Choosing a diamond is not something most of us do on a daily basis. Perhaps for most it just maybe once or twice that they really are diving into the world of buying a diamond. When you are about to choose a diamond for a ring or another piece of jewelry, there are some guidelines, that will help you to. For the first time, Bizzita has a guest contributor, who practically wrote a miniguide and created an awesome infographic.
By Noami Shaw
Diamond jewelry is everywhere, but choosing the perfect piece for you can be challenging, especially if you’re new to the diamond scene. Whether you are shopping for an engagement ring or a dazzling solitaire pendant, the following guide will help you to begin your search on the right track.
Color
You’ll hear the “4cs” discussed a lot as you begin to enter the wide world of diamonds. These famous “Cs” are the four basic categories by which every diamond is measured: color, cut, clarity, and carat. A diamond’s color is measured on a scale of D to Z, with “D” being the most desirable and “Z” the least. In traditional clear diamonds, color is determined by the amount of yellow contained in a stone. The perfect diamond contains no yellow, appearing a clear blue-white in natural light. The more yellow a stone contains, the more affordable it is, with some stones on the lower end of the scale priced at as little as $3/point. Stones in the G-J range are generally a safe bet--both affordable and attractive, particularly when set against yellow gold. If your center stone errs on the lower end of the color range, avoid choosing white gold settings, as they may accentuate the yellow in your stone by contrast.
Cut
A diamond’s cut indicates the quality of its shape and brilliance. Rated on a scale of poor to excellent, the ideal cut optimizes a diamond’s natural tendency to sparkle in the light. Poor diamond cuts allow light to escape from the sides and bottom, compromising the stone’s potential for brilliance. If you are buying an uncertified stone (from a pre-owned jewelry store, for example), request to view the stone either in natural daylight or under a lamp prior to purchasing. You will be amazed at the difference between the sparkle of high-quality and low-quality stones!
Clarity
One of the biggest deciding factors in a diamond’s price tag, clarity is of major importance within the diamond market. When you look closely at some diamonds, you will see that they contain small black spots, appear cloudy, or contain small, scratch-like marks. All of these are considered imperfections, and can lower a diamond’s value significantly. These imperfections are measured on a scale of F-I, with “F” denoting an internally flawless diamond. In order to be rated as flawless, a diamond must contain no imperfections, even when viewed under a microscope. In contrast, imperfect diamonds have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye, often detracting significantly from their outer appearance.
Carat Weight
Carat denotes a diamond’s size, and is often one considered the least-important factor in a diamond’s value. A large, imperfect stone, for example, may be significantly cheaper than a smaller, flawless one. As you begin your diamond search, you will often hear the term “total carat weight” used. Total carat weight indicates the total cumulative weight of all the diamonds on a given piece of jewelry. Since total carat weight includes even insignificant accent stones, the weight of a ring, pendant, or bracelet center stone is of far greater importance. A 1 carat solitaire is much more valuable than even 2 carats worth of accent stones.
Note from Esther:
If you love to see more about diamonds, the explaination of the 4C's and how they get certificated, you can watch this movie by Gia ( Gemilogical Institute of America.
Leave a comment
© 2013 - 2020 Bizzita. All Rights Reserved
Legal Information | Copyright & Privacy Policy | Term & Conditions