Diamonds are forever. The English name for diamonds came from the Greek word ”adamas” - unbreakable, invincible and unyielding - aptly describing the hardest natural substance on Earth. Nothing can scratch a diamond except another diamond.
Solitaire rings for life’s most precious moments. (Blossom & Vicker)
The globally accepted standards for assessing diamonds are the 4C's: Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Colour. Most major laboratories today follow the Diamond Grading System introduced by GIA, the most reliable gemmological institution in the world for authenticating and grading diamonds.
Cut: While all four criteria affect a diamond's quality, BV believes that a diamond's cut is the most important among the 4C's. The cut determines a diamond's brilliance, sparkle, and overall beauty and matters far more than the other factors. The precise angle and proportion of the cut significantly impact how the diamond returns light and, therefore, sparkles. If the cut is too shallow or deep, the diamond will appear dull due to light leakage or other issues.
Colour: Though the brilliance and fire of the diamond can, to a certain extent, camouflage a slightly yellowish tint, colour is still an important factor. D, E, and F colours are categorised under the desired 'colourless' range. They are a must to pick if we want a diamond that can command value appreciation potential.
Clarity: GIA has developed a highly scientific system to differentiate a diamond's clarity. Under ten times magnification, the clarity ranges from Flawless (F/IF), Very Very Small (VVS), Very Small (VS), to Slightly Included (SI), among others. From an investment perspective, choosing a clarity grade between VVS1-VVS2 is highly preferred, while VS1 is the second-best choice. However, maintaining a perfect 'flawless' diamond can be challenging, as any minor chips or scratches can easily downgrade the 'F' status and substantially affect its value.
Carat: A diamond's carat weight is instrumental to its value appreciation potential and investment return in the long run. A diamond above 2 carats is considered a decent size for investment, depending on an individual's affordability and personal preferences.
Mohs hardness: 10
