Decided to purchase a Diamond? All diamonds are graded on the four "C's": Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat Weight. Combinations of these four factors determine the value and the beauty of a diamond.

CUT

More than any other quality, cut determines the brilliance and fire of a diamond. To maximize this fire and brilliance, diamond cutters place each of the stone's facets in precise angled proportions. For instance, on a classic round brilliant cut diamond, fifty-seven or fifty-eight facets must be precisely aligned.

Charm Diamond Centres uses only the most skilled and experienced diamond cutters. All Charm Diamond Centres' diamonds are cut to maximize the stones brilliance, not the Carat Weight.

CLARITY

During the long period of diamond formation, gases or minerals are usually trapped inside the diamond. These are called inclusions, and a diamond's value is judged by the size and number of inclusions. The fewer the inclusions and the clearer the diamond, the more valuable it is. However it is common for a diamond to have inclusions. Approximately one percent are considered "flawless". Truly flawless diamonds are extremely rare.

A Charm Diamond Centres diamond must achieve a high clarity rating and only diamonds with little or no inclusions apparent to the naked eye are chosen.

COLOUR

The purest and rarest diamonds are virtually colourless. Although many diamonds may appear colourless to the untrained eye, the majority contain very slight traces of yellow, brown or even gray.

Colour quality is critical. A stone's beauty and value usually increase dramatically the more colourless it is. The spectrum ranges from totally colourless, "D," to light yellow, "M."

Charm Diamond Centres strives to maintain the colour of each of their diamonds above industry standards.

CARAT WEIGHT

Carat is the gemologist's standard measure of a diamond's weight. But size alone is almost meaningless unless you consider Cut, Clarity and Colour. However, size does increase the value of a good quality diamond for the simple reason that large stones are rarer than small ones.

A large stone holds little value if it lacks fire, brilliance, purity and high-grade colour.

A Charm Diamond Centres Sales Associate can help you weigh all of the factors to arrive at the best combination of Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat Weight for your engagement ring that will bring you years of brilliance, beauty and happiness.