After being overcome by intense pressure and heat, diamonds take millions to billions of years to form. The diamond is formed when the carbon crystallizes and grows into a bright gemstone that is pushed to the surface of the earth during volcanic eruptions. If these nature’s hardest substance fascinates you, read on this comprehensive diamond jewelry buying guide to equip yourself with all the information you need to make a good purchase.
Carat
The weight of a stone is measured by the carat, with one carat equaling 0.2 grams. Every carat has 100 points, meaning that a 75-point diamond would weight .75 carats. The majority of the diamond used in fine jewelry weighs one carat or less. The development of a diamond is low, taking millions or billions of years to form. Thus, slow growth makes the biggest diamonds the rarest, and therefore, the most expensive.
Cut
Numerous newbies perceive the ‘cut’ to refer to the shape of the stone, for instance, whether it is round or square. However, the cut relates to the symmetry, polish, and proportions of the diamond and how the facets are organized on the stone. Many people believe ‘Cut’ to be the most critical aspect of the diamond, which adds to the sparkle, scintillation, and brilliance. Well, the better the cut of the diamond, the better it will glisten in the light.
- Grading the cut: You can grade the cut of the diamond as ideal, excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor. In an ideal cut, the diamond is mathematically designed to amplify the brilliance of a round diamond. The ideal cut is exquisitely angled and proportioned to disperse light. No other cut can promise such shine. In a poor cut, the weight of the carat is maximized and prioritized over factors that can enhance the glimmer of the gem.
- Parts of the cut: The diamond cuts have a variety of key parts, with the most common and classic cut, round diamond having 57 or 58 facets. The 58th, which is known as the outlet, is optional and will consist of a tiny flat facet at the bottom of the pavilion. If any of these facets are poorly cut, the light may escape as opposed to reflecting your eye. Remember, the lighter your diamond reflects, the more shine you will get from your diamond.
- Types of the cut: The brilliant round cut is the most common cut that the diamonds use. Every other cut is known as a fancy cut. The majority of these can be put into four groups, which are, step cuts, modified brilliants, rose cuts, and mixed cuts.
Clarity
Being originated from deep layers of earth, natural diamonds have internal inclusions or external blemishes. This includes chips, cracks, air bubbles, random debris, dirt, and scratches, all of which lower the value of diamonds. The flawless diamonds are not only expensive but rare as well. While possessing a flawed diamond isn’t always a bad thing, ensure that you evaluate the stone from an independent jeweler to see if the inclusion has structurally weakened it or not.
Grading the clarity: The clarity of the diamond can be graded as flawless (FL), internally flawless (IF), very slightly included (VVS1-VVS2), very slightly included (VS1-VS2), slightly included (SI1-SI2), and included (I1-I2-I3). In flawless, internal or external inclusions aren’t even visible to a skilled gemologist that uses a 10x magnification. In included, inclusions are apparent even to the eye, greatly affecting the brilliance and transparency of the stone.
Colour
Many diamonds are rated by the unavailability of color. Of course, the brightest diamonds are far more worthy. However, exceptions are for diamonds with fancy colors like yellow, brown, or green, which are evaluated for their evenness and intensity of color. Starting from ‘D’ (completely colourless) and going to up to ‘Z’ (almost colorless), the more the diamond is closer to the ‘D,’ the more expensive and rare it is.
Grading the colour: D is the highest color rating that a diamond can get. This is followed by E-F, which is colorless and requires a powerful magnification to detect any color. G-H is almost colourless, making the colours detectable when they are placed side by side with a colorless stone. I-J is just about colourless with a mild yellow tint. The diamonds in the range of K-M are coloured faint yellow. N-R is coloured very light yellow, and S-Z is light yellow.
Certificate
What is a Diamond Certificate? It is a scientific evaluation of the fours Cs, which are carat, colour, clarity, and cut. This certification is performed by accredited, independent 3rd party agencies.
Why is certification necessary? It is necessary because it gives a buyer a guarantee about the quality of stone that he desires to purchase, preventing unscrupulous vendors from selling substandard stones at high prices.
What is the difference between certifications? Due to the presence of multiple agencies, each agency will grade the clarity and colour of a stone differently.
Setting
It is just a method utilized to secure the stone to the band. There are numerous styles of settings that may correspond to different ring types and stone shapes. Every setting has a set of distinct characteristics, with all of them working in collaboration to bolster the beauty of stones they contain. Some of the most encountered settings are solitaire, three stone, pave, halo, channel set, bezel set, and split shank.
Metal
When selecting a metal for a ring, it is important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of each while simultaneously recognizing the most popular choices. Among features to consider are the durability, brilliance, and colour of metal, and whether or not regular maintenance will be required. Finally, the factor of the cost may also have a say in the final decision. The top three choices for a ring metal are 14K gold, 18K gold, and platinum.
Ring size
To acquire a precise ring measurement, it is important to utilize a plastic ring sizer. This tool comprises holes of varying sizes. To use, read the corresponding size by inserting your finger into the right space. Since finger size may change over the years, they may provide to be a good investment!
So, are you ready to purchase your diamond bracelets, diamond wedding rings, diamond engagement ring, or a full diamond jewelry collection? If yes, reach out to us, we’d be glad to assist you.