Those born in the month of April are lucky enough to call the most sought-after gemstone in the world their birthstone, the diamond. The gem has incredible popularity with people all over the world and is known as being a symbol of love if bought for another person, but also a symbol of self-love and empowerment. Diamonds are the oldest stone, and they are believed to have been found in India over three billion years ago. At McGowans Jewellers we have tips for you when you are looking to buy your next diamond, whether that is a pair of studs or a dazzling diamond pendant.

In celebration of Aprils birthstone, let us discuss the 4Cs.

The commonly recognised standard components for a diamond, to determine its quality are the 4Cs: cut, colour, clarity, and carat.

So, let us look at each of these sections separately and go into more detail on what they mean for the April birthstone.

Cut

The cut of a diamond is the most crucial factor and determines how the gemstone appears to the human eye. The cut gives us the overall finish of the diamond including its shape, style, proportions, and symmetry. There are three diverse ways that a diamond can be cut which changes how the light reflects from it, determining the overall finish of the stone.

Deep cut, well cut and shallow cut

The three distinct types of diamond cuts are deep cut, well cut and shallow cut in which a craftsman can create when working with rough diamonds.

A deep cut diamond has more depth than a well cut or shallow cut option despite the fact it may appear smaller than diamonds of the same carat weight.

A well-cut diamond is frequently known as ‘the ideal cut’. These diamonds will appear larger than they are by reflecting more light from the flat face. Additionally, it can disguise imperfections and make the colour appear more vivid.

When looking at a shallow cut diamond we can see that light reflects from the bottom half of the stone at a low angle. This means that the light comes through the diamond and leaves through the sides rather than through the flat face.

Colour

Diamond colour is the hue of a diamond, and this can range from colourless to having a light yellow hue. A scale of D to Z is used to grade colour. The scale starts at D, being colourless, moving to white and ending on Z where the diamond is light yellow.

Diamonds at the start of the scale are the rarest types of diamonds, which leaves them the most desirable and valuable. These colourless diamonds have the highest level of sparkle.

The further you go down the graded diamond scale, the colour becomes slightly more noticeable, resulting in a lower price point.

Clarity

A diamonds internal flaws are rated according to their clarity. A better clarity grade will be assigned to diamonds with less visible flaws resulting in the diamond being more expensive. Inclusions are internal flaws in a diamond, whereas flaws on the surface are known as blemishes. The clarity of a diamond is graded on a scale, similar to the colour grading discussed previously.

A FL/IF diamond has no noticeable inclusions, making it visibly perfect. FL/IF diamonds tend to be the most valuable and expensive.

The other end of the scale is an I3 diamond, these stones tend to be less valuable due to their noticeable inclusions.

Carat

Carat is the last C to be considered when looking at Aprils birthstone. Carat is often mis associated with size, but in reality, it refers to the weight of the diamond. The heavier the diamond, the higher the carat number and the more expensive it becomes. When looking at pricing of a diamond all four factors come into consideration and the buyer needs to take into consideration what factors are most important for you and suit your personal needs.

Buying Diamonds in Glasgow

At McGowans Jewellers, we will never make you feel uncomfortable when choosing diamonds. Our highly skilled team of jewellers will talk you through the process and the diamond buying guide to ensure you choose the perfect diamond for your needs.

Have a look at our full range of services and a selection of our products here before coming into Argyll Arcade store. We can help restore old pieces of jewellery by giving them a new lease of life or repurposing them into a new statement piece, and we also have a selection of new and antique jewellery to choose from.

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