What Is A Diamond?

Diamonds are pure crystallised carbon formed under very high pressure and heat deep within the earth. Diamonds often contain minor impurities, not defects but better to think of these as birthmarks making each diamond unique. Diamonds are also the hardest natural substance on earth.

At Mandale Jewellery we have 3 grades available, as you will see in our custom ring collection-

1. Commercial white or White PK- this is a standard grade diamond which is white in colour, these are referred to as 'clean to the eye' however impurities become noticeable when viewed with a loupe at 10x magnification.
2. H/SI, this means the diamonds are no less than H grade colour as you can see on the scale below, and SI clarity meaning slightly included which you can also see below. Diamonds graded SI or higher providing they are looked after can continue to increase in value with some diamonds increasing by 6.5% annually, diamonds are a very good investment.
3. G/VS- a very good grade, this means the diamond is no less than G colour and VS clarity which means Very Slightly includes (you will see a more detailed description of what inclusions are below.

Other grades can be supplied, please call for details on 01642 679033.

The best way of grading a diamond is by using the four C's as shown below then combining these to give the grade and finally the price.

The Four C’s

Very important, this determines the price of all diamonds.

Cut - Cut has a big impact on the beauty of diamonds and sometimes least amount of difference in their price compared to colour, clarity and carat weight. The word cut has several meanings when it comes to diamonds. The cut of a diamond does not just mean its shape (round brilliant, princess, oval, cushion, etc.) but also addresses the symmetry, polishing, angles and the proportions of each physical aspect of the diamond. The cut determines the diamond's sparkle and brilliance. A properly cut diamond will refract the light that enters the diamond and return it through the top to produce the much desired sparkle. The angles have to be exactly right to optimize the reflection of light back to your eye. Mandale jewellery only use diamonds with the best cut approved by the British Gemological Institute.

Round       Princess      Emerald      Asscher      Marquise       Oval         Radient         Pear          Heart        Cushion

Colour - Diamond are found in a variety of colours such as Yellow, Brown, Blue, Pink, Red and Black depending on the impurities present, these are known as fancy colours, they are much rarer than the most common and sought after White diamonds. With white diamonds the whiter the better, the yellower they get the more they decrease in value. Colours are graded in letters from D-Z, if a white diamond is at the Z grade (bright yellow) it is classes as a fancy colour (Canary Diamond) and therefore dramatically increase in value.

Clarity - This indicates how clear the diamond is, how free from impurities, blemishes and other imperfections. This plays a big part in determining price although no more important than the other C’s. Impurities are- scratches, internal or external cracks, white crystal particles and black carbon spots which can cluster together to make “clouds”, chips and also man made mistakes by the cutter such as polish lines or extra facets. The grades for Clarity range from-

• Flawless- No surface or internal flaws (very expensive, a 1ct flawless diamond may cost up to £22,000!)
• VVS1 0r 2 (some minor inclusions or blemishes)
• VS1 or 2 (very slightly included)
• SI1 0r 2 (Slightly included)
• White PK/Commercial White (Clean to the eye, standard grade)
• I1 or 2 (Included)

The number on the end may either be 1 or 2; this represents the extent of inclusions, 1 being the cleanest.


Carat Weight - Most people think carat is the size of the diamond when infact it is the weight, the abbreviation of carat is ct. The most common Diamond weights are:

• 0.25ct (quarter carat)
• 0.50ct (half carat)
• 0.75ct (three quarter carat)
• And 1.00ct (1 carat) then going up to unlimited ct's- the largest diamond on Earth, the 530ct Star of Africa which resides in the Crown Jewels of England. The Star of Africa was cut from the largest diamond ever found on Earth, a 3,100-carat gem. Although the newly discovered cosmic diamond weighs 10 billion trillion trillion carats, it is also 50 light-years from earth.

One carat equals 1/142nd of an ounce, or 1/5th of a gram. In other words... there are 142 carats in 1 ounce and 5 carats in 1 gram.

The word "carat" comes from the ancient practice in India (where diamonds were first discovered and traded) of measuring diamond weights with the one thing in nature that is both small and the most consistent in weight -- the carob seed. Thus the name "carat" evolved in the English language, which is still equivalent to approximately the weight of one carob bean.

You may also have heard a diamond referred to in points. A 1ct diamond is 100 points therefore a quarter carat or 0.25ct diamond is 25 points.