Questions about diamonds?

Question

When buying a diamond, which has more impact on the beauty and sparkle of a diamond---the color, the clarity, or the cut? Thanks!

Answer 1

I worked in a jewelry store for many years and I'd have to say that I believe that the color of the diamond has the most impact on the beauty and sparkle a diamond. The color scale goes from D (colorless white) to Z (brownish) and nobody wants to look at a brown diamond since it would make the diamond appear very dull. Even if the clarity of a diamond isn't so good, but the color of the diamond is between D-I, the flaws won't be so obvious. Think about the diamonds you have seen on others...for the clarity isn't something people notice from far away, but if the color of the diamond is yellow or off white you're going to notice that. As for the cut of the diamond, it definitely affects the sparkle, but if the color of the diamond is yellow or brownish it wouldn't matter how good the cut of the diamond was. Having to choose between better clarity, color or cut I would definitely go with the best color.

Answer 2

All impact the beauty and sparkle and the value of the diamond. If you are looking to work within a certain cost range you have to decide which factor(s) and what order you are willing to modify in order to get the quality stone you want - hence the beauty and sparkle.

Color is usually a primary since once you get lower on the color scale the diamond will look yellowish and not as bright. This will also depend on the color gold that the setting will be.

Clarity is going to indicate the flaws in the diamond and what is visible and not visible to the naked eye. This will sometimes be lower since to the naked eye there is a range on the scale that is pretty close.

Cut is an important decision from a personal view far as the shape goes. Emerald cuts are not brilliant and sparkle like a round or princess cut will be. The other thing is to get a good cut. There is a difference between a good and a bad cut and how the light will reflect off the facets.

Carat weight again becomes a personal decision. Is it quantity or is it the quality above first?

The site below has a pretty good overview of the scales for each of the key Cs. This will at least give you some idea of where you might want the boundaries for each of the Cs.

Have fun!

Answer 3

Though each of the 4 C's of diamonds are important (yes, 4....Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat)...the one that has the biggest impact on the beauty and sparkle is the Cut. The cut is not the shape (heart, princess, round, etc.). The Cut refers to the angles created by the craftsman when transforming the rough diamond into a polished diamond. It is the most important because it has the biggest effect on the 'fire' (brilliance) of a diamond.
If you have a diamond with excellent color and clarity but it has a poor cut, it will still appear dull...and dull diamonds do not sparkle! ;)

Answer 4

That's a personal question. Some people are more concerned with size, some with a specific color, and others with a particular cut or clarity. I'd say color and clarity are more important, since you could change the cut but not the other two, which are intrinsic properties of the specific diamond.

Answer 5

All three, plus carat, are factors in determining the beauty of the diamond. The cut or the number of facets and shape, though, will determine how light will be reflected which will in turn cause the "sparkle" of the stone.

Answer 6

You want a diamond that has a good score in all.. low scores in any of these will cut down the value and brilliance of a diamond.

Answer 7

Personally I like this order, I do not know how to apportion as $$.

But if is is so occluded that is does not sparkle, then its a no-go.

Color
Cut
Clarity

Answer 8

All are important, but cut has the most to do with sparkle.

Answer 9

All of the above, silly wabbit--

Answer 10

SIZE!