HOW TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF A DIAMOND?
• Body color (color grade) • Degree of flawlessness (clarity grade) • Cut and proportion (often referred to as the make) • Carat weight Each factor is a lesson in itself, and so we have devoted some basic information on each. WHAT IS BODY COLOR? When we discuss body color we are referring to how much yellow or brown tint is observable in the stone. The color designation frequently used to grade an absolutely water-clear, colorless diamond is the letter D. This letter designation is part of a color-grading system introduced by the GIA and is used extensively in the diamond trade. The GIA classification starts from D, the finest classification on the scale (colorless), through the alphabet to Z, getting progressively more yellow. The trades, D, E, F are exceptionally fine and are the only grades that should be referred to as colorless. WHAT COLOR GRADE IS MOST DESIRABLE FOR THE CONSUMER? For the average consumer, the colors D, E and F can all be grouped as very fine and may be referred t
