The four
C's of diamond buying Carat, Clarity, Color, Cut Plus two more; Cost & CertMany people are confused
about how diamonds are priced. The best explanation is that asking for
the price of a diamond is like asking for the price of a house. A real
estate agent can’t quote you a price for a house without knowing
its size, condition, location, etc. This process is the same one used
when buying a diamond. A diamond’s beauty, rarity, and price depend
on the interplay of all the 4Cs—cut, clarity, carat, and color. The 4Cs are used throughout
the world to classify the rarity of diamonds. Diamonds with the combination
of the highest 4C ratings are more rare and, consequently, more expensive.
No one C is more important than another in terms of beauty and it is
important to note that each of the 4Cs will not diminish in value over
time. Once you have established those 4C characteristics that are most important to you, The Jewelry Source can then begin to show you various options with quoted prices. |
|
CARAT Carat is often confused with size even though it is actually a measure of weight. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. One carat can also be divided into 100 “points.” A .75 carat diamond is the same as a 75-points or 3/4 carat diamond. A 1-carat diamond costs exactly twice the price of a half-carat diamond, right? Wrong. Since larger diamonds are found less frequently in nature, which places them at the rarest level of the Diamond Quality Pyramid, a 1-carat diamond will cost more than twice a 1/2-carat diamond (assuming color, clarity and cut remain constant). Cut and mounting can make a diamond appear larger (or smaller) than its actual weight. So talk to us to find the right diamond and setting to optimize the beauty of your stone. |
|
CLARITY Inclusions are natural identifying characteristics such as minerals or fractures, appearing while diamonds are formed in the earth. They may look like tiny crystals, clouds or feathers.
To view inclusions, jewelers use a magnifying loupe. This tool allows jewelers to see a diamond at 10x its actual size so that inclusions are easier to see. The position of inclusions can affect the value of a diamond. There are very few flawless diamonds found in nature, thus these diamonds are much more valuable. Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection, known as clarity, which was established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The clarity scale, ranging from F (Flawless) to Included (I), is based on the visibility of inclusions at a magnification of 10x. Some inclusions can be hidden by a mounting, thus having little effect on the beauty of a diamond. An inclusion in the middle or top of a diamond could impact the dispersion of light, sometimes making the diamond less brilliant. The greater a diamond's clarity, the more brilliant, valuable and rare it is—and the higher it is on the Diamond Quality Pyramid. |
|
COLOR Diamonds range in color from icy winter whites to warm summer whites. Diamonds are graded on a color scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) which ranges from D (colorless) to Z.
Warmer colored diamonds (K–Z) are particularly desirable when set in yellow gold. Icy winter whites (D–J) look stunning set in white gold or platinum. Color differences are very subtle and it is very difficult to see the difference between, say, an E and an F. Therefore, colors are graded under controlled lighting conditions and are compared to a master set for accuracy. Truly colorless stones, graded D, treasured for their rarity, are highest on the Diamond Quality Pyramid. Color, however, ultimately comes down to personal taste. Ask a jeweler at The Jewelry Source to show you a variety of color grades next to one another to help you determine your color preference. |
|
Based on scientific formulas, a well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another and disperse and reflect it through the top of the stone. This results in a display of brilliance and fire, thereby placing well-cut diamonds higher on the Diamond Quality Pyramid than deep or shallow-cut diamonds. Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow lose or leak light through the side or bottom, resulting in less brilliance and ultimately, value.
Cut also refers to shape—round, square, pear, or heart for example. Since a round diamond is symmetrical and capable of reflecting nearly all the light that enters, it is the most brilliant of all diamond shapes and follows specific proportional guidelines. Ask a jeweler at The Jewelry Source to find out more about these guidelines.
Non-round shapes, also known as “fancy shapes,” will have their own guidelines to be considered well-cut. |
|
Costs When you start to think about buying a diamond—and the love it will symbolize—you naturally want the best you can afford and a beautiful stone you will treasure forever. Diamonds
can be found in a range of price—and you're certain to find one
within the Diamond Quality Pyramid that suits your taste and what you
plan to spend. If you're about to buy a Diamond Engagement Ring, you
may want to consider spending the commonly accepted guideline of two
months’ salary. But it's up to you to settle on a diamond that
will truly represent your deepest emotions and the promise for the future
you will share. |
|
| Certification Diamond certificates, more accurately known as diamond grading reports, are commonly provided with the purchase of a significant piece of diamond jewelry such as a diamond engagement ring. These reports are prepared by independent, certified gemologists from laboratories around the world and can help calculate the specific characteristics of your diamonds (color, cut, clarity and carat weight, for example). What's
Included in a Diamond Grading Report? The
best way to understand your diamond grading report is to schedule an
appointment with The Jewelry Source. This way, we can explain to you each portion of the
certificate while visually examining your diamond with you. Grading
a diamond is only partially scientific; a brief meeting with us can
help you understand what the certificate really means. Benefits
to Getting a Diamond Grading Report Does
a Diamond Grading Report Increase the Value of My Diamond? How
Much Does it Cost? How Long Will it Take? Some
well-known organizations that provide grading reports include the
American
Gemological Society (AGS),
Diamond High Council (Hoge Raad Voor Diamant;
HRD), European Gemological Laboratory (EGL),
International Gemological Institute (IGI),
and the Gemological Institute of America
(GIA), to name a few. The Jewelry Source
can help aid you in acquiring
a grading report through one of these labs either at the time of purchase
or after.
|
|
Questions about 'blood diamonds'?Most people are unaware of the role diamonds play in bringing real benefits to people in the countries around the world where diamonds are sourced. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa. It is also in Africa that this same resource has been used to fund conflict. In 2000, a coalition of governments, non-governmental organizations and the diamond industry worked together to address this issue. In 2002, they established the Kimberley Process Certification System, an UN-backed process that has virtually eliminated the trade of conflict diamonds. Today, over 99% of the worlds' supply of diamonds is from sources free from conflict. At The Jewelry Source, we buy our loose diamonds only from diamond wholesales who are committed to eradicating conflict diamonds. Our vendors and we adhere to the jewelry industry's System of Warranties, which states: "The diamonds herein invoiced have been purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations Resolutions. The undersigned hereby guarantees that these diamonds are conflict free, based on personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds." IMPORTANT DIAMOND FACTS (www.DiamondFacts.org) An estimated 5 million people have access to appropriate healthcare thanks to revenues from diamonds. Conflict diamonds have been reduced from approximately 4% to considerable less than 1% since the implementation of the Kimberley Process in 2003. An estimated 10 million people globally are directly or indirectly supported by the diamond industry. The diamond mining industry generates over 40% of the Namibia's annual export earnings. Diamond revenues enable every child in Botswana to receive free education up to the age of 13. In July 2000, the global diamond industry announced its zero tolerance policy towards conflict diamonds and continues to drive this policy. Sierra Leone is now at peace and exports approximately $142 million diamonds per year. Over one million people are employed by the diamond industry in India. $8.4 billion worth of diamonds a year come from African countries.
|
|
