Last week, we kicked off with Part I in our series on the diamond, anticipating our upcoming Diamond Event 
A rough diamond, uncut and unpolished, is something rather plain. Simple, clear or cloudy, some edges rigid and some flat, a rough diamond is a first draft in brilliance, waiting to be perfected. After being mined, the raw diamond is transformed from a rough stone into a faceted gem through an intricate cutting and polishing process. The complexities of this process cannot be overstated, and a number of specialized tools and techniques are required to bring a rough diamond to its full splendor.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed the 4 C's as a systematic method of classifying and rating diamond quality. The four qualities (cut, color, clarity, and carat) are the global criteria for rating a cut and polished diamond. Each of these qualities come together to determine the absolute value of the diamond, and while some of these characteristics cannot be changed, they can often be maximized by skilled diamond cutters and polishers.
Cutting a rough diamond into a beautiful gemstone is both a poem and an equation. A professional diamond cutter takes into account the diamond's color, typically rated from colorless to light (yellow), and its carat (with a single carat weighted at 200 mg) and uses these characteristics to determine which cut will maximize the value of the diamond. Color and weight retention are central to the chosen cut, whether it be Radiant, Round, Oval, Pear, or any other. The final C, clarity (from flawless to included), is a subtle characteristic usually reserved for experts in diamond classification, determined by the microscopic flaws that may or may not be present within the polished diamond.
The 4 C's are now the globally accepted standard in diamond evaluation. Today, each and every diamond that is placed into a gorgeous engagement ring or pair of breathtaking earrings has been rated according to this system of classification, and great care was taken by the diamond cutter to ensure the diamond was transformed from a rough stone to a magnificent faceted gemstone in accordance with these standards. Join us at McCaskill & Company November 21st and 22nd to see Ari perform this process first hand, and tune in next week for Part III of The Diamond.
