This is my logo
Diamonds
Wonder of Nature
There is no other gemstone quite like a diamond. It is found in the most remote places on earth, and the fact that it forms at all is something of a miracle. It takes about one ton of rock to recover less than half a carat of rough, making a diamond one of the rarest and most desired gemstones in the world. A diamond is a testament of endurance and strength, and not surprisingly, it is the ultimate symbol of love.
Treasure of Time
Every diamond is unique. Each reflects the story of its arduous journey from deep inside the earth to a cherished object of adornment. Yet all diamonds share certain features that allow us to compare and evaluate them. These features are called the 4Cs.
Color
Diamond color is all about what you can’t see.
Diamonds are valued by how closely they approach colorlessness; the less color, the higher their value.
The GIA Color Scale extends from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow, brown or grey). Although many people think of gem quality diamonds as colorless, truly colorless diamonds are actually very rare. Most diamonds used in jewelry are nearly colorless with tints of yellow or brown.
About Fluorescence
What is fluorescence? It is the visible light some diamonds emit when they are exposed to invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays. On a GIA diamond grading report, fluorescence refers to the strength or intensity of the diamond’s reaction to long-wave UV, which is an essential component of daylight. The light emitted lasts as long as the diamond is exposed to the ultraviolet source.
Clarity
Natural “Birthmarks” of a Diamond
The GIA Clarity Scale includes eleven clarity grades ranging from Flawless to I3. Because diamonds form under tremendous heat and pressure, it is extremely rare to find a diamond that lacks any internal and external characteristics. These characteristics are a by-product of its formation and help gemologists separate natural diamonds from synthetics and simulants, and identify individual stones. Clarity is graded under 10X magnification.
Excellent “Ideal” Cut
Cut Too Deep
Cut Too Shallow
Cut
The Brilliance & Performance of the Diamond
Cut is a measure of a diamond’s appearance, the combination of brightness, fire and scintillation. Cut also encompasses the craftsmanship of polish and symmetry.
Polish is the quality of a diamond’s surface condition.
Symmetry refers to the exactness of the shape of a diamond and the symmetrical arrangement and placement of the facets.
The GIA Cut Scale ranges from Excellent to Poor.
GIA provides a cut quality grade for standard round brilliant diamonds that fall into the GIA D-to-Z color range.
A polished diamond’s beauty lies in its complex relationship with light: how light strikes the surface, how much enters the diamond, and how, and in what form, light returns to your eye.
The result is a magnificent display of three attributes:
- Brightness is the combination of all white light reflecting from the surface and interior or a diamond.
- Fire describes the “flares” of color emitted from a diamond.
- Scintillation describes the flashes of light you see when the diamond, the light, or the observer moves.
Carat
The Weight of the Diamond
One carat equals 200 milligrams, or ⅕ of a gram in weight. For diamonds under one carat, each carat is divided into 100 points; similar to pennies in a dollar:
Carat is a measurement of weight, not size.
What is Certified?
JB Hudson offers a great selection of certified diamonds. A certified diamond is one that has been graded by an independent laboratory and has a document that was issued stating its grade. There are many certification labs and they are not all equal. The highest regarded laboratories grade more strictly and the diamonds graded by them are valued higher because of this.
The Gemological Institute of America, often referred to as GIA, and the American Gem Society (AGS), are the highest regarded labs in the world.
JB Hudson carries diamonds graded by both GIA and AGS. However, a diamond with any preferred grading report is available.
How GIA Grades Your Diamond
Independent and nonprofit, GIA is considered the final word on a diamond’s authenticity and quality. GIA developed the 4Cs and the International Diamond Grading System; the grading standard adopted by jewelry professionals around the globe.
GIA screens every gemstone to identify synthetics, simulants and known treatments. Expert gemologists examine each diamond under controlled lighting and viewing conditions, in order to provide the most rigorous assessments of a diamond’s 4Cs.
Every GIA Diamond Grading Report or Diamond Dossier contains these assessments along with additional descriptive information and state-of-the-art security features. Regarded as premier gemological credentials by international gem professionals and fine jewelry houses, GIA Reports accompany the world’s most legendary diamonds, and now, quite possibly, yours.