The Diamond Guide
Our philosophy on diamonds is rooted in the belief that a stone should speak to you through its beauty and the way it feels, rather than solely through technical criteria.
At Beards, every diamond is meticulously hand-selected for its distinctive qualities. We are committed to sourcing diamonds only from legitimate, conflict-free sources, ensuring compliance with UN resolutions. This guarantees that each diamond we offer is not only beautiful but also ethically sourced.
Read on to discover what criteria we look for when selecting diamonds.
The 4 C's
When considering what to look for in a diamond, the best starting point is understanding the 4 C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat. These factors were established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the 1940s and serve as a universal standard for describing and evaluating the quality of diamonds.
Cut
The cut of a diamond refers to the proportions and arrangement of its facets, which directly influence the diamond’s brilliance, sparkle, and fire. The better the cut, the more light is captured and reflected, making the diamond appear more vibrant and dazzling.
The grading scale for cut quality typically ranges from Excellent to Poor, with Excellent being the ideal cut that maximizes a diamond’s potential for brilliance and beauty. A well-cut diamond will exhibit an exceptional balance of light reflection and dispersion, enhancing its overall visual appeal.
Colour
Color in a diamond refers to the degree to which a diamond is free from any color. The scale ranges from D (colorless) to Z, with D being the most valuable and rare due to its complete lack of color. As you move down the scale, diamonds show slight hints of yellow or brown. Diamonds that fall outside this range are considered “fancy colored,” such as those with vibrant hues like blue, pink, or green, and they are graded separately for their color intensity and richness.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the presence or absence of internal inclusions and surface blemishes in a diamond. The clearer a diamond, the more valuable it is, as fewer inclusions or blemishes allow for more brilliance and light reflection.
The cleaner the diamond (with fewer inclusions or blemishes), the higher its clarity grade and overall value.
Carat
Carat is a unit of measurement used to express the weight of a diamond. It is important to note that carat refers to weight, not size. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams, or about the weight of a standard paperclip.
Larger diamonds typically have higher carat weights, but two diamonds with the same carat weight can differ in size due to differences in their cut or shape. Additionally, the value of a diamond increases with its carat weight, but other factors like cut, color, and clarity also significantly impact the overall value.
More About Diamonds
Shapes
Clarity refers to the presence or absence of internal inclusions and surface blemishes in a diamond. The clearer a diamond, the more valuable it is, as fewer inclusions or blemishes allow for more brilliance and light reflection.
The cleaner the diamond (with fewer inclusions or blemishes), the higher its clarity grade and overall value.