Diamond Quality and the 4 “C’s”

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Diamonds and other gemstones vary significantly in quality.  At Anglo Continental Jewellery we guarantee to supply only natural earth-mined diamonds and gemstones. We do not supply “lab-grown” diamonds or synthetic gemstones in the items we manufacture ourselves, or in our vintage pieces. 

Diamonds are graded in line with the 4C’s (Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat), the accepted global measures of diamond quality. All 4 factors influence the way a diamond looks and its monetary value.

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Cut:  

Diamonds have long been admired because they sparkle! The ability to sparkle is determined partly by the “Cut” - this includes aspects such as a diamond’s symmetry and angles. The diamond cutter (the person who cuts the diamond from its rough form) should ensure the diamond is neither too deep nor too shallow, finding a balance between the two that maximises both brilliance and sparkle.

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Colour:

Although diamonds are graded based on their “colour”, the most valuable diamonds are actually colourless!  Completely colourless diamonds are graded as “D” colour and are very rare and expensive (“A”, “B” and “C” are not used in diamond colour grading).  The more highly tinted or coloured a diamond appears, the further towards “Z” it is graded.  Ironically, if a diamond is very heavily tinted/coloured with a distinctive yellow, green or blue hue, it is known as a “fancy” diamond - because of their rarity, such diamonds are highly valued, and the D-Z scale is not used.  

At Anglo Continental Jewellery and unless otherwise stated in the description, we supply at least F-G coloured diamonds (at the top end of the colour scale) as standard in new items we manufacture.  It is important to know that even the smaller diamonds surrounding a larger diamond or gemstone in a piece of jewellery is of such quality – other manufacturers may not offer this, using lower grade small stones as they may be difficult to spot… so be sure to check!

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Clarity:

Natural earth-mined diamonds nearly always contain inclusions (blemishes).  Clarity is determined by the number and size of such inclusions, and on how visible they are.  Some are so tiny they can only be seen under a microscope or magnifying loupe; others may be larger and visible to the naked eye if you look closely.  Clarity gradings are as follows, from the best/most expensive (FL = Flawless) to the lowest grade (I2 = Inclusions 2):

FL:  Flawless; IF (Internally Flawless) – extremely rare and valuable

VVS1/2 (Very Very Slightly Included 1/2)

VS1/2 (Very Slightly Included 1/2) 

SI1/2 (Slightly Included 1/2)

I1/2 (Inclusions 1/2)

Even if a diamond has an excellent cut and colour, if it has large visible inclusions, it will sparkle less.  This is why it is important to balance the 4Cs – a smaller diamond with better grading may be worth significantly more than a larger diamond with poor clarity. Taken together with the other “C’s”, the better the clarity, the more valuable and expensive the diamond.  

At Anglo Continental Jewellery we pride ourselves on the quality of our diamonds, even the smaller ones!  Our diamonds are carefully chosen to be clean to the naked eye, with no large inclusions that might reduce the sparkle factor. 

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Carat:

The term Carat refers to the weight of a diamond, not its size.  This is important as the way that a diamond is cut will affect its appearance, so it may look larger or smaller than another diamond of the same weight/carat.  For example, a one carat diamond always weighs 200 milligrams, however large or small it is in size.

It is the balance between the 4C’s that is important, not one aspect alone.  For example, a fine quality 0.50 carat diamond with excellent cut, good colour and clarity will sparkle more and may be more valuable than a 1.0 carat diamond with poor cut, colour and clarity. 

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Shape and Style:

Diamonds and other gemstones come in many different shapes. Although the “round brilliant” is the most well-known, diamonds are also available in ovals, pear shapes, heart shapes, square shapes (known as “princess cuts”) and “baguettes” (an oblong shape), etc. There is no “best” shape; it all depends on personal taste and preference.  So, as well as the 4Cs, other factors impact on the appeal of a piece of jewellery – for example, the design and how it fits with the lifestyle and image of the individual who is wearing it!

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Some of our larger diamonds and gemstones come with a certificate from an independent laboratory - this will be mentioned in the item description.  If not, a laboratory certificate can be supplied for a small additional fee and posted out with the item (please allow an extra 3 working days for delivery).  

All new jewellery is supplied with a breakdown that includes the total gemstone weight; the grades of larger diamonds or other gemstones; a free valuation for insurance purposes (retail replacement value), and details of the precious metal used (we use only solid 18 carat white gold; 18 carat yellow gold, or platinum).  We do not use cheaper 9ct gold; plated gold, “vermeil” (gold-plated silver), or any other type of filled/rolled metal.

All our vintage jewellery is supplied with estimated total gemstone weights, grades of larger diamonds and gemstones and a free valuation for insurance.  We guarantee that all diamonds and gemstones are natural, earth-mined and not lab-grown or synthetic – this is an important consideration when looking elsewhere.

Take a look through the various styles and designs available on this website. We have tried to include as much information as possible in our descriptions and have photographed items from different angles… although capturing on camera the way our beautiful jewellery pieces sparkle in real life is sometimes difficult!  

If you need advice, a picture of an item from a different angle, or more information just get in touch, and we’ll be more than happy to help!