The 4 Cs

The 4 "C’s" refer to Carat Weight, Cut, Colour, and Clarity. These are explained below. CARAT WEIGHT Carat, abbreviated ‘ct,’ is a measure of weight, not size. One carat is equal to one fifth of a gram, and is based on the weight of a carob bean from ancient Egypt. Each carat is divided into 100 parts (points). For example, A .75-carat diamond is the same as a 75-point diamond or a 3/4-carat stone. While larger stones are relatively rare, cut, colour, and clarity will affect the quality of a diamond even more than weight. A perfectly cut, near flawless smaller stone is more valuable than a poorly cut, coloured, or flawed larger one. However, because a large stone offers more surfaces to reflect and refract light, a large well-cut and near colourless stone is highly prized.  COLOUR Many people consider diamonds to be colourless. In fact, diamonds come in every colour of the rainbow, as well as black. Moreover there are varying degrees of intensity of each colour. However, the closer to colourless, the more rare and therefore more valuable the diamond. While many diamonds appear colourless, they may actually have subtle yellow or brown tones. A colour grading scale is used to measure the amount of tint in the stone. The color grading scale quantifies the subtle differences in color with a letter value—D through the rest of the alphabet. Diamonds rated “D” on the colour scale are the most colourless. The exception to the colourless standard is the ‘fancy colour diamonds,’ which comes in well-defined colours including yellow, green, red, pink and blue. These are extremely rare and often highly prized.   The colour diagram above is not exact. Colour differences in diamonds are subtle CLARITY Virtually all diamonds possess natural imperfections. These natural phenomena, called inclusions, can usually only be seen under the power of 10x magnification. They may look like tiny crystals, clouds, or feathers. Inclusions may be internal or external and they can affect the brilliance of the stone, interfering with light refraction and lessening the diamond’s brilliance. Clarity grades range from flawless to inclusions visible by the naked eye. The greater the clarity, the more valuable the diamond. Diamonds rated IF are rare and highly prized for their purity. IF - Internally Flawless - Free From internal blemishes visible under 10x magnification. VVS1 - Very Very Slight Inclusion 1 - Inclusions and/or external blemishes are very difficult to locate under 10x magnification VVS2 - Very Very Slight Inclusion 2 - Inclusions and/or external blemishes are very difficult to locate under 10x magnification. VS1 - Very Slight Inclusion 1 - Inclusions and external blemishes are difficult to locate under 10x magnification. VS2 - Very Slight Inclusion 2 - Inclusions and external blemishes are rather difficult to locate under 10x magnification. SI1 - Slight Inclusion 1 - Inclusions and external blemishes are rather easy to locate under 10x magnification. SI2 - Very Slight Inclusion 2 - Inclusions and external blemishes are easy to locate under 10x magnification. I1 - Inclusion 1 - Inclusions and external blemishes are easy to locate under 10x magnification. I2 - Inclusion 2 - Inclusions and external blemishes are easy to locate with naked eye. I3 - Inclusion 3 - Heavy inclusions located with naked eye CUT While nature determines a diamond’s clarity and color, cut is determined by the artistry and skill of the craftsman. Cut more than any other characteristic, gives the diamond its sparkle. The better the cut, the more sparkle a diamond will have. Don’t confuse cut with the diamond’s shape, but rather the Cut refers to how the diamond is proportioned. When a gem is cut to good proportions, light reflects from one mirror-like facet to another, creating the refraction and reflection that gives a well-cut diamond brilliance and fire. Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow will be less brilliant and appear life less in comparison to a well-cut diamonds. All other characteristics being equal, the difference in value between well-cut and poorly cut diamonds is drastic, up to 30% or 40%. CONFIDENCE Purchasing a diamond should be a memorable and pleasant experience. At Sparks Diamonds we have introduced the 5th C - Confidence, which we consider to be the most important to YOU. The 5th C - Confidence provides you with the assurance you need, to make an informed diamond purchase. With Eternity Fine Cut Diamonds you have the confidence on knowing you are dealing with: A quality product A reputable dealer Knowledgeable and qualified staff Quality Guaranteed by Certification An internationally competitive brand It is crucial when choosing a diamond to review the diamond certificate, also known as a Diamond Grading Report. This report documents the internationally recognised characteristics of a diamond, its carat weight, colour, clarity, Cut. Grading reports do not give you a diamonds valuation (appraisals do). These reports are an expert opinion of the quality for loose or unset gems. Eternity Finely Cut Diamonds grading certificates verify that a diamond is genuine and is your guarantee of diamond quality. In addition to the 4C’s, the reports detail: Unique certificate number, Diamond measurements, table size, total depth, crown angle, crown angle, crown height, pavilion angle, pavilion depth, culet, girdle thickness, cut proportion, cut symmetry, polish rating and fluorescence Eternity Finely Cut Diamonds are graded with the aid of state-of-the-art OGI Systems diamond grading technology. At the time of examination by the Australian Diamond Grading Laboratory (ADGL) no less than three (3) diamond graders/gemmologists cross check the computer reports for accuracy. For your added confidence, the unique report number is Laser Inscribed onto the girdle of the diamond to maximise confidence, security and verification. The best way to fully understand A Diamond Grading Report is to schedule an appointment with a Premium Stockist, who can explain to you the interaction and importance of each of the 4C’s and their quality representation. CONFLICT FREE Do Eternity Finely Cut Diamonds have a Conflict-Free guarantee? YES - The Eternity Finely Cut Diamond brand provides you with a guarantee that every necessary step has been taken to ensure that our diamonds are conflict free. You can purchase an Eternity Finely Cut Diamond or Eternity Hearts and Arrows diamond with absolute confidence knowing that your brand complies with both the United Nations resolution and The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. We source only the finest diamonds from around the world and only from known, reputable sources. Having said that, no jeweller or diamond brand can 100% guarantee any diamond to be completely conflict free. What is a conflict diamond? Conflict diamonds or blood diamonds as they are some times known, are diamonds that are sold to fund the unlawful and illegal operations of rebel, military and terrorist groups. The trade in these illicit stones has contributed to devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone. The proceeds from the sale of conflict diamonds are also said to fund terrorist activity through out the world. In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, unanimously, a resolution on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict, breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict, as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts. Within the diamond community some South African countries with a legitimate diamond trade began a campaign to track the origins of all rough diamonds, attempting to halt the sales of stones from conflict areas. Their efforts eventually resulted in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which begin in January 2003. The diamond industry has been implementing the system of warranties in an international effort to rid the world of conflict diamonds forever. For more information, please visit http://www.kimberleyprocess.com   DIAMOND LASER INSCRIPTION Using highly advanced technology a micro laser beam is used to etch a microscopic inscription on the girdle of any diamond. This is called “diamond laser inscription’ and provides added security and peace of mind when making a diamond purchase. Eternity Finely Cut Diamonds have the "Eternity" name and the unique Diamond Grading Report number inscribed on the diamond for instant verification and added security. The inscription can be seen under 10X magnification and does not affect the integrity, cause deterioration or damage the diamond in any way. PERSONALISED LASER INSCRIPTION The true romantics among us are finding new and innovative ways to express their love including proving their love by writing it into the girdle (outer edge) of their Finely Cut Diamond. Using Laser Inscription technology, you can now personalise your Diamond by having a romantic or secret message engraved on the gem’s girdle (outside edge)”. Personalising your Diamond gives you the opportunity to provide the ultimate personal touch. The price of inscription is based on the weight of the diamond and the length of the inscription. A typical inscription “length” consists of up to 15 letters including spaces. Since the message can be read only under magnification, you can keep it to yourself or choose to share it with your family and friends. Romantic messages like ‘Forever Yours’ and ‘I love you’ are examples of the most commonly inscribed messages. Poetry, symbols, names and special dates are also popular. Authorised Premium Stockist for Eternity Fine Cut Diamonds. For your absolute confidence, a Diamond Grading Report accompanies each diamond, detailing the gems’ qualities and characteristics under the internationally recognised standards of the 4 C’s (Carat weight, Colour, Clarity and Cut).