Certificated Diamonds and The 4 C's

With over 4000 different certificated diamonds on offer, this informative article is here to make the buying diamonds easier and more understandable.

To view our current prices, please click the cut of diamond you want.

Diamonds - The 4 C's

The following is intended to give you an idea of the complexity surrounding the value of diamonds and why they are such a treasured gem. We will explain the the 4 C's which are:

Cut Colour Clarity and Carat.

Each and every diamond has its own characteristics and due to the various combinations, we are able to offer you over 4000 different diamond's each comes complete with a certificate, issued by an independent expert who has graded each individual diamond.

As each diamond we offer has its own characteristics, every diamond has been independantely assessed and graded by leading experts in this field. The results of their examination will be presented in a certificate which will accompany the diamond you choose to purchase.

Another major factor in the value of diamonds is the supply and demand. As diamonds are a natural product, supply of them is limited and should there be a sudden demand for one particular type of diamond, then the value of that particular stone will increase. Likewise, if diamond merchants wish to dispose of certain stones, the value may fall. Our prices are based on the supply and demand of stones at a point in time, and hence these prices can only be used as a guide to the stone's actual cost, but we will endeavour to offer you the best price on the stone you require.

Historically, diamonds have been treasured for the last 3000 years for both their hardness and rarity. In the middle ages the full beauty of diamonds was realised when man learned how to cut and facet this hardest of all minerals to release the fire. Diamond is composed of the chemical Carbon. It's atomic structure produces the hardest natural substance known to man, more than 80 times harder than any man-made stone such as Cubic Zirconia.

Burns Jewellers Policy on Conflict Diamonds
For any product fabricated from rough diamonds mined from January 1, 2003 onward, we warrant that the diamonds we have purchased are from legitimate sources not involved in the funding of conflict wars and are in compliance with United Nations Resolutions. We hearby guarantee that, the diamonds are conflict free, based on our personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by our suppliers of the diamonds we sell. For any product fabricated from rough diamonds mined prior to January 1, 2003, we warrant that conflict diamonds will not be knowingly sold and that, to the best of our ability, will undertake reasonable measures to help prevent the sale of conflict diamonds in this country.

Diamond Shapes
Diamond Shape Diamonds are natural crystals of varying size and shape formed in the earth over millions of years. The traditional round brilliant diamond, though the most popular diamond shape of all, is hardly the whole story. By the diamond cutter's art these crystals are carved into gems of spectacular and whimsical beauty. A cutter's skill will produce a diamond of the greatest size with the fewest flaws and the most brilliance.

Round Brilliant Diamonds
This shape has set the standard for all other diamond shapes, and accounts for more than 75% of diamonds sold today. Its 58-facet cut, divided among its crown (top), girdle (widest part) and pavilion (base), is calibrated through a precise formula to achieve the maximum in fire and brilliance.

Oval Diamonds
An even, perfectly symmetrical design popular among women with small hands or short fingers. Its elongated shape gives a flattering illusion of length to the hand.


Marquise Diamonds
An elongated shape with pointed ends inspired by the fetching smile of the Marquise de Pompadour and commissioned by the Sun King, France's Louis XIV, who wanted a diamond to match it. It is gorgeous when used as a solitaire or when enhanced by smaller diamonds.

Pear Shaped Diamonds
A hybrid cut, combining the best of the oval and the marquise, it is shaped most like a sparkling teardrop. It also belongs to that category of diamond whose design most complements a hand with small or average-length fingers. It is particularly beautiful for pendants or earrings.

Heart Shaped Diamonds
This ultimate symbol of romance is essentially a pear-shaped diamond with a cleft at the top. The skill of the cutter determines the beauty of the cut. Look for a stone with an even shape and a well-defined outline.


Emerald Cut Diamond
This is a rectangular shape with cut corners. It is known as a step cut because its concentric broad, flat planes resemble stair steps. Since inclusions and inferior colour are more pronounced in this particular cut, take pains to select a stone of superior clarity and colour.

Princess Cut Diamond
This is a square or rectangular cut with numerous sparkling facets. It is a relatively new cut and often finds its way into solitaire engagement rings. Flattering to a hand with long fingers, it is often embellished with triangular stones at its sides. Because of its design, this cut requires more weight to be directed toward the diamond's depth in order to maximise brilliance. Depth percentages of 70% to 78% are not uncommon.

The shape of things to come in diamonds has already produced other fanciful and innovative styles such as the flower, cloverleaf, triangle and kite. Nor does it stop there. Some cuts are variations on standard shapes, others spin off the natural crystal formation of the stone, and still others take the idea of shape to revolutionary new heights. Individuality and taste determine the fashion, and the magic of the gem cutter transforms each stone into a unique work of art.

To view our current prices, please click the cut of diamond you want.

 

---

The Four C's You will have often heard of the 4 C's. But exactly what are these and why are they so important when considering the value of a diamond. The 4 C's are Cut   Colour   Clarity   Carat
Diamonds characteristics: Cut The cut of a diamond is not its shape. When we talk about cut, we mean how close the master cutter has come to ideal proportions. The mathematical relationships of Facets that unlocks the hidden fire.

How a Diamond handles light The cut enables a diamond to make the best use of light. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and dispersed through the top of the stone. If the cut of the diamond is too deep, some light escapes through the opposite side of the pavilion. If the cut is too shallow, light escapes through the pavilion before it can be reflected.

Diamonds characteristics: Colour The best colour is no colour at all. The grading for a stone without any colour, is grade D on the GIA scale, or "Exceptional White+" on the CIBJO scale. Such a stone is extremely rare. It will be very difficult for the unskilled eye to detect any colour difference in the top five grades, and if the stone is viewed through the table (i.e. through the top of the stone) in a mounted ring, it will be impossible even for experts to differentiate between these grades without a master set for comparison. The closer a diamond is to being absolutely colourless, the more valuable it will be.

Colour	GIA Scale	Description	AGS	CIBJO
	D	Colourless	0	Exceptional White +
	E		1	Exceptional White
	F		2	Rare White +
	G	Near Colourless	3	Rare White
	H		4	White
	I		5	Slightly Tinted White
	J
	K	Faint Colour	6	Tinted White
	L
	M		7	Tinted Colour
	N	Very Light Yellow
	O		8
	P
	Q
	R		9
	S	Light Yellow
	T
	U
	V		10
	W
	X
	Y
	Z

Diamonds characteristics: Clarity A diamond, more than any other gemstone, has the capability to produce the maximum amount of brilliance. The highest quality of diamond is virtually free of interior inclusions and external features of crystallisation, is one of the highest quality, for nothing else interferes with the passage of light through the diamond. To determine a diamond's clarity, it is viewed under 10 x magnification by a trained eye. Minute inclusions neither mar its beauty nor endanger its durability, but of course the fewer they have, the rarer the stone. Only a very small percentage of diamonds sold are in the grades of VS1 and above. The vast majority are within grades SI1-P3

	Code	Meaning	Inclusion Visibility
	IF	Internally flawless	Inclusions only visible when magnified ten times
	1F	Flawless, minor surface blemishes
	VVS1	Very, very small inclusions
	VVS2
	VS1	Very small inclusions
	VS2
	SI1	Small Inclusions
	SI2		Inclusions visible to the naked eye
	P1	Inclusions visible to the naked eye
	P2
	P3

  Diamonds characteristics: Carat Carats are the traditional way of measuring the weight of a diamond, 5 carats is equivalent to 1 gram. A carat is divided into 100 points, i.e. a diamond weighing 1.25 carats = 125 points. The following table gives an approximate guide to the diameter of a round cut diamond based on it's weight.

	Weight (Carats)	Diameter (Millimetres)		Weight (Carats)	Diameter (Millimetres)
	0.01	1.3		0.50	5.2
	0.02	1.7		0.55	5.4
	0.03	2.0		0.60	5.5
	0.04	2.3		0.65	5.7
	0.05	2.4		0.70	5.8
	0.10	3.0		0.75	5.9
	0.15	3.4		0.80	6.1
	0.20	3.8		0.90	6.3
	0.25	4.2		1.00	6.5
	0.30	4.4		1.25	7.0
	0.33	4.5		1.50	7.5
	0.35	4.6		1.75	7.9
	0.40	4.8		2.00	8.2
	0.45	5.0		2.50	8.9
				3.00	9.4

To view our current prices, please click the cut of diamond you want.