Diamonds Department
1. Cut
Every diamond, like a human fingerprint, has certain distinguishing characteristics. The 4Cs (color, clarity, cut and carat weigh) are the globally accepted standards for assessing the quality of a diamond.
What is diamond cut?
The most important of the 4Cs, cut refers to how a diamond’s facets interact with light. It is determined by symmetry, proportion and polish. More than any other factor, cut determines the beauty of the stone. Ceccacci diamonds, from the smallest to the largest stone, are always cut to prioritize brilliance over carat weight.
Why is diamond cut important?
Put simply, cut is responsible for the quality of a diamond’s sparkle. If a diamond is cut poorly, it will appear dull even if it has a high color and clarity grade. If a diamond is cut well, it will reflect and refract light for maximum brightness and sparkle.
What impacts diamond cut quality?
Cut is the only one of the 4Cs that is affected by human hands. Two diamonds may have the same clarity, color and carat weight, but cut is what determines whether or not one is superior to the other. Three factors alone determine a diamond’s cut: precision of cut (how the size and angles relate to the different parts of the stone); symmetry (how precisely the various facets of a diamond align and intersect); polish (the details and placement of the facet shapes as well as the outside finish of the diamond).
Types of diamond cuts
All Ceccacci diamonds are masterfully cut to maximize brilliance. There are three diamond cuts used to craft every diamond shape: brilliant cut, step cut and mixed cut.
- Brilliant cut The brilliant cut is the most popular facet arrangement. It is made of triangular and kite-shaped facets, all arranged to optimize brilliance, or light return. The round brilliant diamond, which has 57 to 58 facets, is the most brilliant of the diamond cuts. Cushion, oval, marquise, pear and heart-shaped diamonds are also cut using the brilliant faceting style and are similar to the round brilliant in degree of sparkle.
- Step cut Step-cut diamonds have trapezoidal facets that run parallel to the diamond’s girdle, resembling a set of stairs. This faceting style emphasizes a diamond’s color and clarity. The most well-known step cut is the emerald cut.
- Mixed cut Mixed cuts have a combination of brilliant and step-cut facets.
What is diamond cut?
Diamond cut is determined by symmetry, proportion and polish. Diamond cutting is the process of turning a rough stone into a faceted one. More than any other factor, cut determines the beauty of the stone. Ceccacci diamonds, from the smallest to the largest stone, are cut to exacting standards.
What diamond cut sparkles the most?
The round brilliant diamond, which has 57 to 58 facets, is the most brilliant of the diamond cuts. Cushion, oval, marquise, pear and heart-shaped diamonds are also cut using the brilliant faceting style and are similar to the round brilliant in degree of sparkle.
What is the difference between a diamond cut and a diamond shape?
It’s important to note that diamond cut and diamond shape are not the same thing. A diamond’s cut determines how its facets interact with light. A shape describes the geometric appearance of a diamond. Cut defines what the shape of a rough diamond will be—not the other way around. This is why diamond shapes are often interchangeably referred to as cuts.
Where are Ceccacci diamonds cut and polished?
Ceccacci collaborates with numerous artisans. Master artisans cut and polish Ceccacci diamonds in workshops in Italy and Europe facilities to the highest standards.
2. Carat weight
What is a diamond carat?
Carat denotes the weight of a diamond, not the size. Ceccacci measures diamonds to 1/1000th of a carat; one carat equals .20 grams. Ceccacci diamonds are always cut to maximize beauty, not carat weight.
Carat weight can appear differently across different diamond shapes such as round brilliant, princess, pear, oval, cushion, marquise, emerald, radiant or heart. A diamond may have a higher carat weight without appearing larger and two diamonds of the same carat weight can vary in size if one is cut deeper than the other. In other words, it is important to note that carat weight does not necessarily denote size.
Sizes are shown for proportionality purposes. Images do not reflect actual carat size.
Is a higher carat weight better?
Taken by itself, carat weight does not determine a diamond’s value. For example, two one-carat stones can vary widely in price when clarity, color and cut are taken into consideration. When that is understood, it is clear that large diamonds of peerless quality are rare.
What does "tw" mean?
"Tw" is an abbreviation for total weight in regards to diamond carats. Online, "tw" might be used to describe the total carat weight of all diamonds included in a piece of jewelry.
How are diamonds weighed?
Diamonds are measured in carats, which indicates the weight of a diamond, not the size. Ceccacci measures diamonds to 1/1000th of a carat; one carat equals .20 grams.
3. Clarity
What is diamond clarity?
Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity and rarity of the stone, graded by the visibility of these characteristics under 10-power magnification. A stone is graded as flawless if, under 10-power magnification, no inclusions (internal flaws) and no blemishes (external imperfections) are visible.
Diamond clarity chart
Diamond inclusions are internal flaws. Ceccacci rejects any diamond with noticeable imperfections to the unaided eye.
- FL diamonds are Flawless
- IF diamonds are Internally Flawless
- VVS1, VVS2 diamonds (1 and 2) are Very, Very Slightly Included
- VS1, VS2 diamonds (1 and 2) are Very Slightly Included
Ceccacci standard of clarity
Ceccacci’s strict diamond grading standards are executed with expertise, integrity and accuracy. When Ceccacci believes that a diamond’s clarity is on the borderline between two grades, Ceccacci will always assign the stone a lower grade—never falsely inflating a diamond clarity grade.
Does diamond clarity really matter?
A diamond with a poor clarity grade has multiple inclusions, which directly affects sparkle. Because inclusions hinder the refraction and return of light, the lower the clarity grade, the cloudier the diamond will appear.
Whats the difference between clarity and color?
Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity and rarity of the stone, graded by the visibility of these characteristics under 10-power magnification. Diamond color refers to the natural tint inherent in white diamonds.
Whats the difference between clarity and cut?
Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity and rarity of the stone, graded by the visibility of these characteristics under 10-power magnification. Diamond cut is determined by how a diamond's facets interact with light and by symmetry, proportion and polish.
4. Color
What is diamond color?
Color refers to the natural tint inherent in white diamonds. In nature, most white diamonds have a slight tint of yellow. The closer to being “colorless” a diamond is, the rarer it is. The industry standard for grading color is to evaluate each stone against a master set and assign a letter grade from “D” (colorless) to “Z” (light yellow).
Diamond color chart
Ceccacci only accepts engagement diamonds in the “colorless” and “near colorless” range on a diamond color scale. In other words, Ceccacci only accepts D, E, F, G and H color diamonds. Borderline diamond color classifications are automatically given the more conservative grade.
- D, E, F colorless
- G, H, I, J near colorless
Does diamond color matter?
Color is the second most important of the 4Cs because the color grade directly affects the stone’s appearance. Diamonds with a poor color grade can appear slightly yellow instead of the desired brilliant white. Additionally, Ceccacci will not accept stones exhibiting strong or excessive fluorescence, which, in natural lighting, can give diamonds a milky appearance.
What's the best diamond color?
Among white diamonds, D color diamonds are of the highest grade. D color diamonds are in the "colorless" range on a diamond color scale along with E color diamonds and F color diamonds. Fancy color diamonds such as yellow or pink diamonds have their own color grades.
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