When looking for a diamond try and stay
within your budget. What is the diamond for? Is the
diamond for an engagement ring, a pendant, perhaps
a pair of earrings? What size and shape will suit
your requirements?
Size and colour are the most important considerations
as they are immediately apparent. Clarity requires
scrutiny therefore when working to a budget consider
dropping down a clarity grade. Try and keep close
to the size that suits you, small natural marks need
not detract from a stones beauty.
Someone explained it to me as a bit
like buying a Porche with a big discount because there
was a scratch underneath the bumper. No one will ever
see that scratch, except someone who wished to scrutinise
and examine the car minutely. However, unlike a scratch
on a Porche, which is damage, an inclusion in a diamond
is natural and very much a part of the stone, and,
of course, every diamond is uniquely individual, so
the best advice is to find the diamond size that suits
your needs and don't be afraid to compromise on clarity,
but we would rather not compromise on colour. Size
and colour are immediately observed, whilst clarity
requires scrutiny.
Ultimately, Jewellery Studios would
like to source for you the very best diamond that
fits your budget and preferably we will source that
diamond in the USA. Why not fill in our no obligation
free quotation form at the link below and let us do
the work?
There are two ways to purchase a diamond:
a loose diamond or a certified diamond. Loose diamonds
are selected from packets of diamonds with an approximate
colour and clarity, whilst a certified diamond comes
with a laboratory grading of colour and clarity. Due
to certified diamonds carrying the laboratory cost
of the certification, loose diamonds of equitable
quality will cost less. But purchasing a loose, uncertified
diamond requires your trust in the diamond dealership.
It is our duty to be deserving of your trust.
For some diamond
photos click on diamond
photos text.
Firstly though, you'll need to have
an idea of the shape or cut you would prefer.
Cut - Refers to the angles
and proportions of a diamond.
Cut also referred to as 'make' It is
the only part of the loose or certified diamonds made
by human hands. The cutter not only forms the shape
but cut refers to the proportions. It's forming symmetry
of which the facets determine the sparkle of the loose
or certified diamond. The better the proportions of
the facets the more brilliance will be reflected to
the viewers eye. A poorly proportioned cut or off
make loose or certified diamonds will never have the
full brilliance and sparkle.
Colour - Refers to the degree to which
a diamond is colourless.
Colors range from very white to shades
of many different colors D being the highest color.
View charts give a better idea in the area of color
for loose or certified diamonds.
Carat - weight of loose or certified
diamonds is measured in carats.
Dimensions of the loose or certified
diamonds should not be confused with carat weight.
Why is it unrelated because a stone could have varying
depths therefore some could appear bigger depending
on the cut.
The size of a loose or certified diamonds has the
biggest impact on its price. The metric carat, which
equals 0.20 gram, is the standard unit of weight for
loose or certified diamonds and most other gems. If
other factors are equal, the more a stone weighs,
the more valuable it will be.
Here are several ways to express 1 carat:
1 ct.
200 milligrams
1/5 gram
100 points
4 grainer (not often used in retail environment)
Clarity - Refers to the presence of
inclusions in a diamond.
Clarity Catagories
FL - IF
Diamonds that reveal no flaws on the surface or internally.
These are the rarest and most beautiful gems treasured
for their absolute purity.
VVS1 - VVS2 Diamonds with minute inclusions absolutely
invisible to the naked eye. Only through careful inspection
with a microscope can these tiny inclusions be accurately
pinpointed. The brilliance of the stone does not suffer
in this category.
VS1 - VS2 Diamonds with tiny inclusions difficult
to locate. Only a trained eye looking through a 10X
loupe can pinpoint the inclusions in this category.
The inclusions are nearly impossible to see with the
naked eye.
SI1 - SI3 Diamonds with inclusions easily identified
through a loupe. Finding flaws in this category with
the naked eye is difficult. The gems in this category
maintain their integrity, depending on the location
of the inclusions.
I1 - I3 Diamonds with inclusions which may or may
not be easily seen by the naked eye. The flaws on
the stones in this category will have some effect
on the brilliance of your diamond.
Why are the 4 C's important
to you?
The 4 C's are used throughout the world
to classify the rarity of diamonds. Diamonds with
the combination of the highest 4 C's ratings are more
rare and, consequentially, more expensive.
Light is the element that ignites a
diamonds brilliance and fire. The interplay of light
with each of the 4 C's is the reason each diamond
is unique.
