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Diamond
Ratings
Diamond Ratings. Whoever
would have believed that diamonds are so complicated? Diamond clarity
ratings, rating scale, rating system, quality ratings, rating scales and
charts and diamond color ratings. Taking the time to
understand diamond ratings before
purchasing will pay dividends. Diamond Ratings help buyers to assess a diamond's quality.
The quality of a
piece of diamond jewelry is commonly assessed by the 4C 's of
diamonds which consist of:
-
Carat Weight
-
Cut
-
Clarity
-
Color & Fluorescence
Diamond Ratings -
Scales, Systems and Charts
Diamond
rating systems provide an
excellent guide to the quality of diamonds. The numbers, sizes, colors, locations and
visibility of any inclusions and / or blemishes in diamonds can also effect the
grades, ratings and quality of diamonds. This page details the ratings systems
and charts relating to diamond clarity, color grading and ratings for white or colorless diamonds, carat weight and a diamond fluorescence
ratings and grading chart.
Ratings, Reports
and Certificates
Many diamond rating
reports provide facts and information relating to the quality of the
diamond you have purchased and various ratings of the diamond. A typical
diamond grading report details the quality elements of Carat Weight,
Size, symmetry and proportions, Clarity Grade, Color Rating and
Fluorescence. But having
obtained a certificate would you understand the meaning of a rating or grading
report which stated that the diamond was
clarity VS2 and the color E with a faint level of fluorescence? All the
diamond ratings and grading charts are detailed below to help you
through the minefield of buying diamonds!
The Diamond Clarity Ratings
An important factor in
diamond ratings is the Clarity of a diamond which relates to exactly how clear a diamond
is and describes the presence, or absence, of
Diamond Inclusions (flaws) within
the diamond and any blemishes on its surface. The numbers, sizes, colors, locations and visibility of any
inclusions or blemishes can effect the clarity and ratings of a diamond.
As the majority of inclusions cannot be seen by the naked eye they are
located by a jeweller under a 10 power magnification and then graded and
rated according to their clarity. Ratings systems have been developed to
grade diamond clarity ranging from high
quality, rare and expensive flawless to imperfect and cheap diamonds, as
detailed on the following ratings chart:
|
Ratings - Diamond Clarity
Chart |
|
Ratings Abbreviation |
Ratings Descriptions |
Details
of Clarity |
Ratings, Cost & Quality |
|
F |
Flawless |
No
internal or external flaws |
Very Rare
and Expensive |
|
IF |
Internally Flawless |
No
internal flaws |
Rare and
Expensive |
|
VVS1 |
Very, Very Small Inclusions
Level 1 |
Very Difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification |
Expensive |
|
VVS2 |
Very, Very Small Inclusions
Level 2 |
Difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification |
Less
Expensive |
|
VS |
Very Small Inclusions |
Inclusions are noticeable to a jeweller under 10x
magnification |
↓ |
|
VS1 |
Very Small Inclusions
Level 1 |
Inclusions are noticeable to a jeweller under 10x
magnification |
↓ |
|
VS2 |
Very Small Inclusions
Level 2 |
Inclusions are noticeable to a jeweller under 10x
magnification |
↓ |
|
SI |
Small Inclusions |
Inclusions are easily seen to a jeweller under 10x
magnification |
↓ |
|
SI1 |
Small Inclusions
Level 1 |
Inclusions are easily seen under 10x magnification but
not visible to naked eye |
↓ |
|
SI2 |
Small Inclusions
Level 2 |
Inclusions are easily seen under 10x magnification but
not visible to naked eye |
↓ |
|
LI |
Large Inclusions |
Inclusions are visible to naked eye but minimum loss of
brilliance |
↓ |
|
LI1 |
Large Inclusions
Level 1 |
Larger
Inclusions visible to naked eye with small loss of
brilliance |
↓ |
|
LI2 |
Large Inclusions
Level 2 |
Larger
Inclusions visible to naked eye with dulling of
brilliance |
↓ |
|
LI3 |
Large Inclusions
Level 3 |
Larger
Inclusions visible to naked eye with brilliance
diminished |
Cheapest |
|
Ratings Abbreviation |
Ratings Descriptions |
Details
of Clarity |
Ratings, Cost & Quality |
|
Ratings - Diamond Clarity
Chart |
Color, Fluorescence and Ratings
The Color ratings relate to
rarity, value and quality of a diamond. The most popular
color is white, or colorless, which are rated in the following
categories: Colorless, Nearly colorless, Faintly
tinted (usually yellow), Lightly tinted (usually yellow) and Tinted
(usually yellow but may progress to brownish). The color scale ratings for colorless diamonds goes from 'D' (colorless) to 'Z' (dark yellow).
For more facts and information check
out the details contained in the following link: Diamond Color. The
amount of yellowish color decreases the value of a "colorless"
stone.
Diamond
Color Scale or Ratings for
White or Colorless Diamonds |
|
Color |
Diamond Color
Scale Ratings |
Colorless
D E F |
Diamond Color Rating D
Color Rating E
Color Rating F |
Most Expensive & Desirable
|
Near Colorless
G H I J |
Color Rating G
Color Rating H
Color Rating I
Color Rating J |
↓ |
Faint Yellow
K L M |
Color Rating K
Color Rating L
Color Rating M |
↓ |
Very Light Yellow
N O P R |
Color Rating N
Color Rating O
Color Rating P
Color Rating R |
↓ |
Dark Yellow
S T U V W X Y Z |
Color Rating S
Color Rating T
Color Rating U
Color Rating V
Color Rating W
Color Rating X
Color Rating Y
Color Rating Z |
Cheapest &
Least Desirable |
Diamond
Color Scale or Ratings for
White or Colorless Diamonds |
|
Color |
Diamond Color
Scale Ratings |
Diamond
Fluorescence Chart / Ratings
Many diamond ratings reports
confirm whether or not a diamond fluoresces, and if it does, the level
of the effect varying from none, faint, slight, moderate, strong or extreme. The
strength of fluorescence in diamonds is described in the following
ratings chart
by specific abbreviations:
|
Diamond Fluorescence
Ratings Chart |
|
Ratings |
Levels |
|
N, NO, NON |
No
Fluorescence |
|
F, FB, FT, FA |
Faint or Faint Blue Fluorescence |
|
SL, SLB, SLT |
Slight Fluorescence |
|
M, MO, ME, MD |
Medium or Moderate Fluorescence |
|
S, ST, STB, STG |
Strong Fluorescence |
|
E, EX, EXB, EF |
Extreme
Fluorescence |
|
Ratings |
Levels |
|
Diamond Fluorescence
Ratings Chart |
The Carat Weight
and Ratings
There are no actual
ratings in relation to carat weight but the subject should be researched
before purchasing a diamond because the price of a diamond
does not increase in proportion to the weight of a diamond! The Carat Weight
defines the weight, not the size, of a Diamond. The demand for
a 1 carat diamond is very high and consequently, the price of a highest
quality 1 carat diamond will cost significantly more than an
equivalent diamond quality weighing 0.95 carats. For additional facts and
information about Carat Weight please click the following link:
Carat Weight
The Ratings of Diamonds
The Ratings of diamonds is
influenced by the Cut, Clarity, Color and Fluorescence. Remember that "Power flows from he who knows" so check out all of the
facts and information to understand the ratings of diamonds before you
buy.
Diamonds - Precious - Stone -
Guide - Ratings - Color - Facts - Information -Info - Jewelry - Jewellery
Cost - Settings - Shapes - Cut - Clarity - Fluorescence - Ratings - Carat Weight
Diamond Ratings
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