Perhaps many of you have had occasion to purchase a diamond but didn’t know the questions to ask the jeweler. You can purchase two appearing identical diamonds yet once could be several thousand dollars from the cost of the other. So the next time you are in a diamond buying mood, here are some things that you should know.
Webster defines Diamond as – A very hard, highly refractive, colorless or white crystalline allotrope of carbon, used when pure as a gemstone and otherwise chiefly in abrasives. The diamond is nature’s hardest substance, resistant to both fire and steel. This invincible strength and its rarity have made it an extremely coveted material, symbolic of wealth, power, magic, and love. The word diamond stems from the latin diamas, meaning the unconquerable.
Diamonds were first discovered in India where they were valued more for their magical powers than for their beauty. The first recorded account of a diamond used in a wedding ring was in 1477 by the Archduke Maximillian of Austria in his proposal to Mary of Burgundy. This began the tradition that remains with us today. The discovery of a large mine in Africa in 1870, lead to the availability of the diamond on a much larger scale. The gem that was exclusively worn by kings and noblemen became accessible to the general public. This resulted in greater experimentation in the cutting and polishing of diamonds that allowed a diamond’s truly unique beauty to shine above all other gems.
A diamond’s journey starts at the mine, and travels to many places and through many hands before it reaches the person who finally wears it. Diamonds are mined in various places around the world including, Australia, Zaire, Botswana, Russia, Namibia, Brazil, and South Africa. Diamonds in their rough form look like dirty pebbles and do not resemble the cut and polished gems we are accustomed to. It is the skill of the diamond cutter that unleashes the fiery brilliance that is the beauty of a diamond. The skill of diamond cutter is passed on from generation to generation through apprenticeship and rigorous training. There are four diamond centers internationally, Antwerp, Tel Aviv, New York, and Bombay that I am aware of. Once the diamond has been cut and polished, it is placed in a setting that complements its natural beauty. Setting designs are as varied as the individuals who wear them.
Maybe you have heard of “The 4Cs.” The 4 C’s are four variables that are used to calculate the value of a diamond. These are: Clarity, Color, Cut, and Carat Weight. Clarity describes the clearness or purity of a diamond. This is determined by the number, size, nature, and location of the internal (inclusions) and external (blemishes) imperfections. The clarity scale is broken down into the following grades:
IF – Internally Flawless Free from all inclusions or blemishes.
F – Flawless No inclusions visible at 10x magnification.
VVS1 – Very Very Small Inclusion #1 Inclusions that are extremely difficult to locate at 10x.
VVS2 Very Very Small Inclusion #2 Inclusions that are very difficult to locate at 10x.
VS1 Very Small Inclusion #1 Minor inclusions that are difficult to locate at 10x.
VS2 Very Small Inclusion #2 Minor inclusions that are somewhat difficult to locate at 10x.
SI1 Small Inclusion #1 Noticeable inclusions that are easy to locate at 10x.
SI2 Small Inclusion #2 Noticeable inclusions that are very easy to locate at 10x. Some inclusions may be seen with the unaided eye.
I1 Included #1 Obvious inclusions. Somewhat easy to locate with the unaided eye.
I2 Included #2 Obvious inclusions. Easy to locate with the unaided eye.
I3 Included #3 Obvious inclusions. Very easy to locate with the unaided eye.
Two methods used to affect the clarity grade given to a diamond are lasering and clarity enhancing. Lasering of diamonds is the process in which a laser is used to drill a tiny hole into a diamond and the black of the imperfection is then removed. This is a legitimate and widely accepted treatment.
The second treatment is called clarity enhancing. This method is widely disputed because a foreign element is injected into the diamond. This method is not permanent and therefore not recommended. All clarity treated diamonds must be disclosed as such prior to sale. I do not sell clarity enhanced diamonds.
Color describes the amount of color the diamond contains. This can range from colorless to yellow with slight tints of yellow, gray or brown. Colors can also range from intense yellow to brown, blue, green, pink and red. These fancy colors are rare and therefore more valuable. It is possible to influence the color by an irradiation treatment followed by a heat treatment. I do not sell color treated diamonds.
Cut refers to the proportions, finish, symmetry, and polish of the diamond. These factors determine the fire and brilliance of a diamond. Well cut diamonds sell at a premium and poorly cut diamonds sell at discounted prices.
Carat is the unit of weight for the diamond. A carat is further subdivided into 100 points (0.01 carat = 1 point). The greater the carat size of the diamond, the greater its worth.
So be sure that you keep these points in mind when you are making a diamond purchase and show your jeweler that you are a well-informed shopper.
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First I ordered this Tuesday aetornfon and it arrived before lunch on Friday. I’m on the East Coast, so I expected another week’s wait. It was well packed, sent USPS with tracking, and in a pretty gift box. Second the ring is BEAUTIFUL! The diamonds are white and flush with the band, so they won’t catch. Without a loupe I can’t see any flaws or occlusions. They’re very sparkly and the color is good maybe better than H. There is a tiny hole in the band beneath each diamond. The band is bright white gold (probably rhodium-ed, but pretty) and smooth and even, a little thinner under the finger and slightly wider through the diamonds, but still slim less than 3mm at the thickest part. It seems to be true to size, and is light weight without being flimsy. There is a 10K mark inside. The channel runs about halfway around the band, so the whole top across the finger shows diamonds. To get a ring this lovely for this price is amazing I’m sure it sells for more elsewhere!
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