<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC '-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN' 'http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd'>; <html><head><title>Article Directory Online : Free Online Article Submission - Articleonlinedirectory | The 5 C's Of Diamond Rating - Cut, Clarity, Color, Carat And Created Diamonds</title></head><body><h3>The 5 C's Of Diamond Rating - Cut, Clarity, Color, Carat And Created Diamonds</h3><br /><br />By: <br /><br /><p>For centuries, diamonds have been evaluated using the four Cs: cut, clarity, color and carat. However, recent innovations have allowed the addition of a fifth C: created. Thanks to innovations in modern chemistry and physics, it is now possible to create jewel-quality stones. These created gems are free of the defects and inclusions that are present in most mined stones.<br /> <br /> The first C, "cut," refers to how the diamond has been cut by a jeweler. Even the most beautiful gem starts out as a rough stone with no facets. The way in which a gem sparkles and reflects light is dependent on how the facets are cut into it. The cut is one of the largest determinants of a stone's value. An excellent cut can turn a the right raw gem into a stone worth thousands or even millions of dollars, while a poor cut may ruin even an excellent gem. Since a cut cannot be undone and gemcutting takes years to master, the value of the cut cannot be underestimated.<br /> <br /> The next two Cs, "clarity," and "color" are determined by impurities in the gem's crystal structure. Small mineral deposits that appear as darker spots in the stone, called inclusions, are common. Inclusions do not necessarily ruin a gem; very few mined stones are given a grade of "flawless," and those few are incredibly expensive. Only the lowest clarity grades feature inclusions that are easily seen by the *** eye, and a good cut can help to conceal small inclusions and bring out the best of the stone.<br /> <br /> The purest of diamonds have no tinge of color. "D" denotes colorless, and the grading goes all the way to Z for light yellow. The further down the alphabet you go, the less desirable and thus, less expensive, the stone becomes. However, the right concentration of mineral impurities within the stone can be a good thing! These can create the rare colored, or "fancy," gems that feature attractive colors, including vibrant and intense yellows, pinks, champagnes and even deep blues like the famous Hope Diamond. The more vibrant or deep the color, the more valuable the gem becomes. Very few gem-quality mined diamonds achieve the "fancy" grade.<br /> <br /> The final C used to grade mined stones is carat size. Carat denotes the weight of the stone, regardless of its dimensions, and is a standardized measure equal to .2 grams. During the 1800s, a few rare gems of over 100 carats were discovered in remote South African mines. However, most gems used in jewelry range from .25 carats to 5 carats in size. The largest stones in this range are quite rare and very expensive. Carat weight increases a gem's price 10-20% for each step in size difference.<br /> <br /> The fifth C, "created", only applies to man-made stones. These cultured diamonds are produced in a lab by accelerating the natural processes which create gems. Man-made gems are free of inclusions because they are created under controlled conditions. However, most of them have vibrant colors that rival the most desirable and rarest mined "fancy" gems. They are indistinguishable from natural stones in their chemical makeup and optical qualities, and can be cut just like mined stones to provide the same luster, brilliance and scintillation.<br /> <br /> Cultured gems are also created in first-world laboratories and minimize the ecological impact of mining and the social impact that comes from the sale of so-called "blood diamonds." With all of these advantages, from quality to social concerns, it's not surprising that man-made diamonds are quickly becoming very popular.<br /> <br /> Reproduction permitted only when all active hyperlinks and author resource boxes are included. All rights reserved.</p> <br /><br /><b>Author Resource:-></b> If youre in the market for high-quality diamonds that satisfy your taste for uniqueness, JewelNet.com is the premiere provider of eco-friendly <a href=http://www.jewelnet.com/colors.html>created diamonds</a>. They offer loose stones and bridal jewelry, pendants and earrings with certified stones in six vibrant colors. Powered by <a href=http://seo-search-engine-optimization.netbiz.com/>SEO 2.0 Services</a><br /><br /><b>Article From</b> <a href='http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/'>Article Directory Online : Free Online Article Submission - Articleonlinedirectory</a><br /></body></html>
