Assessment of white diamonds - why don't we offer a master set of cubic zirconia
Diamonds occur in a wide range of colors from colorless to almost colorless to colors such as blue or red. Because the color of the diamond significantly affects its overall quality, it is important to manage the skills of the color evaluation that we describe here.
Scale of color D-Z
The D-Z color, which is used by the GIA laboratory, assesses the presence or absence of color in the most commonly occurring colorless to light yellow, light brown and light gray diamonds.
The scale used for color evaluation begins with D (colorless) and continues through letter stages that indicate the increasing amount of color, and ends with the U Z. Each letter is a range of color, not a specific point, so two diamonds with the same degree of color can reality slightly different in their color.
Master stones
The D-Z color evaluation process includes the use of so-called master stones, which are diamonds with a known position on the color scale. Each master stone indicates a minimum amount of color in the scale of the scale. For example, Master Stone Color E denotes a minimum amount of color in the E -degree range.
The GIA laboratory uses a complete set of master stones, with one stone located on each stage. The color evaluation is evaluated by a visual comparison of the master stones with the evaluated diamond.
Master stones must meet strict criteria to be suitable for standardized color evaluation. For example, it must not show fluorescence that could affect color or any visible inclusions or deviations in proportions.
Partial sets of master stones
Creating a complete set of master stones is time -consuming and financially demanding. Most people in the field do not need a complete set of D to Z and they need partial sets adapted to their individual needs. For example, it can be a set covering only the range of D-E-F colors for traders focused on diamonds in this color range.
Due to the cost of a set of master stones for color evaluation, the Master sets from Kubice zirconia are offered on the market, but we do not offer these sets.
Why don't we offer sets from cubic zirconia
A much cheaper alternative to the diamond master stones are sets of cubic zirconia. Cubic zirconia, however, does not have the same optical possession as a diamond, so its colors can look quite different. In addition, the colors of cubic zirconia may change in time depending on the method of production. For this reason, the serious gemology laboratories of Kubice zirconia do not evaluate or recommend for the standardized evaluation of diamond color.
Only a quality set of diamond master stones meeting the strict GIA laboratory criteria can provide a reliable reference point for a consistent and repeatable evaluation of diamond colors on the D-Z scale. Investing in such a set pays off to all who want to professionally and precisely determine the color of diamonds.
