Confused About Diamonds?  It’s understandable, we would be too!

To help you choose the perfect diamond, Indy Facets has a complete state of the art Gemological Lab. We have all the latest technology to truly measure and identify every characteristic of a diamond.

Color, clarity, carat weight and cut, commonly referred to as “the 4 C’s of diamonds”, are the four main characteristics of a diamond that set the initial value. Therefore, they are very important to narrowing down a selection of diamonds to one that is just right for you. There is only one trusted place online to learn about color, clarity, carat weight and cut; the Gemological Institute of America or GIA (www.gia.edu).

Color

Color is graded on a D through Z scale. D has the least amount of color and Z has the most. The color comes from a slight amount of Nitrogen causing shades of yellow and brown. Trace amounts of other elements can cause different colors as well. For instance, Boron can create blue, pink, and red appearances.

This is not to say that the most colorless diamonds are always the most expensive or rare. In fact, natural red diamonds are said to be the most rare. Diamonds with color are give terms such as Fancy, Fancy Light, and Fancy Intense. At Indy Facets, we can help you find a diamond with the exact look you want.

Clarity

Clarity refers to the quality of diamonds as they are affected by internal and external defects. Internal defects are called inclusions. As the diamond forms, other solids, liquids, or gases can get caught inside it. Visually, these appear as wispy white lines that disrupt the crystalline structure. Surface defects are called blemishes and can range from rough-feeling surfaces to chips in the outside of the diamond.

Level of clarity is determined by extreme magnification and use of strategic lighting. The pattern of blemishes and inclusions is unique to each particular diamond.

Carat

Carat is how a diamond’s weight is measured. A carat is equal to 0.2 grams, or a fifth of a gram. So a ten carat diamond is 2 grams in weight. Diamond weight can be subdivided by 100 “points” as a way for jewelers to more accurately measure and categorize diamonds.

Large stones are rare because rough diamonds lose much of their size during the faceting process, in which a rough stone is crafted into the beautiful diamond that you see under the display case. With the other C’s being equal, larger sized diamonds come with a larger price tag.

Cut

Many people think this refers to the shape of the stone. It actually has more to do with the angles of the facets. This affects the way the light hits the diamond and how it is refracted. A beautiful sparkle does not happen by accident.

How do gemologists identify an ideal cut diamond? They can tell from the fire, brilliance, and scintillation. Fire refers to the prismatic colors. Brilliance can be seen by the way it sparkles. Scintillation observes the flashes of light that occur as the diamond moves.

Higher cut means higher quality. A cut that is too deep or too shallow will bounce the light incorrectly and will not sparkle in the same way a diamond with a perfect cut. Indy Facets only sells diamonds with high quality cuts.

The one you love is one of a kind. The ring should be too.

Custom designed engagement rings is what Indy Facets does. Our Carmel location is Indianapolis’s place to go for beautiful custom pieces. Whether you are looking for a wedding ring, a holiday gift, or anything in between, you know that Indy Facets will put great attention to detail into your custom jewelry design.

There are a lot of inconsistencies in diamond grading and each diamond needs to be selected in person with the help of an experienced Graduate Gemologist to identify what is beautiful to you. Reach out to an on-campus Graduate Gemologist with at least several years of industry experience. If you have questions don’t hesitate to contact Shaun, he’d love to speak to you.