CARAT WEIGHT:
One carat equals 0.2 grams. For diamonds under a carat, each carat is divided into 100 points, similar to pennies in a dollar.
For instance, 0.75ct. = 75 points and 1/2 ct. = 50 points. |
COLOR:
The GIA Color Scale extends from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Although many people think of diamonds as colorless,
most diamonds used in jewelry have subtle tints of yellow or brown. Each letter grade represents a range of color and is a measure
of the degree of color within the diamond, all measured by comparing the diamond to a set of master stones. |
CLARITY:
The GIA Clarity Scale includes eleven clarity grades ranging from Flawless to I3. Because diamonds form under conditions of
tremendous heat and pressure, internal inclusions and external blemishes are common and help gemologists identify individual stones.
The Clarity Scale also helps separate natural diamonds from synthetics and simulants. |
CUT:
A polished diamond's proportions affect the performance and interplay of light which, in turn, affects its beauty and desirability.
Brightness is the combination of all white light reflecting from both the surface and interior of a diamond. Fire describes the colored
flashes that can be seen in a diamond. And scintillation is the sparkle of light you see and the overall pattern of bright and dark areas
when you look at a diamond face-up. The design and craftsmanship of a diamond also affect its cut quality, and these factors are considered
in determining a diamond's GIA Excellent-to-Poor Cut Grade. |
GIA wants you to understand exactly what you're buying when shopping for your diamond. As creators of the 4Cs and the International Diamond Grading System™, GIA set the standards for diamond grading and has been helping consumers make educated diamond buying decisions for over 50 years.
GIA's D-to-Z color-grading scale, Flawless-to-I3 clarity-grading scale, and Excellent-to-Poor cut-grading scale are recognized by gem and jewelry professionals everywhere. And, by extension, the GIA Diamond Grading Report, Diamond Dossier®, and Gemological Identification Report are considered to be the world's premier evaluations of gem quality and authenticity.
