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 What Are the 4Cs of Diamonds?

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Universally recognized, the 4Cs are a guiding light in the world of diamonds, helping to determine the quality and value of each stone - the 4Cs stand for color, cut, carat, and clarity. The laboratory grown diamonds in the Swarovski Created Diamonds collections are graded against these 4Cs by IGI, the International Gemological Institute. The laboratory grown diamonds in these collections are of very fine quality: G+ in color and VS+ in clarity.
laboratory grown diamond rings conceptual imagery

What is diamond clarity?

Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity of the stone graded by the visibility of two types of characteristics - inclusions and blemishes. In order to assess clarity, the diamond is inspected under 10x power magnification. The number and nature of external (blemishes), and internal characteristics (inclusions), as well as their size and position, determine the clarity grading.

Clarity Principles and Factors

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The clarity of a laboratory grown diamond is judged by its flaws, which means the inclusions and blemishes that give it unique character and charm. Discover more about diamond clarity below.

INTERNALLY FLAWLESS

The highest possible clarity of diamond is an internally flawless (I.F.) stone. These are incredibly rare and most mined and laboratory grown stones have inclusions.

To The Naked Eye

While almost all diamonds are flawed, those graded between I.F. and SI 2 have inclusions that aren’t visible to the naked eye, only under magnification.

Types of Inclusion

The different types of diamond inclusion include feather, pinpoint, cloud, and metallic. Metallic inclusions are only found in laboratory grown diamonds.

A TRICK OF THE LIGHT

Inclusions and blemishes can have an impact on the way a diamond reflects and absorbs the light.
I.F.
Sans défauts internes
VVS 1
VVS 2
Minuscules inclusions
VS 1
VS 2
Très légères inclusions
SI 1
SI 2
Légères inclusions
I 1
I 2
I 3
Inclusions

Schéma de clarté du diamant

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Échelle d’évaluation de la clarté du diamant

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L’échelle de clarté du diamant s’étend de la note I.F à I 3, en fonction du nombre d’inclusions et d’impuretés de chaque pierre. Les degrés de pureté des diamants sont déterminés dans des conditions d'observation standardisées à l’aide d’une loupe de grossissement 10x. I.F. signifie que le diamant ne comporte aucun défaut interne. À l’inverse, I 3 correspond aux inclusions visibles. Les diamants dépourvus de tout défaut sont rarissimes. Presque toutes les pierres, y compris les diamants créés en laboratoire, contiennent des inclusions.

schéma de taille et symétrie du diamant

La taille

La taille reflète la manière dont les facettes du diamant interagissent avec la lumière pour révéler son feu intérieur. Elle donne à chaque pierre sa personnalité, ses proportions parfaites, sa symétrie. Chaque angle taillé avec précision confère à nos diamants créés en laboratoire une brillance éclatante.

Taille : principes et facteurs

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La qualité d’un diamant créé en laboratoire dépend de ses proportions, de sa symétrie et de son polissage. La qualité de la taille créera une multitude de facettes afin que la lumière circule et se reflète sous tous ses angles.

UNE BRILLANCE MAXIMALE

Un diamant aux proportions symétriques et aux facettes parfaitement alignées reflètera la lumière avec la plus grande intensité et l’éclat le plus saisissant.

TABLEAU D’HONNEUR

Les tailles de diamants sont évaluées par le IGI, d’après une échelle allant d’Excellent à Médiocre. La taille parfaite nécessite un savoir-faire technique, artistique et une très grande expertise.

SOUS TOUTES LES FACETTES

Le terme « facette » s’emploie pour décrire les surfaces planes formant la silhouette du diamant. Chacune, à sa façon, absorbe ou diffuse la lumière

LA TAILLE PARFAITE

Si la proportion, la symétrie et le polissage déterminent la classe d’un diamant, la plus belle des pierres demeure celle qui fait naître en vous une étincelle de joie.

Incolore
D-F
Presque incolore
G-J
Légèrement teinté
K-M
Très légèrement coloré
N-R
Légèrement coloré
S-Z

Schéma et échelle de graduation de la couleur du diamant

La couleur d’un diamant s’échelonne de D pour les couleurs d’un blanc pur à Z, pour les tonalités allant du jaune au brun. Chaque lettre correspond à une teinte, les lettres D à F étant attribuées aux tonalités incolores, et celles classées de S à Z, aux nuances jaune pâle ou brun.Les collections Swarovski sont créées à partir de diamants créés en laboratoire uniquement, et seules les pierres de qualité supérieure, dont la notation est comprise entre D et G (incolore à presque incolore), sont retenues.

Couleur : principes et facteurs

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Les pierres incolores sont les plus convoitées dans l’univers diamantaire, car elles sont d’une extrême rareté. Nos Swarovski Created Diamonds sont évalués en fonction d’une échelle de couleur standardisée.

COLORLESS DIAMONDS

Truly colorless diamonds are extremely rare. Also known as ice white, D diamonds are also the most expensive diamond color to buy.

FIND YOUR SHADE

Finding a D diamond color isn’t always important when selecting your stone. A warm white might suit your individual style more than an ice white.

CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT

Each diamond’s color grade is assessed in a laboratory using controlled lighting, with the stone faced down, and with master samples used for comparison.

BLEMISHES

 Laboratory grown diamonds do not include any intentional blemishes or the color defects that can come from the use of poorer quality carbon seeds.

What is diamond carat weight?

A carat is a unit of weight used specifically to measure precious stones including laboratory grown diamonds. 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. One carat weighs 1/5 of a gram and is divided into 100 points.
2.5 mm
0.05 CT
3.0 mm
0.10 CT
3.8 mm
0.20 CT
4.5 mm
0.30 CT
4.8 mm
0.40 CT
5.2 mm
0.50 CT
5.8 mm
0.70 CT
6.3 mm
0.90 CT
6.5 mm
1.00 CT
6.9 mm
1.25 CT
7.4 mm
1.50 CT
7.8 mm
1.75 CT
8.2 mm
2.00 CT
8.8 mm
2.50 CT
9.4 mm
3.00 CT

Diamond Carat Weight

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Laboratory Grown Diamond Carat Scale

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The carat measurement is derived by the word ‘carob’, a seed that was used as a diamond weight reference for traders in the ancient world. Carats are an international standard unit of measurement for the weight of a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, so a 5 carat diamond will weigh one gram. The diamond carat does not refer to the size of a stone, simply how much it weighs. Diamonds usually become more expensive as their carat increases.
Discover Swarovski Created Diamonds
man made diamonds impressionistic imagery

All About Swarovski Created Diamonds

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Laboratory Grown Diamonds

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Discover the world of Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry, redefining the future of diamonds with exceptional collections that bridge the gap between tradition and current trends. From the otherworldly brilliance of our interstellar collection to the pure elegance of our signature pieces, find a style that will last a lifetime.
synthetic diamonds abstract imagery

Laboratory Grown Diamonds Buying Guide

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Find the perfect piece

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A natural progression of our brand DNA, Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are laboratory grown diamonds, masterfully cut, intensely bright, and identical to their mined counterparts in every way but origin. Formed layer by layer​ from a carbon seed, they serve as a flawless reflection of nature’s radiance.
Necklaces with diamonds

What are Laboratory Grown Diamonds?

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Laboratory Grown Diamonds explained

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Find out more about diamonds that are grown in a laboratory, and how the process of replicating the way diamonds are formed in the earth is achieved. Discover the different cuts of diamonds in the Swarovski Created Diamond Collections, as well as the inspiration behind the designs.

Frequently asked questions

Diamond 4Cs FAQs

What are the 4Cs?

Every diamond varies slightly from the next and has its own individual distinguishing characteristics. Laboratory grown diamonds are 100% diamonds, and just like mined diamonds our laboratory grown diamonds are evaluated according to the 4Cs of diamond grading. The 4Cs are color, clarity, cut and carat weight, and they are the globally accepted standards used to assess the quality of diamonds.

Is diamond clarity important?

The higher the clarity grading, the less inclusions or blemishes a diamond has, making it a higher-value diamond than one with a lower grading.

What is the highest diamond clarity?

Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity of the stone graded by the visibility of two types of characteristics - inclusions and blemishes. 
In order to assess clarity, the diamond is inspected under 10x power magnification. The number and nature of external (blemishes), and internal characteristics (inclusions), as well as their size and position, determine the grade. 
Gemologists grade diamonds from Internally Flawless (IF) as the highest quality to Included (I3).

Are laboratory grown diamonds flawless?

No, nearly all diamonds (mined or laboratory grown) have inclusions. Metallic inclusions can occur in laboratory grown diamonds. If an expert spots a trace of metal in a diamond, they can assume it is laboratory grown. While laboratory grown diamonds with defects do exist, Swarovski only uses high quality laboratory grown diamonds certified by the International Gemological Institute (IGI) according to the 4Cs to ensure that only the finest quality diamonds join the Swarovski Created Diamond collections.

Do laboratory grown diamonds get cloudy?

No, laboratory-grown diamonds do not get cloudy over time. They are 100% identical to diamonds with the same physical and chemical properties, and should not degrade or change appearance over time. Where poor quality diamond seeds have been used, some laboratory-grown diamonds contain obvious defects, such as color tinges from impurities in the diamond or crystal structure imperfections. The laboratory grown diamonds processed in Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are a very high quality standard and do not have unnatural, problematic characteristics.

How are laboratory grown diamonds certified and graded?

The laboratory grown diamonds processed in Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry are hand-selected and examined by experienced gemologists to ensure they fulfill our high quality standards.  Every piece of jewelry in the Galaxy and Eternity collections is accompanied with a digital laboratory report from the International Gemological Institute (IGI). 

What are diamond facets?

Diamond facets refer to each flat surface that creates the shape of a diamond. Every diamond possesses multiple facets that enable it to absorb and reflect light.

How is diamond cut quality determined?

We often think of a diamond’s cut as shape (round, heart, oval, marquise, pear), but what diamond cut actually does mean is how well a diamond’s facets interact with light.  The cut of a diamond is the measure of the quality of the shape, geometry and finish of the diamond.  Round brilliant diamonds receive a formal cut grade on a scale from Ideal (the best) to Poor.  Swarovski is uncompromising on cut quality to ensure all of our laboratory grown diamonds have optimal light performance and sparkle.

What is the best diamond cut?

Cut refers to how a diamond’s facets interact with light to reveal its internal fire. It is the cut that gives each diamond its personality, and perfecting laboratory grown diamonds proportions, symmetry, and precision-cut angles of Swarovski Created Diamonds gives them their brilliant shine. The best cut has a balance between the width and depth to create symmetry, neither to shallow nor to deep. Creating the perfect refraction point for light through the diamond, reflecting it within the diamond and highlighting its polished brightness.

How is a diamond’s color determined?

Color refers to the natural tint inherent in white diamonds. The industry standard for grading color is to evaluate each diamond against a master set then assign a letter grade from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). 
The closer the diamond is to being colorless, the higher its quality.

Do laboratory created diamonds have blemishes?

Where poor quality diamond seeds have been used, some laboratory-grown diamonds contain obvious defects, such as color tinges from impurities or structural imperfections. Swarovski does not sell laboratory grown diamonds with unnatural, problematic characteristics.

What is diamond carat weight?

A carat is a unit of weight used specifically to measure precious stones including laboratory grown diamonds. 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. One carat weighs 1/5 of a gram and is divided into 100 points.

What is the carat weight of a diamond, how is it measured and how important is it?

Carat weight it the standard weight unit for diamonds, and the first step in the grading process. Diamond carat weight is the measurement of how much the diamond weighs. Each carat can be subdivided into 100 “points.”  This allows precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. The weight of a diamond smaller than one carat may be described by its “points” alone. The larger the diamond is, the more carats it will be, but only you can decide how important that is to you.

Is it better to have a higher carat diamond?

This is an entirely personal question. If you are looking for a larger diamond, you should look for a higher carat, as this indicates the weight and therefore the size of the diamond.