The 4 C’s

The cut of a diamond is the first and most important of the 4Cs. Cut defines the beauty of a diamond because it controls how the diamond handles light.

There are two factors that impact the cut of a diamond:

1) The shape

2) The quality of the cut

Two diamonds may have the same shape, but not necessarily the same quality. We consider both factors when sourcing diamonds at Kesslers.

Trust our diamond experts to consider a cut’s every detail:

Proportions
An improperly proportioned diamond will never truly dazzle the eye.

Weight
Most cutters are more concerned with saving as much weight from the rough crystal as possible, rather than producing the most beautiful diamond. As many as 90% or more of the diamonds on the market have had their beauty sacrificed for weight retention. Kesslers prioritizes beauty.

Depth
Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow lose light that spills through the side or bottom.

Clarity defines a diamond’s imperfections (or lack thereof) based on industry standards. These minute birthmarks are inherent in all diamonds – and the majority can’t be perceived with the naked eye.

We grade for clarity through a ten-power microscope – so even those rare diamonds graded as “flawless” are only flawless at ten-power. At a higher magnification, even a flawless diamond will likely have imperfections.

Out of the eleven possible grades, the first eight will look the same to the naked eye under normal conditions. This is why you have to see a diamond in person to gauge its beauty. Specs on paper don’t tell the full story.

Diamond color is the relative tint of the stone based on industry standards. Graded on a scale from D to Z, the color grade actually indiciates the absence of color in a white diamond.

A diamond graded D is absolutely colorless. A diamond graded Z is strongly tinted. When most diamonds form, their coloring ranges from tints of yellow to brown –shades that fall between D and Z in the alphabet.

A diamond’s color grade is determined prior to mounting, by viewing the stone face-down through the bottom. When the diamond is viewed face-up in its final setting, there are many grades of color that are visually indistinguishable from each other.