The Diamond Guide
Admired, desired and worn for thousands of years, this mesmerizing stone has many characteristics that will help determine its quality and beauty.
The 4Cs according to Viltier
Each diamond has its own characteristics, which will allow experts to assess its quality and beauty. The GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) distinguishes 4 determining criteria for the evaluation of a diamond, which are called "the 4C": Cut (the size), Color (the color), Clarity (the purity), Carat (the weight).
Viltier accepts only the highest quality diamonds and, beyond the 4Cs, our experts strive to select stones with a strong emotional character, vibrant and sparkling stones.
Cut is the only criterion for evaluating a diamond. Influenced by the hand of man. Carefully made, thanks to a play of light between the facets, the rough stone will reveal all its brilliance and sparkle. This is what is called the "fire" of the diamond.
The most common cut is the brilliant cut (Round) with 58 facets. Viltier also uses so-called fancy cuts: Pear, cushion, marquise, etc. Viltier only uses diamonds qualified as Very Good and Excellent cuts.
The color of a diamond refers to its natural hue. It can range from a very white color to a strong yellow coloration. Gemological standards define a scale from D (the whitest) to Z (the most colorful). From a certain hue, approximately the letter K, the diamond is considered "colored".
The rarest and most sought-after color is the whitest because it gives the diamond a lot of liveliness and brilliance. The difference in grading between two shades can be very subtle and requires careful examination of the stone.
In order to offer the most beautiful creations, Viltier only uses bright, colorless diamonds, between D and G.
This criterion refers to the clarity of the diamond, referring to the natural inclusions that are found in the stone. These are the internal marks, spots or external marks made during the natural process of creating the diamond under extreme temperatures and pressures.
Again, the diamond is graded on a specific and precise scale, ranging from FL (very rare: total absence of the slightest inclusions) to I (numerous inclusions visible to the naked eye).
Viltier diamonds are rigorously selected to not have any inclusions visible to the naked eye, between FL (Flawless) and VS (Very Slightly Included = Very slight inclusions).
The carat refers to the unit of weight of the diamond, 1 Carat being equal to 0.2 grams.
The weight of a diamond combined with the other three criteria determines the value and quality of a stone. A diamond of several carats but with low qualities of cut, clarity and color can therefore have much less value than a smaller diamond that has all the other qualities.
How to maintain my Viltier jewelry
Visit our maintenance and repairs page to learn more about caring for your Viltier jewelry.
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