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Diamond Buying Guide
A diamond’s beauty, rarity
and price are determined by an interplay of the 4C’s Cut, Clarity,
Colour and Carat weight, The 4C’s are used through out the world
to classify diamonds, and helps you to compare individual diamonds.
It is an easy way to learn
about the qualities you need to look at when buying a diamond,
which is a life long investment.
One of the first things you
will need to do is establish a budget, which should be based on
your income as well as your knowledge of diamonds (the 4C’s),
so you have a good idea of what you can afford and what you want
to spend.
Make sure that you have a
guarantee, that you get what you have paid for, in the means of
a valuation (by a registered valuer) or a diamond certificate
(by a recognised and trusted source eg. GIA- Gemmological Institute
of America, Gem studies Laboratory, or the DCLA- Diamond Certification
Laboratory of Australia) bearing the
stones recognizable, individual characteristics.
The 4C’s
CUT
A diamond’s brilliance, fire and ultimate beauty depends heavily
on its cut.
A well cut diamond of perfect
proportions and angles will reflect light internally from one
facet to the other, which is dispersed and reflected through the
top of the stone. Diamond’s that are cut too deep or too shallow,
loose light through the
bottom or side of the stone, resulting in less brilliance, and
ultimately less value.
Cut also refers to shape,
apart from the traditional round shape- termed round brilliant
cut (57 facets cut at angles which allow total internal reflection)
there are fancy shapes, square usually termed princess, pear,
heart, oval, marquise, brilliant and emerald cut (rectangle with
corners cut off), which have their own guide lines, to be considered
well cut.
CLARITY
Clarity is the presence of inclusions, which are inner flaws which
occur during the formation of a diamond. The visibility, numbers
and size of these inclusions, viewed through 10x magnification,
determine the clarity, which is ranked on a scale ranging from
(F) which is flawless to (P3) Pique which is heavily included
and visible with the naked eye.
Inclusions affect the brilliance
and price of diamond. A diamond that is flawless is usually an
investment stone, and a heavily included diamond is usually not
very attractive. Try to choose a stone that is only slightly included,
so beauty and brilliance is not compromised and the stone holds
its value over the years to come.
COLOUR
Colourless diamonds are the most desirable as they are traditional,
accessible and allow the most refraction of light (sparkle). Although
diamonds do come in a variety of colours, intense shades of blue,
green, yellow, orange, pink and rarest of all red, they are extremely
rare and highly priced.
Colourless diamonds are graded
on a scale, which ranges from D (colourless) to Z (yellow). The
differences are very subtle, it is very difficult to see the difference
between a D and an E, but you will be able to see the difference
between a D and a J. For accuracy diamonds are graded under controlled
lighting and compared to a master set of stones displaying the
full range of colour differences.
The grade you choose will
come down to personal taste, but on an average H and above would
be the most popular choice, due to the diamond still having a
white appearance, with very little tint of colour.
CARAT
Carat is a measurement of weight of
a diamond, and is not to be confused with size. One carat equals
200 milligrams. One carat is divided into 100 points. eg.
A 0.50 carat is the same as fifty points or half a carat.
Diamonds with a high carat
weight are not a common occurrence, and are therefore more are
rare, due to that factor; a 2 carat diamond can be priced well
over triple the amount of a 1 carat diamond of the same quality.
This article and photos featured were provided
by Argenton
Design makers of handmade designer jewellery.
   
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