond’s clarity refers to external or internal characteristics/marks there are that were formed naturally when the crystal was created. Many people are over-concerned that to have a WOW factor diamond, you need a high clarity grade. In reality, the human eye can only detect a limited amount of these without magnification.
Once I show you the differences under the microscope, you will immediately understand what is required for a WOW factor diamond that you will be delighted to own.
The graphic represent the number of marks that might be within a particular grade, so their size can make them look worse than when viewing a real diamond. The key shows the inclusions/marks in a natural diamond.
The anatomy of a diamond refers to its proportions, polish and symmetry. All these attributes must be balanced to deliver the fire and scintillation that makes a diamond unique.
For example, how thin or thick is the girdle, is the table size in the right proportion, do all the facets align? Getting these right will give your diamond the WOW factor.
If your diamond has the right proportions, the light will be reflected back through the top of the stone. If too shallow or deep, it will disappear through the back and not sparkle as much. One of the key measurements is the diameter.
There are many shapes or cuts of a diamond. The most popular is the round brilliant. Some of the other cuts will impact the price, so it might be the same weight and quality but can have a higher cost.
A diamond’s weight is referred to as Carat. One Carat weighs one-fifth of a gram. There are 100 points to one Carat. The pictures shows a selection of the mm diameters for particular carat weights.
However, it can be confusing when looking for a particular carat weight and the price differs from one the same weight with the same headline grades. Whatever the carat weight, the proportions of a diamond is crucial, so if you want yours to have WOW factor, they need to be right.
If a diamond has the right proportions, the light will be reflected back through the top of the stone, too shallow or deep, it can disperse through the back and not sparkle as much. One of the key measurements is the diameter.
Fluorescence occurs in some diamonds, so when grading colour, ultraviolet light is used to expose any fluorescence. A stone with strong or excessive fluorescence will have a milky appearance in natural lighting, changing the overall attractiveness. A WOW factor diamond would have no fluorescence. Fluorescence impacts the value of a diamond, so you would expect it to cost less.
The graphic depicts how a diamond fluoresces under ultraviolet light. For example, if you were in a nightclub and your diamond had no fluorescence, it would look dark. With strong fluorescence, it would glow.
Diamond grading certificates or reports are now commonplace. You’ll see GIA, IGI, HRD, to name a few. Certification is a positive thing for consumers and the trade alike, it is like a passport describing a diamonds quality.
Certification is a positive thing for consumers and the trade, as it is like a passport or logbook describing a diamond. However, it’s easy to be confused. You would think that every laboratory would grade a particular diamond the same, given they use the same measurements? Sadly, this is not the case and is one of the reasons when using certified grades to search and compare, you will see different prices for what appears to be the same grade.
The 4Cs are easy to understand. The interpretation of the measurements that make up the 4Cs is where a good explanation is required, preferably while viewing unmounted diamonds so you can see the effect of each .
The most widely used certificate is from the Gemmological Institute of America [GIA]. They created certification in 1934 and have continued to refine and perfect the grading for diamonds. All laboratories use these measurements when grading.
All certificates should display the information shown below, and it is these measurements that I look at when selecting a WOW factor diamond.
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