DMNDS4YOU Diamond Crash Course

DMNDS4YOU Diamond Crash Course

Choosing a diamond can feel like an overwhelming endeavour, but after you finish our Diamond Crash Course you will have the knowledge to make the best purchase decision for you. When you choose a diamond you must select a diamond that has the best balance of quality and value. The cost of a diamond depends on many factors, including the 4 C's: Carat, Cut, Color, and Clarity. The rarer a certain quality is the more expensive the diamond will be.

When deciding which diamond to purchase you must consider which of the 4 C's are the most important to you. For example, you may have a larger diamond that is not necessarily more expensive because the color or clarity or cut may be lower than a smaller diamond. Each of the 4 C's affects the price of a diamond. Below you will find descriptions of the 4 C's to help you determine which characteristics are more important to you.

Carat - Choosing the right Size

A diamond's size is measured in carat weight (ct.). Each diamond carat is also equal to 100 points. For example, a diamond that is a 1/2 carat (0.50ct.) can also be referred to as a 50-point diamond. But keep this in mind : bigger isn't necessarily better. A two-carat diamond that is cut poorly is not nearly as beautiful as a smaller diamond, cut by a skilled diamond artisan. Or, it may be cut well, but have poor color and clarity. The point is, to be exceptionally beautiful, a diamond must be of high quality in all 4Cs.

To choose the best carat weight of diamond, consider your style, the size of the finger, the size of your setting, and your budget.

If you have a set budget, explore all your options and you'll find that there is a wide range of diamond carat weights and qualities available in your price range.

A very active person not used to wearing jewelry may find themselves bumping or nicking their new ring. Consider a smaller size diamond or a setting that protects a larger diamond from getting knocked against doors and counters.

Also keep in mind that the smaller the finger, the larger the diamond will appear. A 1½-carat diamond solitaire looks much larger on a size 4 finger than a size 8.

If you have already chosen a setting, make sure you choose a diamond to fit. Look for the diamond size specifications of your ring or ask a DMNDS4YOU associate what size diamond you should look for.

Finally, if a large carat weight is important to you, yet you're working within a budget, consider a diamond with a good cut, SI1–SI2 clarity, and an I or J color grade.

Cut - Getting the best Brilliance

Cut is the craftsmanship applied in cutting the facets of the stone. The artisan attempts to cut a diamond to make the best use of light.

When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is refracted from one facet to another, then dispersed through the top of the diamond.

When a diamond is cut too deep, some light escapes through the opposite side of the diamond. If the diamond is cut too shallow, light escapes through the bottom of the stone before it can be reflected. In addition, the facets must be placed with precise symmetry for maximum brilliance.

Determining a diamond's cut grade, however, goes beyond simple measurements of width and depth. Using an optical measuring device, a three-dimensional model is created to determine the diamond's proportions and angles. The interrelations between these various dimensions will greatly affect how light reacts once it enters and how it behaves once it exits; by using sophisticated computer modeling, it is possible to trace light behavior and measure its levels of brightness, fire and scintillation - the face-up appearance.

Diameter : The width of the diamond as measured through the girdle.
Table : The largest facet of a gemstone.
Crown : The top portion of a diamond extending from the girdle to the table.
Girdle : The intersection of the crown and pavilion which defines the perimeter of the diamond.
Pavilion : The bottom portion of a diamond, extending from the girdle to the culet.
Culet : The facet at the tip of a gemstone. The preferred culet is not visible with the unaided eye (graded "none" or "small").
Depth : The height of a gemstone measured from the culet to the table.

Polish and symmetry are two important aspects of the cutting process. The polish grade describes the smoothness of the diamond's facets, and the symmetry grade refers to alignment of the facets. With poor polish, the surface of a facet can be dulled, and may create blurred or dulled sparkle. With poor symmetry, light can be misdirected as it enters and exits the diamond. The polish and symmetry grades are clearly listed in each diamond detail page and within the GIA or European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) diamond grading report. For the most beautiful diamond, look for a symmetry grade of excellent (EX), very good (VG), or good (G) for a GIA graded diamond, and ideal (ID), excellent (EX), very good (VG), or good (G) for an EGL graded diamond.

Color - From Rare to Priceless

Color is the natural body color visible in a diamond and is the one C determined completely by nature, not man. As a rule, the closer a diamond is to colorless, the more valuable and beautiful it is. Diamond colors appear in a range. Color grades D, E and F are considered colorless, making them rare.

However, even more rare than the colorless are the fancy colored diamonds. These diamonds are beyond the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) color scale. There are well defined colors that include pink, canary yellow, blue and green…highly priced, extremely rare, major showpieces!

Clarity - Diamonds' Birthmarks

Clarity is an indication of a diamond's purity. When a rough stone is extracted from carbon, deep beneath the earth, tiny traces of natural elements are almost always trapped inside. These elements are called inclusions, though sometimes referred to as birthmarks, because they are formed naturally and are unique to each stone. Highly skilled artisans painstakingly examine each rough stone to determine how to cut it in order to eliminate or reduce inclusions. Their objective: to bring you a diamond of the highest clarity possible.