YOUR GUIDE TO BUYING DIAMONDS
Focus on the C’s
Every diamond is different. The most important differences are described by the 4 C’s:
Carat weight, Clarity, Color, and Cut.
Carat Weight
As with all precious stone, the weight- and therefore the size- of a diamond is express in carats. Five carats equal one gram. One carat is divided into 100 “points” so that a diamond of 25 points is quarter of a carat.
Clarity
Almost all diamonds contain minute traces of non-crystalized carbon, the element from which they were born. There may also be cavities, cracks, etc. Called inclusions, they are nature’s fingerprint and make every diamond quite unique. However, the fewer there are imperfections, the rare and more valuable the stone will be. Clarity, therefore, is the term that is used to indicate the extent to which the diamond is free of these natural phenomena. The grading scheme by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the most widely recognized.
F (no inclusions) Flawless/internally flawless stones show no inclusions, even under 10X enlargement
VVS (very very small inclusions) stones contain minute inclusions visible under a 10X loupe. But they are hard to find. A brlliant-cut diamond of ideal proportions will easily hide these inclusions.
VS (very small inclusions) stones have small inclusions fairly visible under a 10X enlargement.The bulk of better quality diamonds fall into this category.
SI (small inclusions) stones have inclusions that are easily seen under a loupe but nearly impossible by unaided eye. This offers best value for your money in today’s market.
The final category are the “Is” , from I1 to I3. In a good I1 inclusions still are not easily seen by the unaided eye. Even I2’s don’t look too bad, especially if the cut is good
Color
Most diamonds range from colorless to a pale yellow or brown. The less the color, the greater the value and beauty. The exception is most deep colors. The colorless diamonds are often described as ‘blue white’ for their bluish reflection. The following color table is by the Gemological Institute of America.
Grade ColorD to F ColorlessG to J Near ColorlessK to M Faint YellowN to R Very Light YellowS to Z Fancy Deep Colors
Because very, very few diamonds are of D or E color, they are quite expensive. Most consumers will maximize the value of their diamond purchase by staying in the G to H color grade, so called ‘fine white’ in the trade. Many buyers may not find objectionable color even in J or K grades, especially solitaire diamonds in yellow gold mountings.
Remember, though, that it is often color that separates the fine quality from the discount or commercial grade diamonds. Each color grade may account for 10 to 15% of the diamond value.
Cut
The cut or make of a diamond dramatically affects its fire and sparkle. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the top of the stone. If the cut is too deep, or too shallow, light escapes, making the diamond dull-looking.
The Ideal Cut
The Ideal Cut Diamond describes a round brilliant diamond that has been cut to exact and mathematically proven proportions. It is symmetry, with 58 exactly placed facets, produces the ultimate in luster and beauty. In Ideal cut diamond all of the light entering from any direction is totally reflected through the top and is dispersed into a display of Sparkling flashes and rainbow colors. Inferior Cuts
Too Deep When a diamond is cut too deep, light leaks out of the bottom, brilliance is lost and the center of the diamond will appear to be dark.
Too Shallow When a diamond is cut too shallow, light leaks out of the bottom, brilliance is lost and the diamond appears watery, glassy and dark.
About Diamonds
Enduring Symbol of Love
Until the 15th century only kings and noblemen wore diamonds as a symbol of strength, courage and invincibility. Diamonds have always been associated with romance and legend. The very word diamond comes from the Greek adamas meaning unconquerable, suggesting the eternity of love.
But it wasn’t until 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy that the tradition of diamond engagement rings began. Even the reason a woman wears it on the third finger of her left hand dates back to the early Egyptian belief that the vena amoris (vein of love) ran directly from the heart to the top of the third finger, left hand.
Nature’s Most Precious Gift
Even though diamond is the hardest of all substances known to man, its chemical composition is like the graphite in a lead pencil. It is common carbon. Yet it has a melting point of 6,900 degrees Fahrenheit, which is two and a half times the melting point of steel. The elemental forces of heat and pressure transformed the carbon into diamonds inside the magma that lay deep below the surface of the earth. The volcanic mass in which this crystallization took place, then thrust upwards and broke through the earth’s surface to cool in Kimberlite pipes.
Diamonds are so valuable because they are extremely rare. It is estimated that as little as 350 tons of diamonds have ever been mined in recorded history to date. Only half the diamonds mined today are of gem quality. The recover the relatively small amount of diamonds is not easy, even with today’s technology. Most of the diamonds mined are quite small. May be one in a million will make a carat size or larger finished diamond.
Although South Africa is known for diamonds, it accounts for only 11 percent of diamonds mined today. Australia mines about a third of the diamond production. Other important diamond mining countries are Zaire, Botswana, and Russia. The DeBeers Corp. of South Africa, however, does control, directly or indirectly, almost 90 percent of the world rough diamonds.
Diamond Cutting and Polishing
An uncut diamond so resembles a pebble that most people would pass it by without a glance. It is the skill of the diamond cutter that unlocks the fiery beauty that lies within. Almost half the weight of a rough diamond is lost in the cutting process. Diamond cutting is a labor intensive process requiring years of experience.
Increasingly, automatic machines and lasers are employed for precision as well as labor savings. Diamonds are cut in many places around world. The most significant cutting centers are Antwerp, Israel, India, and New York. India accounts for nearly a half of all polished diamonds in the world and about a third by value.
Buying diamonds on internet from us will be an experience you will treasure. We take special effort to help you compare various grades and cuts of diamonds and make best choice for your money. As a group we offer a collective experience and best value for your money.
Diamonds have an affinity for grease and dirt. To keep your diamonds at their best, clean them at least once a month. Make a half and half solution of warm water and household ammonia and soak your diamond jewelry for 30 minutes. Brush gently. Swish in the solution once more, and drain on paper. No rinse is needed.
- Don’t wear your diamond when playing sports, doing dishes, or doing rough work. Even though a diamond is durable,it can be chipped by a hard blow along its grain.
