Diamonds are Forever; How to Choose the Right Jewel
Diamonds are some of the most precious stones found on the planet. They last forever, and never lose their dazzle and awe quality. This makes it important to choose the right one. Purchasing loose diamonds isn’t necessarily rocket science, but it can be a significant financial investment that shouldn’t be walked into blindly. Here are a few tips you can use when trying to determine how to choose the right jewel.
The 4 C’s
The four C’s of the diamond industry refer to clarity, color, cut and carat. Each of these characteristics of a diamond is graded by an independent gemologist laboratory. These highly reputable and widely-known laboratories are used by reputable diamond dealers to grade the loose diamonds they sell.
Clarity refers to the number and type of imperfections a diamond has. The fewer imperfections, the better clarity rating it gets.
Color is also graded by degree. The less color white diamonds have the better color rating while the more color colored diamonds have the better the rating.
Cut refers to two things; the shape the diamond is cut into and the quality of the cut. There are various shapes a diamond is cut into, including but not limited to, princess, pear, cushion, emerald and round, oval and marquise. Cut also refers to the quality of the cut. A diamond that reflects light into the top surfaces of the diamond, then down into the stone, and up and back out the top surfaces again is a good quality cut. A cut that allows the light to escape out of the side or bottom surfaces of the diamond is considered a poorer quality cut.
Carat indicates the size of the stone. For every 100 points the diamond is given it equals 1 carat. So if a diamond has 225 points it would be 2.25 carats.
Certification
Sometimes considered the 5th C in the diamond industry, diamond certification means the diamond has been examined and evaluated by one of the reputable gemologist laboratories in the world, and can be a peace of mind for consumers who purchase certified diamonds.
Usage
Will you keep your diamonds in their loose state of being or will you use them to create a fine piece of diamond jewelry? This matters, because the shape of the loose diamonds you purchase can come into play.
Loose diamonds that won’t be altered or placed into a setting aren’t so much of a concern; purchase them in the shapes the most appeal to you. However, if you intend to put the diamonds into a setting, the shape can make a huge difference. Be sure the loose diamonds you purchase can easily be crafted into the setting you’ve got in mind.
Price
It’s always a good idea to have some sort of a budget in mind when setting out to purchase loose diamonds. A budget will keep you from going broke, and allow you to see just what is available to you within that price range.
No matter which loose diamonds you ultimately end up purchasing, as long as they put a sparkle in your eye, and a little wonder into your imagination, you’ve chosen well.
Diamonds are some of the most precious stones found on the planet. They last forever, and never lose their dazzle and awe quality. This makes it important to choose the right one. Purchasing loose diamonds isn’t necessarily rocket science, but it can be a significant financial investment that shouldn’t be walked into blindly. Here are a few tips you can use when trying to determine how to choose the right jewel.
The 4 C’s
The four C’s of the diamond industry refer to clarity, color, cut and carat. Each of these characteristics of a diamond is graded by an independent gemologist laboratory. These highly reputable and widely-known laboratories are used by reputable diamond dealers to grade the loose diamonds they sell.
Clarity refers to the number and type of imperfections a diamond has. The fewer imperfections, the better clarity rating it gets.
Color is also graded by degree. The less color white diamonds have the better color rating while the more color colored diamonds have the better the rating.
Cut refers to two things; the shape the diamond is cut into and the quality of the cut. There are various shapes a diamond is cut into, including but not limited to, princess, pear, cushion, emerald and round, oval and marquise. Cut also refers to the quality of the cut. A diamond that reflects light into the top surfaces of the diamond, then down into the stone, and up and back out the top surfaces again is a good quality cut. A cut that allows the light to escape out of the side or bottom surfaces of the diamond is considered a poorer quality cut.
Carat indicates the size of the stone. For every 100 points the diamond is given it equals 1 carat. So if a diamond has 225 points it would be 2.25 carats.
Certification
Sometimes considered the 5th C in the diamond industry, diamond certification means the diamond has been examined and evaluated by one of the reputable gemologist laboratories in the world, and can be a peace of mind for consumers who purchase certified diamonds.
Usage
Will you keep your diamonds in their loose state of being or will you use them to create a fine piece of diamond jewelry? This matters, because the shape of the loose diamonds you purchase can come into play.
Loose diamonds that won’t be altered or placed into a setting aren’t so much of a concern; purchase them in the shapes the most appeal to you. However, if you intend to put the diamonds into a setting, the shape can make a huge difference. Be sure the loose diamonds you purchase can easily be crafted into the setting you’ve got in mind.
Price
It’s always a good idea to have some sort of a budget in mind when setting out to purchase loose diamonds. A budget will keep you from going broke, and allow you to see just what is available to you within that price range.
No matter which loose diamonds you ultimately end up purchasing, as long as they put a sparkle in your eye, and a little wonder into your imagination, you’ve chosen well.