grading
To impart complete transparency and detailed information, we grade our diamonds in a very comprehensive manner. We always wanted our customers to read diamonds rather than view / inspect; hence we decided to grade in a very detailed way. Now with all information together, our customers don’t need to inspect any diamonds as they can read the grading details and can visualize – how the diamond will look?
- Clarity 32
- Color30
- Color Shade 3
- Cut 6
- Polish 6
- Center Black Inclusion 9
- Side Black Inclusion 9
- Center White Inclusion 9
- Side White Inclusion 9
- Luster 9
- Symmetry 3
- Hearts & Arrows 3
- Inclusion Visibility 3
- Do grade Eye Clean as a parameter
- Fluorescence 5
- Fluorescence Color 3
A carat is a unit of measurement used to weigh a diamond. One carat is equal to one-fifth of a gram (0.2 gram) or 200 mg. One carat is equal to 100 points or 100 cents
Carat weight is the most objective of the 4 C’s of diamonds as it involves no estimates, comparisons or judgments. Carat weight is directly related to a diamond’s value because (all else being equal) larger diamonds are rarer than smaller ones.
its natural sparkle and scintillation.
Cut refers to the quality of the proportions, polish and symmetry of a diamond. Of the 4C’s, the cut is the aspect most directly influenced by man, whereas the other three C’s are influenced by nature. Hence here the expertise and skills of manufacturing comes into the picture.
More than 85% of our diamonds are Excellent cut diamonds
The brilliance of a diamond depends a lot on its cut. Whatever the shape, a well-cut diamond always reflects better light. Diamonds with perfect color or clarity also display reduced brilliance if it’s cut poorly.
Diamonds are cut in many shapes but, it is the precision with which facets are polished onto a diamond, which allows it to capture light and release its brilliance and fire.
A polished diamond’s proportions affect its light performance, which in turn affects its beauty and overall appeal.
Diamonds with good proportions optimize the interaction with light, and have good brilliance, fire, and scintillation.
Polish and symmetry are two other important aspects of the cut. Polish describes the smoothness of the diamond’s facets (surface conditions), and symmetry refers to the alignment of the facets (the exactness of shape and placement of the facets).
To ensure a diamond has good symmetry, each facet must be consistently sized and positioned opposite its corresponding facet. Symmetry refers to the alignment of one part of the diamond to another. The exactness of a finished diamond shape and the placement of its facet constitute symmetry. With poor symmetry, light can be misdirected as it enters and exits the diamond.
Sub-grades in Symmetry as a parameter:
Polishing is the final step in diamond cutting. Ideally, a diamond should be free of any visible polish lines, burn marks, scratches or abrasions under 10 x magnifications. The smoother the polish, the more beautiful and brilliant the diamond will appear. Surface facets of a poorly polished diamond appear blurred or are dull in their sparkle.
Sub-grades in Polish as a parameter:
The color of a diamond is one of the vital factors influencing the price of diamond. In diamonds, the best color is no color at all. Colorless diamonds are extremely rare, hence making them the most sought after. Contrary to common belief, all diamonds are not truly colorless. They actually come in many different colours – commonly faint yellow or brown.
Colorless diamonds allow the maximum refraction of light thus maximising brilliance. In comparison Off White diamonds absorb light hence inhibiting
brilliance.
There is now an internationally recognized color grading scale that starts at D (colorless), and goes down to Z (light yellow). Each letter grade represents a range of color and is a measure of how noticeable the color is. Colorless diamonds and diamonds that are yellow or yellowish-brown are grouped into the
categories shown below:
- D
- E
- F
- G – H
- I – J
- K – M
- N – Z
- Absolutely colorless
- Colorless
- Colorless
- Near-colorless
- Near-colorless
- Noticeable color
- Noticeable color
- The highest color grade, which is extremely rare.
- Only minute traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist.
- Slight color detected by an expert gemologist, but still considered a “colorless” grade. A high-quality diamond.
- Color noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades, but these grades offer excellent value.
- Color slightly detectable.
- Light yellow
- Yellow
D, E or F commands the highest prices because of their rarity. Less than 1% of all diamonds are colorless hence they command a premium. For the untrained and unaided eye, it is very difficult to distinguish between D, E or F colors as they are all colorless with minuscule difference in color.
They are then followed by the near-colorless (G- H),followed by ( I- J) with G and H being universally most popular. The spectrum then gets a visible yellow hue from (K-R). Color more intense than (R) is considered fancy.
its natural sparkle and scintillation.
Intensely colored diamonds are known as “fancies” or fancy colored diamonds. Natural Fancy Color Diamonds are rare and can be very expensive. It’s said that out of 10,000 normal diamonds one of them would be a fancy color diamond. The most popular fancy color diamond is Yellow. Other colors such as Pink, Blue, purple and Red and can be extremely expensive.
Another characteristic that does not affect the color grade of a diamond but is worth keeping in mind is fluorescence.
This characteristic refers to the diamond’s ability to fluoresce under ultraviolet (UV) light. The most common source of UV is black light. When exposed to UV light, many diamonds will give off a distinctive glowing blue coloration. Although fluorescence may be displayed in various colors, blue is the most common in diamonds. The fluorescence of a diamond is defined by its intensity as either None, Faint, Medium, Strong, or Very Strong.
The color of a fancy coloured diamond is measured differently to a normal diamonds. The grading scale is based on the intensity of the color. The GIA fancy color grading scale is: Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, Fancy Deep and Fancy Dark.
It is any hazy or cloudy inclusion in a diamond. These inclusions appear misty white or grey Clouds may be either confined to a small area or may be spread throughout the stone. They usually affect the luster and brilliance in a diamond.
Flawless Diamonds Show no inclusions or blemishes of any sort when viewed under 10x magnification.
VS1, VS2 Diamonds (Very Slight Included) are minute and normally not visible to the unaided eye but can be detected with little effort under a magnifying loupe.
IF Diamonds (Internally Flawless) Shows no inclusion of any sort when viewed under 10x magnification although minor blemishes may be present.
SI1, SI2 Diamonds (Slightly Included) Inclusions are visible under 10x magnifications, and may possibly be visible with the naked eye.
VVS1, VVS2 Diamonds (Very Very Slightly Included) Inclusions almost impossible to detect with the naked eye and barely detectable under 10x magnification.
I1, I2, I3 Diamonds (Included) Inclusions are clearly visible to the naked eye
As the grading decreases the price decreases exponentially. This is because diamonds with better quality (correspondingly with lesser inclusions) are that much rarer.
Along with the type and number of inclusions, their position also makes an impact on the value and brilliance of a diamond.
Fortunately, diamonds of all clarity grades and prices, including those with eye-visible inclusions can look beautiful. It primarily depends on how well they are cut and other factors.
It is a clarity characteristic found within a diamond.
All kinds of internal imperfections formed before or after crystallization of a diamond and all imperfections rising from the surface and developing into the interior of the stone are included under inclusions.
They could be pin-points, crystalline objects, feathers, clouds, needle, twinning wisps, internal grainings or even air bubbles trapped inside the diamond. Inclusions can vary in size, color and relief. The location of the inclusion also has a significant impact on the value and look of a diamond.
We grade in a detailed manner about the level and location of both inclusions ( Black & White ) in the diamond, and below is the overview on the same :
center black
- NONEno black inclusion
- VLBC+very light black in center pinpoint
- VLBCvery light black in center
- LBClight black in center
- BICblack inclusion center
- MBCmajor black in center
- VLBCS+very light black in center & side pinpoint
- VLBCSvery light black in center & side
- LBCSlight black in center & side
side black
- NONEno black inclusion
- VLBS+very light black in side pinpoint
- VLBSvery light black in side
- LBSlight black in side
- BISblack in side
- MBSmajor black in side
- BCSblack in center & side
- MBCSmajor black center & side
center white
- NONEno feather inclusion
- VLFC+very light feather in center pinpoint
- VLFCvery light feather in center
- LFClight feather in center
- FICfeather inclusion center
- MFCmajor feather in center
- VLFCS+very light feather in center & side pinpoint
- VLFCSvery light feather in center & side
- LFCSlight feather in center & side
side white
- NONEno feather inclusion
- VLFS+very light feather in side pinpoint
- VLFSvery light feather in side
- LFSlight feather in side
- FISfeather inclusion side
- MFSmajor feather in side
- VLFCS+very light feather in center & side pinpoint
- VLFCSvery light feather in center & side
- LFCSlight feather in center & side
table side black
- NONEno black inclusion
- VLBTS+very light black in table side pinpoint
- VLBTSvery light black in table side
- LBTSlight black in table side
- BITSblack in table side
- MBSmajor black in side
- MBTSmajor black in table side
table side white
- NONEno feather inclusion
- VLFTS+very light feather in table side pinpoint
- VLFTSvery light feather in table side
- LFTSlight feather in table side
- FITSfeather in table side
- MFTSmajor feather in table side
Eye Clean
- ECeye clean
- BNblack inclusion noticeable under magnification
- WNwhite inclusion noticeable under magnification
- BWNblack & white inclusion noticeable under magnification
- BVblack inclusion visible with naked eye
- WVwhite inclusion visible with naked eye
- BWVblack & white inclusion visible with naked eye
Manufactures finest diamonds – of Canadian (Diavik and Ekati mines) and of Russian origin. We are also the ‘Approved Manufacturers of Canadamark’ and to have more details on the same, you can visit our group link Canadamark.com
A Canadamark™ diamond is guaranteed to be as authentic and ethical as it is brilliant. Canadamark offers transparency from rough to polished stone.
Responsibly mined and conscientiously traded, All Canadamark diamonds are responsibly mined in Canada’s Northwest Territories with respect for the sustainability of the natural environment and people living in the community. All Canadamark diamonds are tracked through independent, audited process at every stage from the mine of origin to the polished stone.
With a proper tracking system, we can always tell you the origin of our rough diamonds, hence you can know the provenance of your diamonds.