Diamonds are graded for certification by laboratories using grading criteria. Four of these criteria are critical to understand when making a diamond purchase or investment. Known as the Four C's these criteria are: color, clarity, cut and carat.

Color
Color is the result of the composition of a diamond, and it does not change. When describing the color of a diamond, it is referring to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. Because a diamond with no color allows maximum light to pass through, colorless diamonds are preferred for their sparkle.

The standard (GIA) color scale begins at the most rare of colorless diamonds (D) to end at light yellow or brown color diamonds (Z). Most diamonds used in jewelry are nearly colorless with tints of yellow or brown.

Embellish You's diamonds are all in the Color range of G/H to H/I. Providing the most brillant and best quality Diamonds at the most reasonable price.
 

Clarity
The Clarity scale ranges from Flawless to I3 grades. It is extremely rare to find a diamond that does not have any internal and external characteristics. These characteristics result from the formation of the diamond under tremendous heat and pressure, which helps the gemologists to determine natural diamonds from today’s synthetics and simulants.

Embellish You's diamonds are in the clarity range of SI₁ to SI₃, providing the best quality Diamonds at the best price possible.

Cut
Cut refers to a diamond's reflective quality. Most diamonds are cut with 58 facets. The brilliance of diamonds is heavily dependent on the cut. The different angles and the finish of a diamond determine its ability to reflect light, and cause its brilliance and fire. Cutting the diamond is an art of creating a quality diamond gemstone. When diamonds are mined, they are rough. Rough diamonds, after being reviewed through different angles, are cut along different sizes and shapes to keep the diamond loss to a minimum. These diamonds are then polished to give ideal luster.

Round Brilliant Diamonds account for 70% of diamonds cut today. Other shapes include Oval, Marquise, Pear, Princess, Heart, Emerald, Trilliant and Radiant.

Carat
Diamonds are measured in Carat weight. One carat equals 200 milligrams in weight.  Each carat is divided into 100 points, so diamonds under one carat – similar to pennies in a dollar – are calculated as 0.75 ct. = 75 points, 0.50 ct. = 50 points. For example, 150 points would equal one and a half carats. Another term related with carat is Total Carat Weight (T.C.W.). It is defined as total collective mass of diamonds.

Source: GIA,
GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is considered the final word on a diamond’s authenticity and quality. GIA developed the 4Cs and the international Diamond Grading System™, the grading standard adopted by jewelry professionals around the globe.

Gold is one of the world's most precious metals and is the oldest known to humankind. Due to gold's magnificent properties and wonderful luster, it is considered to be the most important metal in jewelry making.

Carat Defined
The purity of gold is measured in Karats. Pure gold is 24 Karats. The process of understanding what exactly a Karat is becomes rather simple when gold is thought of as an alloy (a mixture of various metals) where the karats define the percent of pure gold in the alloy. Therefore, you may determine the percentage of pure gold in any gold piece by dividing the karat by 24 (e.g. 18K gold: 18/24=0.750=75% pure gold).
The following table clarifies this:

Karat      Parts Gold to Alloy      Percent Pure Gold
10K         10/24                         41.67%
14K         14/24                         58.33%
18K         18/24                         75.00%
24K         24/24                         99.99%

Colors of Gold
Gold alloys, aside from strengthening gold for jewelry, can also affect its color. The following table demonstrates the most common colors of gold alloys and the metals used in making them:

Color Of Gold             Additional Metals Used
Yellow Gold               Copper, Silver           
White Gold                Nickel, Zinc, Copper        
Green Gold                Silver, Zinc, Copper        
Rose Gold                 Copper, Silver

Proper Care for Your Gold
A little time and effort on your part will keep your gold jewelry looking new from the day you purchase it. Gold is lasting and durable, but can get scratched or dented if treated roughly. The most important steps to care for your gold jewelry include:

1. Make sure that all jewelry is removed during rough work or when handling harsh chemicals. Gold's worst enemy is chlorine, so be careful not to wear it in swimming pools or Jacuzzis.
2. It is generally best to clean your jewelry with warm water, mild soap (not detergent), and a soft toothbrush. Rinse under warm running water and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
3. Store it in a protected area from other pieces to preserve it from getting scratched.
4. Periodically inspect your gold for weakness or damage.