For many people searching for that special diamond piece, particularly those in the market for an engagement ring, one of the first things you will probably come across in your research is the 4 C’s: colour, clarity, cut and carat.First thought up by GIA director Robert Shipley in the 1940s, it would be yet another decade before universally agreed methods of classifying diamonds in these categories came about. A relatively modern invention in the long history of the diamond, the 4 Cs were developed in conjunction with the round brilliant cut, a cut of diamond which has the same standardised angles and facets.
Diamond grading was invented long after many antique diamonds were set into jewellery. For most of history, diamonds have been hand-cut and faceted with age-old techniques that are no longer time or cost effective to employ, and priorities were different. Where today the focus is on getting the most yield out of one stone, in the past, it was all about achieving the most beauty.Each diamond would be cut with its own physical characteristics in mind to get the most beautiful and dazzling result. Therefore each antique diamond is utterly unique in its own right and does not rely on the 4 C’s as a means of differentiation.Whilst many of the diamonds in our antique pieces come with certificates, produced in retrospect as they have become the industry standard, many do not, which is common when it comes to buying antique jewellery. We do ensure that when it comes to getting our diamonds graded we use GIA, as they have the highest standards and most stringent practices when it comes to assessing each stone.Should you be interested in a diamond from our collection without a certificate, our GIA trained in-house gemmologists can provide a professional opinion. Alternatively, visit our showroom and have a look at the diamond yourself, both under the loupe and outside in daylight. We aim to provide utmost transparency when it comes to selecting your diamond.
Enjoying your diamond every day is important, and there are several factors to consider when choosing one for yourself or a loved one.Do you like how it sparkles? Many old cut and old mine diamonds have a far superior scintillation in the natural light settings that you would be viewing your diamond in everyday, unlike modern brilliant cuts which are designed to sparkle most under bright white lighting.Are you drawn to the design? Each antique engagement ring and piece of jewellery would have been crafted by hand and features unique designs. This allows you to find the jewel that speaks to your personality and style. The diamond is simply part of the overall piece, and it is the jewel as a whole that you will be seeing every day.At Berganza, we believe that selecting and presenting jewellery should be an emotive experience. We aim to guide all our customers into choosing a piece that speaks to them, or their loved one. To look down at your hand and love what you see is the most important consideration when it comes to engagement ring shopping.
The only time you are likely to consider or even think about the 4 C’s is when you are shopping for a diamond. Upon wearing or presenting the piece, any facts and figures as seen on a certificate are often forgotten about, replaced by joy, love, and the establishment of a soon to be cherished memory.
Reducing the physical characteristics of a diamond to a set of mere facts and figures is decidedly unromantic. We encourage you to look beyond the 4 C’s and the certificates and experience the finest quality jewellery from across the eras in the way they were created to be seen, and not through a standardised modern lens.
Choose thoughtfully, choose personally, and you can’t go wrong.
Colour refers to the whiteness of the diamond and is measured on a scale of D-Z, D being colourless. Cut refers to how the diamond interacts with light, a factor which can only be applied for modern round brilliant cuts. Carat is a measure of weight with 1 carat = 200 milligrams and clarity refers to how included the diamond is.
D is the highest colour grade, meaning the stone is colourless, however the best colour is down to personal opinion, with many preferring the warmth (and price!) of a diamond further down the scale.
Having a diamond accompanied by a certificate means that you know the physical characteristics of the stone.
Not necessarily, whilst larger diamonds are rarer to find, the colour and clarity also play an important part in the value of a stone.
Whilst all the 4 C’s are looked at together when assessing value, the importance of each is subjective, with many people prioritising one over another.
