What Are the 4Cs of Diamonds?
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Universally recognized, the 4Cs are a guiding light in the world of diamonds, helping to determine the quality and value of each stone - the 4Cs stand for color, cut, carat, and clarity. The laboratory grown diamonds in the Swarovski Created Diamonds collections are graded against these 4Cs by IGI, the International Gemological Institute. The laboratory grown diamonds in these collections are of very fine quality: G+ in color and VS+ in clarity.
What is 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 clarity grading.
Clarity Principles and Factors
Title:The clarity of a lab grown diamond is judged by its flaws, which means the inclusions and blemishes that give it unique character and charm. Discover more about diamond clarity below.
I.F.
Internally flawless
VVS 1
VVS 2
Very very slightly included
VS 1
VS 2
Very slightly included
SI 1
SI 2
Slightly included
I 1
I 2
I 3
Included
Diamond Clarity Chart
Title:Diamond clarity scale and grades
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The diamond clarity scale runs from I.F. to I 3 and is based on the number of inclusions and blemishes found in each stone. Diamond clarity grades are determined under standard viewing conditions with 10x magnification; I.F. is used to represent an internally flawless diamond, while at the other end of the diamond clarity chart, I 3 stands for the inclusion of a visible blemish. Truly flawless diamonds are extremely rare – almost all stones, including laboratory grown diamonds, have inclusions of some kind or other.
What is diamond cut?
Cut refers to how a diamond’s facets interact with light to reveal its internal fire. It is the cut that gives each stone its personality, and perfecting the proportions, symmetry, and precision-cut angles of lab made diamonds gives them their brilliant shine.
Cut Principles and Factors
Title:The quality of how a lab grown diamond is cut is based on its proportions, symmetry, and polish. An expert cut creates a multitude of facets, absorbing and reflecting the light so the stone shimmers from every angle.
Colorless
D-F
Near colorless
G-J
Slightly tinted
K-M
Very light color
N-R
Light color
S-Z
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Subtitle:
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 lab grown diamonds in its collections, meaning they range from colorless to nearly colorless diamonds (D-G).
Color Principles and Factors
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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.
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
Title:Lab Grown Diamond Carat Scale
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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 Swarovski Created Diamonds
All About Swarovski Created Diamonds
Title:Laboratory Grown Diamonds
Subtitle: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.
Lab Grown Diamonds Buying Guide
Title:Find the perfect piece
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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.
What are Laboratory Grown Diamonds?
Title:Laboratory Grown Diamonds explained
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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.
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).
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?
Diamantfacetten verwijzen naar elk plat oppervlak dat de vorm van een diamant bepaalt. Elke diamant heeft meerdere facetten waarmee hij licht kan absorberen en weerspiegelen.
Hoe wordt de kwaliteit van de slijpvorm bepaald?
We denken bij de slijpvorm van een diamant vaak aan de vorm (rond, hart, ovaal, markies, peer), maar de slijpvorm van een diamant betekent eigenlijk hoe goed de facetten van de diamant op het licht reageren. De slijpvorm van een diamant is een maatstaf voor de kwaliteit van de vorm, geometrie en afwerking van de diamant. Ronde briljantgeslepen diamanten krijgen een formeel slijpcijfer op een schaal van Perfect (het beste) tot Slecht. Swarovski sluit geen compromissen op het gebied van slijpkwaliteit om ervoor te zorgen dat al onze laboratorium-diamanten optimale lichtprestaties en schittering hebben.
Wat is de beste slijpvorm voor diamanten?
De slijpvorm verwijst naar de manier waarop de facetten van een diamant reageren op licht om de interne fonkeling te onthullen. Het is de slijpvorm die elke steen zijn persoonlijkheid geeft. Het perfectioneren van de groottes, symmetrie en precisiegeslepen randen van Swarovski Created Diamonds geeft ze hun schitterende glans. De beste slijpvorm heeft een goed evenwicht tussen de breedte en diepte om symmetrie te creëren, niet te ondiep en niet te diep. Dit creëert het perfecte breekpunt van licht, wat in de diamant wordt weerspiegelt en de gepolijste helderheid accentueert.
Hoe wordt de kleur van een diamant bepaald?
Kleur verwijst naar de natuurlijke tint die inherent is aan witte diamanten. De industriestandaard voor het beoordelen van kleur is om elke diamant te beoordelen aan de hand van een originele set en vervolgens een letterclassificatie van D (kleurloos) tot Z (lichtgeel) toe te kennen.
Hoe kleurlozer de diamant is, hoe hoger de kwaliteit.
Hoe kleurlozer de diamant is, hoe hoger de kwaliteit.
Hebben laboratorium-diamanten onzuiverheden?
Wanneer diamantzaden van slechte kwaliteit zijn gebruikt, bevatten sommige laboratorium-diamanten duidelijke gebreken, zoals kleurafwijkingen door onzuiverheden of structurele onvolkomenheden. Swarovski verkoopt geen laboratorium-diamanten met onnatuurlijke, problematische kenmerken.
Wat is het karaatgewicht van een diamant?
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.
What is the carat weight of a diamond, how is it measured and how important is it?
Carat weight it the standard weight unit for diamonds, and the first step in the grading process. Diamond carat weight is the measurement of how much the diamond weighs. Each carat can be subdivided into 100 “points.” This allows precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. The weight of a diamond smaller than one carat may be described by its “points” alone. The larger the diamond is, the more carats it will be, but only you can decide how important that is to you.
Is it better to have a higher carat diamond?
This is an entirely personal question. If you are looking for a larger diamond, you should look for a higher carat, as this indicates the weight and therefore the size of the diamond.