Learn about diamond cut, color, clarity, and carat weight from the diamond experts at Frank Jewelers, and find the perfect diamond today!

For over 60 years, the knowledgeable Frank Jewelers staff is has presented their Freeport, Illinois, area customers with an immense collection of GIA-certified loose diamonds of all shapes, sizes, and varieties.

Aware that the world of diamond shopping can intimidating, the trained diamond experts at Franks Jewelers have put together this easy-to-follow guide to help their customers understand the 4 C’s of diamond buying. Meaning Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight, the 4 C’s of diamond buying are to remember when searching for the perfect loose diamond for any situation.

1. Cut:

The determination of a diamond’s brilliance, cut refers to the shape of a diamond. Found today in an array of cuts, every diamond shape has its various advantages and disadvantages.

Some Popular Diamond Cuts:

  • Round: Round diamonds are circle shaped, and are generally the brightest of all diamond cuts.
  • Princess: Princess cut diamonds are square in shape, are renowned for their subtlety and versatility.
  • Asscher: Created in the late 1880’s, asscher diamonds are bright and feature due to their large facets and high crowns.
  • Pear, Heart, Oval, and Emerald Cuts: All “modified brilliant-cuts”, these are perfect for those searching a unique and distinctive diamond.

According to the experts at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), diamond cut is rated on a scale that ranges from “Excellent” to “Poor”, and greatly depends on the ability of the stone cutter themselves.

2. Color:

Referring to the colorlessness of a, color is graded on a scale that goes from “D: Absolutely Colorless” to “Z: Noticeably Colored”.

As Freeport’s leading diamond retailer, Frank Jewelers only sells stones of color rated M or better.

3. Clarity:

A way to record the amount of flaws (sometimes called inclusions) which occur naturally, diamonds with higher a clarityrating are usually pricier than “less clear” stones.

Clarity is Graded as:

FL: Flawless.

IF: Internally Flawless.

VS: Very Slightly Included.

SI: Slightly Included.

I: Included.

When diamond shopping, it is important to remember that most diamond flaws are hard to see with the naked eye, and can be easily covered by a ring’s diamond setting.

4. Carat Weight:

Finally, carat weight is a way to talk about the physical weight of a diamond. Usually, the higher a diamond’s weight the bigger the price, and because carat weight doesn’t guarantee a diamond of high quality, it’s important to pay attention to a diamond’s cut, color, and clarity of a diamond.

Explore Frank Jewelers’ Vast Selection of Certified Loose Diamonds Today!

Located in Freeport, Illinois, Frank Jewelers is the leading Stephenson County source to find wonderful selection of completely certified loose diamonds. In Frank Jewelers’ intimate showroom, diamond seekers will be greeted by a team of skilled diamond experts who are trained in the 4 C’s.

For more information, or to make an appointment with one of the diamond professionals at Frank Jewelers, contact us , call us 815.235.3169, or stop into their Freeport showroom today!