Today I'm gonna answer Butterwitt's big question.

今天我將回覆 Butterwitt 的問題。

Why are white diamonds so expensive?

為什麼白色鑽石如此昂貴呢？

Well Mr. Butterwitt, a few things determine a diamond's quality therefore its price.

是這樣的 Butterwitt 先生，有許多因素決定了一顆鑽石的品質，接著才決定價錢。

These are what the diamond experts refer to as the 4Cs, color, cut, clarity, and carat.

這些是鑽石專家所說的 4C：顏色、切面、淨度以及克拉。 (克拉 carat 與紅蘿蔔 carrot 發音相近)

There's a fifth optional, which is Craig.

還有第五個選項，Craig。

You asked specifically about color, but I'm gonna tell you a little bit about all of them because all four affect the diamonds' cost.

你主要問的是顏色，但我四種面向都會帶到一點，因為這四個因素都會影響鑽石的價格。

Let's get started.

讓我們開始吧！

Okay listen up fellows, I just proposed to my girlfriend and buying a ring was the hardest part.

人們聽好啦！我向女友求婚了，而買戒指真的是最難的地方。

This is important.

這很重要。

A diamond's cut refers to how symmetrical and well-polished the diamond is.

鑽石切面好壞代表鑽石有沒有做好對稱及拋光。

This is important because it determines how light reflects off of the diamond.

這很重要，因為它會影響鑽石反射光線的樣子。

Unlike the other Cs, diamond-cut doesn't have a standardized grading scale.

不像其他的 C ，鑽石切面並沒有標準化的評量指標。

Some of the most popular ones are the round cut, oval cut, princess cut, Mario-Luigi and Toad.

這些是比較有名的切面：圓形、橢圓形及公主正方形車工，還有瑪莉兄弟。

Currently round cut diamonds are more pricey because they're popular and more expensive to make.

目前來說圓形鑽石比較昂貴，因為它們較受歡迎，製作成本也相對較高。

So if you choose a white diamond in a different cut, it would be less expensive.

因此如果你選擇不同切面的白鑽，價格會親民許多。

A diamond's clarity determines if it has blemishes, cloudiness, cracks, and so on.

從一顆鑽石的淨度可以看得出它是否有汙點、混濁及裂痕等等跡象。

This is the diamond's clarity scale.

這就是鑽石的淨度指標。

If the diamond has scales on it, you got that diamond from a dragon, and I salute you brave sir or madam.

假如你有顆鑽石上面有指標等級，而且又是從神龍那邊拿來的，我在此向你致敬。 (指卡通七龍珠之龍珠)

Ideally the diamond is flawless if you can't see any of that stuff under ten times the magnification. The higher the clarity, the more rare and expensive it is.

理想來說一顆鑽石在放大了十倍之後還沒看到任何雜質，它就完美無瑕了，鑽石的淨度越高，數量就會越少，價格也更昂貴。

Moving on to carat, which describes the diamonds' mass.

接下來是克拉數，它用來形容鑽石的質量。

One carat equals two hundred milligrams.

一克拉相當於兩百毫克。

A diamond with a higher carat is more expensive.

一顆鑽石的克拉數越高，價格也越高。

Are you starting to see a pattern here?

你大概懂這種模式了嗎？

As for color it has a scale as well.

鑽石色調也有自己的衡量指標。

A white diamond is known as colorless, which is ideal on that scale.

白色也就是無色，是在那指標上最理想的色調。

Why? Well, let me throw a fifth C at you.

為什麼呢？恩，讓我把第五個 C 請出來吧。

Carbon. I threw Craig at you earlier but that's not real, so no...

碳。我之前是說 Craig 可是那其實不是真的，所以不 ...。

Diamonds are completely made up of carbon.

鑽石全是由碳所組成的。

A white diamond is pure carbon, which means it has no impurities, and then that means it's more expensive.

白色鑽石代表它的碳十分純淨，代表沒有任何雜質，也因此它會比較貴。

Most of the diamonds that are found fall lower on the color scale with a yellow or brown tint to them.

在色調衡量指標中，較差的鑽石大多是黃色或棕色。

This is nitrogen, and even a small amount of it can change the color, making the diamond impure.

這物質是氮，只要一點點就可以改變整個顏色，讓這顆鑽石變得不純淨。

Once you go beyond Z on that scale, you reach what is known as Now I Know my ABCs.

只要你達到 Z 的指標，你就學會念 ABC 啦。 (這個也是講者的玩笑)

No, fancy color diamonds.

不是啦，是花俏顏色的鑽石。

As you probably know, some of the most expensive diamonds in the world are pink, red, and blue.

你或許知道這件事，一些比較昂貴的鑽石顏色為粉紅、紅及藍色。

The dark blue Hope Diamond is worth over two hundred million dollars.

深藍色的希望之鑽甚至價值超過兩億美元。

That's simply because these diamond colors are more rare and more expensive.

不過那純粹只是因為這些鑽石的顏色比較罕見，才會相對昂貴許多。

Thanks for watching Mental Floss on Youtube made with the help of these lovely diamonds.

謝謝你觀賞 Mental Floss 的 Youtube 頻道，這些美麗的鑽石也幫了今天的節目許多忙。

If you have a question of your own that you'd like an answer such as "will you marry me," leave it in the comments below.

如果你有些問題想尋求答案，像是「你願意和我結婚嗎？」，就在下方留言吧！

The answer to that one is no. I'm already getting married. Sorry about that.

不過那問題的答案是「不願意」，因為我已經要結婚啦，真抱歉。

See you next week!

我們下週見！