Colored Gems – The 4 Cs
A gem’s value is based on four factors:
Carat Weight
Color
Clarity
Cut Proportions
Carat weight refers to the size of the stone. The other three terms describe the gem’s quality.
One way to think about the 4Cs is to imagine a seesaw, with size (carat weight) on one end and quality (the other three Cs) on the other.
Within a given price range, as size increases, quality must diminish. If quality
improves, size must diminish. In other words, you can either spend more per
carat for a higher-quality stone, or you can get a larger stone and settle
for lower overall quality.
