Le guide des 4C du diamant

Un gage de qualité international

Bijoux Swarovski Created Diamonds Consultez le guide d’achat

Que signifie 4C ?

Reconnus dans le monde entier, les 4C sont une référence dans le monde diamantaire pour évaluer la qualité et la valeur d’une pierre, selon quatre critères : la taille (cut), la clarté (clarity), la couleur (color) et le caratage (carat). Les diamants créés en laboratoire des collections Swarovski Created Diamonds sont également évalués en fonction des 4C par l’IGI (International Gemological Institute). Les diamants créés en laboratoire se distinguent par leur excellente qualité : G+ pour la couleur et VS+ pour la clarté.

imagerie conceptuelle des bagues en diamants de synthèse

La clarté

La clarté du diamant définit la pureté de celui-ci. La pierre est évaluée en fonction de deux critères visuels : les inclusions et les imperfections. Pour ce faire, le gemmologue a recours à une loupe de grossissement 10x. Le nombre et la nature des éléments externes (imperfections) et internes (inclusions), ainsi que leur taille et leur position déterminent le degré de clarté.

Clarté : principes et facteurs

On jugera la clarté d’un diamant créé en laboratoire en fonction de ses défauts. Ce sont ses inclusions et ses imperfections qui lui prêtent un charme et un caractère uniques. Retrouvez ci-dessous plus d’informations sur la clarté du diamant.

LE DIAMANT LE PLUS PUR

Le plus haut degré de clarté d’un diamant est noté I.F. (sans défaut interne). Ce type de diamant est d’une extrême rareté. La plupart des diamants extraits de mines ou créés en laboratoire possèdent des inclusions.

À l’œil nu

Tous les diamants possèdent des imperfections. Ceux ayant obtenu les notes I.F. et SI 2 comportent des inclusions invisibles à l’œil nu, pouvant uniquement être détectées à la loupe.

Types d’inclusions

Les différents types d’inclusion du diamant peuvent provenir de plumes, de gaz ou de métaux. Seuls les diamants créés en laboratoire comportent des inclusions métalliques.

LA MAGIE DE LA LUMIÈRE

Les inclusions et imperfections viennent affecter le parcours de la lumière au sein du diamant.

I.F.

Sans défauts internes

VVS 1

VVS 2

Minuscules inclusions

VS 1

VS 2

Très légères inclusions

SI 1

SI 2

Légères inclusions

I 1

I 2

I 3

Inclusions

Schéma de clarté du diamant

Échelle d’évaluation de la clarté du diamant

L’échelle de clarté du diamant s’étend de la note I.F à I 3, en fonction du nombre d’inclusions et d’impuretés de chaque pierre. Les degrés de pureté des diamants sont déterminés dans des conditions d'observation standardisées à l’aide d’une loupe de grossissement 10x. I.F. signifie que le diamant ne comporte aucun défaut interne. À l’inverse, I 3 correspond aux inclusions visibles. Les diamants dépourvus de tout défaut sont rarissimes. Presque toutes les pierres, y compris les diamants créés en laboratoire, contiennent des inclusions.

La taille

La taille reflète la manière dont les facettes du diamant interagissent avec la lumière pour révéler son feu intérieur. Elle donne à chaque pierre sa personnalité, ses proportions parfaites, sa symétrie. Chaque angle taillé avec précision confère à nos diamants créés en laboratoire une brillance éclatante.

Taille : principes et facteurs

La qualité d’un diamant créé en laboratoire dépend de ses proportions, de sa symétrie et de son polissage. La qualité de la taille créera une multitude de facettes afin que la lumière circule et se reflète sous tous ses angles.

UNE BRILLANCE MAXIMALE

Un diamant aux proportions symétriques et aux facettes parfaitement alignées reflètera la lumière avec la plus grande intensité et l’éclat le plus saisissant.

TABLEAU D’HONNEUR

Les tailles de diamants sont évaluées par le IGI, d’après une échelle allant d’Excellent à Médiocre. La taille parfaite nécessite un savoir-faire technique, artistique et une très grande expertise.

EVERY FACET

Facet is the term used to describe each flat surface that makes up the surface of a diamond, each absorbing and dispersing the light differently.

The bEST CUT

While proportion, symmetry, and polish determine a diamond’s place on the diamond cut table, there is no best cut when it comes to a stone that sparks joy.

Colorless

D-F

Near colorless

G-J

Slightly tinted

K-M

Very light color

N-R

Light color

S-Z

Diamond color scale and chart

Diamond coloring is rated on a scale from D to Z, with D clear ice white with no hint of yellow, while those rated Z are shades of yellow and brown. Each letter range on the chart denotes a shade of stone, with those rated D to F appearing colorless, through to S to Z appearing in shades of light yellow or brown. Swarovski only accepts the finest laboratory grown diamonds in its collections, meaning they range from colorless to nearly colorless diamonds (D-G).

Color Principles and Factors

Colorless stones are the most desirable in the world of diamonds and they are extremely rare. Swarovski Created Diamonds are evaluated against the standardized diamond color scale.

COLORLESS DIAMONDS

Truly colorless diamonds are extremely rare. Also known as ice white, D diamonds are also the most expensive diamond color to buy.

FIND YOUR SHADE

Finding a D diamond color isn’t always important when selecting your stone. A warm white might suit your individual style more than an ice white.

CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT

Each diamond’s color grade is assessed in a laboratory using controlled lighting, with the stone faced down, and with master samples used for comparison.

BLEMISHES

Laboratory grown diamonds do not include any intentional blemishes or the color defects that can come from the use of poorer quality carbon seeds.

What is diamond carat weight?

A carat is a unit of weight used specifically to measure precious stones including laboratory grown diamonds. A diamond may have a higher carat weight without appearing larger, and two diamonds of the same carat weight can vary in size if one is cut deeper than the other. One carat weighs 1/5 of a gram and is divided into 100 points.

2.5 mm

0.05 CT

3.0 mm

0.10 CT

3.8 mm

0.20 CT

4.5 mm

0.30 CT

4.8 mm

0.40 CT

5.2 mm

0.50 CT

5.8 mm

0.70 CT

6.3 mm

0.90 CT

6.5 mm

1.00 CT

6.9 mm

1.25 CT

7.4 mm

1.50 CT

7.8 mm

1.75 CT

8.2 mm

2.00 CT

8.8 mm

2.50 CT

9.4 mm

3.00 CT

Diamond Carat Weight

Laboratory Grown Diamond Carat Scale

The carat measurement is derived by the word ‘carob’, a seed that was used as a diamond weight reference for traders in the ancient world. Carats are an international standard unit of measurement for the weight of a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, so a 5 carat diamond will weigh one gram. The diamond carat does not refer to the size of a stone, simply how much it weighs. Diamonds usually become more expensive as their carat increases.

Discover Diamonds

Forever Brilliance

Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry herald the start of an exciting new chapter. Expanding our unmistakable savoir-faire into multidimensional new territories and breaking new ground in our mastery of cut and light-filled creation.

Discover Swarovski Created Diamonds

man made diamonds impressionistic imagery

All About Swarovski Created Diamonds

Laboratory Grown Diamonds

Discover the world of Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry, redefining the future of diamonds with exceptional collections that bridge the gap between tradition and current trends. From the otherworldly brilliance of our interstellar collection to the pure elegance of our signature pieces, find a style that will last a lifetime.

Laboratory Grown Diamonds Buying Guide

Find the perfect piece

A natural progression of our brand DNA, Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are laboratory grown diamonds, masterfully cut, intensely bright, and identical to their mined counterparts in every way but origin. Formed layer by layer from a carbon seed, they serve as a flawless reflection of nature’s radiance.

Read our Laboratory Grown Diamonds Buying Guide

What are Laboratory Grown Diamonds?

Laboratory Grown Diamonds explained

Find out more about diamonds that are grown in a laboratory, and how the process of replicating the way diamonds are formed in the earth is achieved. Discover the different cuts of diamonds in the Swarovski Created Diamond Collections, as well as the inspiration behind the designs.

What are Laboratory Grown Diamonds?

Frequently asked questions

Diamond 4Cs FAQs

What are the 4Cs?

Every diamond varies slightly from the next and has its own individual distinguishing characteristics. Laboratory grown diamonds are 100% diamonds, and just like mined diamonds our laboratory grown diamonds are evaluated according to the 4Cs of diamond grading. The 4Cs are color, clarity, cut and carat weight, and they are the globally accepted standards used to assess the quality of diamonds.

Is diamond clarity important?

The higher the clarity grading, the less inclusions or blemishes a diamond has, making it a higher-value diamond than one with a lower grading.

What is the highest diamond clarity?

Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity of the stone graded by the visibility of two types of characteristics - inclusions and blemishes.
In order to assess clarity, the diamond is inspected under 10x power magnification. The number and nature of external (blemishes), and internal characteristics (inclusions), as well as their size and position, determine the grade.
Gemologists grade diamonds from Internally Flawless (IF) as the highest quality to Included (I3).

Are laboratory grown diamonds flawless?

No, nearly all diamonds (mined or laboratory grown) have inclusions. Metallic inclusions can occur in laboratory grown diamonds. If an expert spots a trace of metal in a diamond, they can assume it is laboratory grown. While laboratory grown diamonds with defects do exist, Swarovski only uses high quality laboratory grown diamonds certified by the International Gemological Institute (IGI) according to the 4Cs to ensure that only the finest quality diamonds join the Swarovski Created Diamond collections.

Do laboratory grown diamonds get cloudy?

No, laboratory-grown diamonds do not get cloudy over time. They are 100% identical to diamonds with the same physical and chemical properties, and should not degrade or change appearance over time. Where poor quality diamond seeds have been used, some laboratory-grown diamonds contain obvious defects, such as color tinges from impurities in the diamond or crystal structure imperfections. The laboratory grown diamonds processed in Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are a very high quality standard and do not have unnatural, problematic characteristics.

How are laboratory grown diamonds certified and graded?

The laboratory grown diamonds processed in Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are hand-selected and examined by experienced gemologists to ensure they fulfill our high quality standards. Every piece of jewelry in the Galaxy and Eternity collections is accompanied with a digital laboratory report from the International Gemological Institute (IGI).

What are diamond facets?

Diamond facets refer to each flat surface that creates the shape of a diamond. Every diamond possesses multiple facets that enable it to absorb and reflect light.

How is diamond cut quality determined?

We often think of a diamond’s cut as shape (round, heart, oval, marquise, pear), but what diamond cut actually does mean is how well a diamond’s facets interact with light. The cut of a diamond is the measure of the quality of the shape, geometry and finish of the diamond. Round brilliant diamonds receive a formal cut grade on a scale from Ideal (the best) to Poor. Swarovski is uncompromising on cut quality to ensure all of our laboratory grown diamonds have optimal light performance and sparkle.

What is the best diamond cut?

ダイヤモンドカットのグレードは、カットとは、ダイヤモンドのファセットが光とどのように相互作用してファイアーを導き出すかを表すものです。それぞれのストーンに個性を与えるのはカットであり、プロポーション、対称性、および精密なカットの角度を完璧にすることで、ラボラトリー・グロウン・ダイヤモンドに素晴らしい輝きが生まれます。ダイヤモンドの評価は、ダイヤモンドカットのチャートのプロポーション、シンメトリー、ポリッシュという3つの要素によって決まりますが、輝きには最高のストーンカットが一番重要です。浅すぎず深すぎず、幅と深さのバランスがシンメトリーになるカットが最高とされています。ダイヤモンドの内部を通過する光の完璧な屈折点を作り出し、光をダイヤモンド内で反射させ、磨かれた輝きを際立たせます。

ダイヤモンドのカラーはどのように決まるのでしょうか？

カラーとは、ホワイトダイヤモンドに固有の自然な色合いを指します。カラーグレーディングの業界基準では、マスターストーンに照らしてダイヤモンドを評価し、D（カラーレス）からZ（ライトカラー）までのアルファベットでグレードを評価します。ダイヤモンドは無色に近いほど品質が高いとされています。

ラボラトリー・グロウン・ダイヤモンドに傷はありますか？

グレードの低いダイヤモンドの種結晶が使用されたラボラトリー・グロウン・ダイヤモンドの中には、不純物による色合いや結晶構造の欠陥といったものが含まれる場合がありますが、優れた品質が認められたラボラトリー・グロウン・ダイヤモンドのみがSwarovski Created Diamondsコレクションに使用されることを許されます。

ダイヤモンドのカラット重量とは？

カラットはラボラトリー・グロウン・ダイヤモンドをはじめとする宝石の重さを測る際に使われる重さの単位です。カラット数が大きくてもそれほど大きく見えない場合や、同じカラット数でもカットの深さによって見た目の大きさが違う場合があります。1カラットは0.2gで、100分の1カラットまで表示されます。

ダイヤモンドのカラット重量とは何ですか？どのように測定され、またどのくらい重要ですか？

カラットはラボラトリー・グロウン・ダイヤモンドをはじめとする宝石の重さを測る際に使われる重さの単位です。ダイヤモンドのカラットはストーンの大きさではなく、単にその重さを指します。1カラットは100分の1まで表示されるため、小数点以下2桁までの正確な測定が可能になります。1カラット未満のダイヤモンドの重量は、その小数点以下の数字だけで示されている場合もあります。ダイヤモンドは通常、カラット数が大きくなるにつれ高価になりますが、お好みやライフスタイルによってベストなダイヤモンドを選びましょう。

ダイヤモンドはカラットが高いほうが良いのでしょうか？

お客様の好みによって選んでいただくことが重要です。より大きなダイヤモンドをお探しの場合は、カラット数が大きくなるにつれ高価になります。