Understanding Why All Diamonds Are Not Equal: "The 4C's"
Clarity
A diamond's clarity refers to the presence of impurities on or within the stone, which are known as flaws or inclusions. Even lab-grown diamonds can have these imperfections. Inclusions are unique to each stone and can affect its value. Diamonds that are "eye clean" have inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye, and diamonds with few or no inclusions are considered rare and highly valued. To enhance the brilliance and beauty of a diamond, it's important to select one without any imperfections or inclusions visible to the naked eye. Our team of gemologists meticulously choose only the finest diamonds, with a minimum clarity rating of "VS1" or higher.
Color
Diamond color is determined by the presence or absence of color, as the less color a diamond has, the higher its value and pure brilliance. Most jewelry store diamonds are near-colorless with slight yellow or brown hues. The industry-standard color-grading scale for diamonds is GIA's, starting with the letter D for colorless and progressing through increasing color presence to the letter Z for near-colorless. Completely colorless diamonds are considered pure and perfect, while imperfections and impurities cause color variations. Our team of expert gemologists selects only the finest colorless diamonds to
Cut
The term "cut" when referring to diamonds is not just limited to its shape, but also determines how effectively the diamond captures and refracts light, creating its unique sparkle. Diamonds with excellent cut grades are more brilliant, fiery, and coveted, while those with poor cuts can look dull and lifeless despite having good color or clarity grades. Excellent-cut diamonds also have a larger appearance than other diamonds of the same carat weight due to their intense radiance. Cut is considered the most important of the 4C's as it has the most significant impact on the diamond's overall appearance and quality. The diamonds we offer are handpicked by our team of expert gemologists and have an "excellent" cut grade, ensuring that only the highest quality diamonds are selected.
Carat
The carat is a unit of measurement for the physical weight of diamonds, with one carat equaling 1/5th of a gram. Diamonds are measured to 0.01 carat for precise measurements. Carats are an objective measurement of the 4C's used to determine diamond value, with the other Cs (clarity, color, and cut) being more subjective. While carats determine weight, a diamond's size is also influenced by shape, weight distribution, and cut quality, meaning two diamonds with the same carat weight may have different sizes. Moreover, a high carat weight does not necessarily indicate a better diamond. A diamond with a smaller carat weight and a high-quality cut will be more brilliant and beautiful than a diamond with a larger carat weight and a poor cut.
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We never sell low quality diamonds, ever.
The fundamental idea that sparked the inception of Modern Carats was to offer a hassle- free shopping experience where you can trust our expert gemologists to choose the finest diamond for you, without any concerns about receiving a subpar or low quality diamond. Inclusions, or imperfections in a low quality diamond can negatively affect the look of your stone from the naked eye. That's why our quality standards are incredibly stringent, resulting in our minimum quality often exceeding our competitors' highest standard. Our process involves the careful selection and approval of each stone by a GIA-Graduate Gemologist, allowing you to relax and entrust us with choosing the best possible diamond for you.
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All diamonds are certified and laser inscribed.
A third-party certified diamond is important because it assures the buyer of the diamond's authenticity, quality, and value. All diamonds sold by Modern Carats include a certification from a reputable third-party organization, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the International Gemological Institute (IGI), and have a microscopic laser inscription on the diamond itself with the certificate number. The certificate verifies that the diamond has been evaluated and graded by an independent expert using standardized criteria. This evaluation includes an assessment of the diamond's 4Cs - cut, clarity, color, and carat weight, as well as other important characteristics such as fluorescence and symmetry.
