Start Something Beautiful™
Diamond Jewelry 101
About the 4 Cs:
Carat
A carat is the unit of measure for diamonds and is based on a point scale, with 100 points equaling 1 carat. Anything less than 1 carat is referred to by its point value. For example, the carat weight of diamonds used in Start-to-Finish's diamond link bracelets are 3-point, 7-point, or 10-point, also written as .03, .07, or .10 of a carat, respectively. While not very big, they are beautiful!
Total carat weight of the bracelets when finished ranges from almost a half a carat to just over two carats, depending on the style. See the product descriptions for details.
Cut
This is the most important factor in diamond buying; a poor cut means a dull diamond, no matter how clear or colorless. The goal is to have as much light coming out as going in. There are many determining factors in cut, as well as classification opinions. We like Blue Nile's definition of a good cut: "Represents roughly the top 25% of diamond quality based on cut. Reflects most light that enters. Much less expensive than a very good cut." As the leader in online jewelry sales, Blue Nile knows their stuff and they recommend finding a diamond bracelet similar to our quality!
All of our diamonds are "good cuts."
Clarity
Internal characteristics are like fingerprints that prove the diamond is real and are a mark of its natural formation. Clarity is important when deciding which diamond to buy—particularly if you are buying one that's loose and large!
A diamond's characteristics, or "flaws," are described based on how extreme they are on a scale from Imperfect to Flawless. The official Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Clarity Scale includes eleven grades ranging from Flawless to I3. When jewelry contains smaller diamonds, clarity may not be your number one priority. However, you won't have to compromise on this criterion because our diamonds range from VS2 - SI2.
Although some manufacturers use diamonds of similar size to make jewelry and price them about the same, they use diamonds that are I or below. While this might save you money, you’ll see the difference! Diamonds with poor clarity can appear cloudy.
Color
Although many people think of diamonds as white or colorless, most diamonds used in jewelry have some yellow or brown tints. The GIA has a Color Scale to identify the level of color—from none (D) to light yellow or brown (Z). Doesn't sound attractive? Not to worry: Start-to-Finish's diamonds are G-H, which means they are near colorless—just one step below the crème de la crème.
We hope this brief discussion helps you make educated decisions about any potential jewelry purchase. The GIA also offers an online course you might find useful.
As always, we welcome your questions and feedback!
A carat is the unit of measure for diamonds and is based on a point scale, with 100 points equaling 1 carat. Anything less than 1 carat is referred to by its point value. For example, the carat weight of diamonds used in Start-to-Finish's diamond link bracelets are 3-point, 7-point, or 10-point, also written as .03, .07, or .10 of a carat, respectively. While not very big, they are beautiful!
Total carat weight of the bracelets when finished ranges from almost a half a carat to just over two carats, depending on the style. See the product descriptions for details.
Cut
This is the most important factor in diamond buying; a poor cut means a dull diamond, no matter how clear or colorless. The goal is to have as much light coming out as going in. There are many determining factors in cut, as well as classification opinions. We like Blue Nile's definition of a good cut: "Represents roughly the top 25% of diamond quality based on cut. Reflects most light that enters. Much less expensive than a very good cut." As the leader in online jewelry sales, Blue Nile knows their stuff and they recommend finding a diamond bracelet similar to our quality!
All of our diamonds are "good cuts."
Clarity
Internal characteristics are like fingerprints that prove the diamond is real and are a mark of its natural formation. Clarity is important when deciding which diamond to buy—particularly if you are buying one that's loose and large!
A diamond's characteristics, or "flaws," are described based on how extreme they are on a scale from Imperfect to Flawless. The official Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Clarity Scale includes eleven grades ranging from Flawless to I3. When jewelry contains smaller diamonds, clarity may not be your number one priority. However, you won't have to compromise on this criterion because our diamonds range from VS2 - SI2.
Although some manufacturers use diamonds of similar size to make jewelry and price them about the same, they use diamonds that are I or below. While this might save you money, you’ll see the difference! Diamonds with poor clarity can appear cloudy.
Color
Although many people think of diamonds as white or colorless, most diamonds used in jewelry have some yellow or brown tints. The GIA has a Color Scale to identify the level of color—from none (D) to light yellow or brown (Z). Doesn't sound attractive? Not to worry: Start-to-Finish's diamonds are G-H, which means they are near colorless—just one step below the crème de la crème.
We hope this brief discussion helps you make educated decisions about any potential jewelry purchase. The GIA also offers an online course you might find useful.
As always, we welcome your questions and feedback!