GUIDE TO DIAMONDS

THE 4 Cs

There are never two identical diamonds in nature. What makes them different in value and beauty is their proximity to perfection. This perfection has been defined by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and follows four guidelines known as the 4 Cs: carat, color, clarity and cut.

CARAT

The carat refers to the weight, and therefore the size, of a diamond. It’s a standard unit named after the carob seed, which was originally used as a unit of weight for diamonds. One carat is the equivalent of 0.2 grams. A bigger diamond however, isn’t always the best one. To meet a level of perfection, color, clarity and cut must be considered.

 

Buccellati’s rings typically feature stones ranging from 0.50 ct to 1.50 ct. Larger stones are available upon request.

 

COLOR

A perfect diamond should be light in color. Most diamonds, though, present slight shades of color tending to yellow and brown. The whiter the diamond, the rarer it is to find it in nature. The GIA color scale classifies this parameter from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).

 

For its rings, Buccellati only selects diamonds belonging to the colorless range: D, E, F. Fluorescence is non-existent.

 

CLARITY

Diamonds are formed under incredible heat and pressure. This can cause the presence of internal or external inconsistencies in most stones. The quantity, position, color and prominence of these inclusions impacts the clarity of a diamond. The fewer the flaws, the rarer and more precious the diamond. The GIA standards include 11 grades of clarity, from FL (flawless) to I3 (included).

 

Buccellati only selects diamonds in the grades of FL (flawless), IF (internally flawless), VVS1 and VVS2 (very very slightly included).

 

CUT

Cut defines the shape and proportions of a polished diamond. Traditionally, the most classic shape is the round brilliant. Other shapes include square, marquise, oval, pear, heart and emerald.

 

A good cut is decisive in creating a balance between the diamond and the light, thus affecting its brightness (the combination of the white light reflecting inside and outside the stone), fire (flares of color) and scintillation (the pattern of light and dark areas). The GIA rates the cuts from excellent to poor.

For engagement rings, Buccellati prefers brilliant and emerald cuts.

 

Each central stone in Buccellati’s engagement rings is officially certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), an independent institution that is recognized internationally. This certificate is the ID of the stone and provides information regarding all the characteristics of the diamond.