Our guide provides you with the basics of diamond education. The four most popular factors to measure the quality and value of a diamond are, the Four Cs: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight. The quality and beauty is the result of these four characteristics.

    Acting as a prism, a diamond can divide light into a spectrum of colors and reflect this light as colorful flashes called fire. Just as when looking through colored glass, color in a diamond will act as a filter and it will diminish the spectrum of colors reflected. Less color in a diamond means a higher color grade and a brighter, more fiery stone.

(D=100%, E=99%, F=98%) Colors are known as the Colorless grades. Grade "D" is reserved for larger diamonds whose colors can be more accurately graded due to their size.  A diamonds less than .50 carats in size usually receive a top grade of "F" because it is more difficult to precisely grade smaller diamonds.

(G=97%, H=96%, I=95%, J=95%) Near Colorless, These are known as the "face white" or "face up colorless" grades because they appear colorless when viewed in the "face up" position or through the table (top of the stone), but show a slight tint of color when turned upside down during grading.

(K=94%, L=93%, M=92%) Faint Yellow, Light but noticeable yellow or brown tint. Not recommended for larger diamond stone purchases.

    This refers to the presence of inclusions in a diamond. Inclusions are natural identifying characteristics such as dark mineral flecks or fractures that appear while diamonds are being formed. They may look like tiny crystals, dark spots, clouds or feathers, but a diamond does not need to be flawless to be beautiful.

    Clarity is graded on a scale ranging from flawless to imperfect. Diamonds with clarity of SI2 (Slightly Imperfect 2) or better do not have inclusions visible to the naked eye, but the inclusions can be seen using 10x magnification.

    We recommend that you select an EYE CLEAN diamond. Eye Clean diamonds have inclusions, but their inclusions can only be seen by using 10x magnification. They are not visible to the naked eye. Thus, FL (Flawless) to SI (Slightly Imperfect clarity diamonds will all look the same once they are mounted in a ring.

(FL) Flawless, Extremely Rare, Very Very Expensive
    These are perfect diamonds and have no imperfections inside or outside the stone even when viewed using 10x magnification.

(IF) Internally Flawless, Very Rare, Very Expensive
    IF diamonds have only minor surface blemishes which can only be seen using 10x magnification.

(VVS1, VVS2) Very Very Slight Inclusions, Expensive
    These diamonds have very small inclusions which are very difficult to see even when using 10x magnification.

(VS1, VS2) Very Slight Inclusions, Somewhat Expensive
    These diamonds have small inclusions which are slightly difficult or very difficult to see when using10x magnification. They represent good value at premium prices.

(SI1, SI2) Slight Inclusions, 99% Eye Clean*, Great Purchase
    These diamonds have slight inclusions which are fairly easy to see using 10x magnification, or they might even be visible to the naked eye, but, in our opinion, these diamonds represent the best values for a diamond buyer.

    SI1 and SI2 diamonds still look great and are 99% EYE CLEAN, which means that only 1 out of 100 people might be able to see an inclusion without 10x magnification. The other 99 people will see these stones as perfectly clean!

    And if you cant see the difference, why pay more? In our opinion, SI1 and SI2 stones represent the best value for your money.

(I1, I2 and I3) Imperfect, if you are really on a budget
    I1 stones are often reasonably priced. Most people can see I class inclusions without magnification.

    The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance. There is no single measurement that defines cut. Rather, it is a collection of measurements and proportions that maximize the brilliance or flash of any given diamond.

    The width and depth can have an effect on how light travels within the diamond, and how it exits. Please see the chart below for an illustration of how width and depth affect the brilliance of a diamond.

Ideal Cut - Maximum brilliance, fire, and sparkle.
Cut Too Deep - Light escapes out the sides.
Cut Too Shallow - Light is lost out the bottom.

    Carat is not a measure of a diamonds size, but rather a measure of a diamonds weight. Each carat is divided in 100 points. A .75 carat diamond is the same as a 75 point or 3/4 carat diamond. Because larger diamonds are found less frequently in nature, they are more rare and more valuable. That means a 1 carat diamond will cost more than more than two half carat diamonds, assuming all other characteristics are similar.

    The two things to remember when it comes to a diamonds carat weight are: 1. Carat weight is only one of many factors that determine a diamonds value. 2. Sometimes you can buy a non-standard weight diamond at a slight discount.

    For example, a 1 carat stone might cost 150,000 Baht. But a 96 point stone might sell for less than 96,000 Baht because 96 points is a non-standard size. Thus, when you are shopping for diamonds, ask about non-standard sizes.

The diagram to the right indicates relative sizes of various carat weights.