Sun Jewelry

A diamond is judged by four distinct factors that combine to arrive at its value. These are commonly known as the "Four Cs.

CARAT WEIGHT:
As with all precious stones, the weight of a diamond is expressed in carats. The word "carat" originated in a natural unit of weight-the seeds of the carob tree. Diamonds were traditionally weighed against these seeds until the system was standardized and one carat was fixed at 0.2 grams (one fifth of a gram). One carat is divided into 100 "points" so that a diamond of 25 points is described as quarter of a carat or 0.25 carat.

CLARITY:
Almost all diamonds contain minute traces of non-crystallized carbon or small non-diamond crystals. Most are not discernible to the naked eye and require magnification to become visible. Called inclusions, they are nature's fingerprint and make each diamond unique. However, the fewer inclusions there are, the rarer and more valuable the stone will be. Clarity is the term that is used to indicate the extent to which the diamond you purchase is free of these natural phenomena.

COLOR:
Although the majority of gem-quality diamonds appear to be colorless, others can contain increasing tinges of yellow or brown, some of which are referred to as "champagne" diamonds. Rare stones of exceptional color-green, red, blue, pink, or amber-are known as "fancies."

CUT:
The cut, or make, of a diamond will dramatically influence its fire and sparkle, for it is the cut that enables a diamond to make the best use of light. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the crown or the top of the stone. When a diamond is cut too deep or too shallow, its brilliance is diminished.

THE FIFTH C - CONFIDENCE IN YOUR JEWELER:
When making one of your most important purchases, it is important that you work with a reliable and trustworthy jeweler. Barry Peterson Jewelers will earn your trust. We are diamond experts and will be happy to explain the Four Cs to you. We will explain the difference between various qualities of diamonds and how these differences affect the price and quality of diamond jewelry.