Find us a girl who doesn't like diamonds. Sure some like it big, some like it small, some like it round and some square, but we all love them. And we make sure our men know it :)
But honestly, when it comes to buying them, we can all admit to being a little stumped. I mean don't they all look just great! How do you know which one to buy then? I mean sure we want the biggest rock....but we also want the biggest bang for our back. And this is particularly important when it comes to solitaires.
We hope this guide will help you navigate the world of diamonds with a little more confidence and comfort that you are making the right choice when it's your turn to bring one of those beauties home.
The Four C's - The four C's discussed below will help you evaluate your diamond. Of course, most diamond jewellers worth their salt will provide you with a gem certificate that lists the values of the four C's.
COLOR
Now while it can be imperceptible to the naked eye, the most common diamond color is yellow. Most diamonds have a hint of yellow and this is what determine a diamonds position on the color scale. The closer the colorless a diamond is, the greater it's value. The whitest and rarest stone available is a D color diamond and the other end of the spectrum with the most yellow in it is a Z color diamond. The grading shown below is published by the GIA.
CLARITY
The clarity of a diamond tells you how flawed or flawless it is. If a diamond has too many imperfections, it can affect it's value. Size, number, position and nature of the flaw determine clarity. If the flaws are not visible under 10x magnification, the diamond is said to be flawless. Below is the GIA scale that tells you about how a diamond is evaluated for flaws.
CUT
Many people confuse the shape of the diamond for it's cut. Cut refers to the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond. Better the cut, the more the diamond will shine. Naturally the skill of the diamond cutter also plays a role here. The most popular cut remains the classic round brilliant.
CARAT WEIGHT
Last but not least, size does matter. A carat is how the size of a diamond is measured. This is an internationally accepted standard and is equal to 0.2gm. The price of the diamond increases in proportion with it's carat size. Bigger size however does not mean more beauty. Diamond cutters tend to sacrifice cut as bigger sizes are more profitable. Try a diamond on for size to see what works best for you. Typically for engagement rings, we recommend 0.75 to 1.5 carat solitaires depending on the size of your hand.
If you want to know more about diamond grading and evaluation, an internet search or a visit to the GIA can give you lots of information. However, it is important not to get bogged down by the details and remember that in the end it's about which diamond you like. Staying in the middle of the clarity and color scale can save you some serious moolah. We recommend a Near Colorless stone with VS 1-2 to SI 1-2 clarity.
So go out there and enjoy shopping for your diamond. It's fun! And despite all those admiring glances and compliments you are going to get, you will be the one who looks at it most. So as long as you love it, little else matters!
Stay tuned for our post on stone settings and a comparison of metals for engagement rings.
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