Devonshire Diamonds presents The Five C’s (Part One)

Diamonds are some of the most sought-after commodities on the planet, and as such, people use an array of criteria to grade the stones and assess their value. When a diamond is first mined, it looks nothing like the gem found in a typical jewelry store. It takes a series of processes to evaluate, cut, and set the stone. Most people have heard about the four C’s commonly used to evaluate diamonds, but many jewelers are increasingly including a fifth C in that equation: certification. Whether buying diamonds as an investment or simply as a classic piece of jewelry, it’s important to have a basic understanding of these criteria to make a prudent purchase. Here is a quick overview of what to look for in a diamond:

Carat: In the diamond industry, carats are used to assess the size of the stone. Not to be confused with karats, which refer to the purity of gold, carats are a weight measurement equivalent to 200 milligrams. Ancient jewelry traders utilized carob seeds as a means of weighing diamonds, leading to the current use of the word “carat.” Carats are divided into 100 points to make grading the stones easier. Since diamonds take so long to create, large stones carry a significantly higher price tag.

Clarity: As diamonds are forged far beneath the Earth’s crust over hundreds of years, many of the stones develop imperfections, both on the surface and internally. Clarity assesses how many of these blemishes a stone possesses. The International Diamond Grading System includes 11 different classifications for clarity, ranging from Flawless to Imperfect.

About the Company: Specializing in colored stones, Devonshire Diamonds has been providing customers with access to the highest quality gems since its inception in 2007. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Devonshire Diamonds maintains a vast inventory of stones and custom-designed jewelry, all of which can be viewed online at www.devonshirediamonds.com.

Devonshire Diamonds presents The Five C’s (Part Two)

Color: While many people think of diamonds as being colorless, the stones actually come in a spectrum of colors. Natural diamonds derive their color from trace elements in the stone, and scientists have developed synthetic techniques to replicate this phenomenon. When rating the color of diamonds, both the hue and the intensity are taken into consideration. The grader will assign each stone one of 27 different hues and a rating of D to Z, with D being colorless and Z indicating a rich tone.

Cut: Arguably the most important variable when selecting a diamond, the cut directly affects the iridescence of the gem and subsequently its quality. A well-cut diamond will take in light through the top of the stone, or table. This light will then pass through the stone and be released back up through the table. Lower-grade shallow and deep cuts can result in the light’s being lost when it flows down through the bottom of the diamond, also called the pavilion.

Certification: With the increasing concern over the methods used to cultivate diamonds, as well as synthetic techniques used to manipulate the stones, certification is becoming a more prevalent part of diamond analysis. The certification should come from a prominent gemological laboratory and provide a comprehensive scientific report on the diamond, including the carat weight, clarity, color, and origin.

About the Company: Devonshire Diamonds of Toronto, Ontario, boasts a comprehensive collection of colored stones, including blue, purple, red, black, and orange diamonds. Established in 2007, Devonshire Diamonds nurtures relationships with some of the world’s leading suppliers to ensure a consistent stock of choice gems. The talented artisans at Devonshire Diamonds create custom jewelry to complement each stone; customers also have the option of purchasing loose diamonds.