Tips on Choosing a Good Diamond

Tips on Choosing a Good Diamond

Diamonds. Every girl's best friend. Picking out a diamond is usually a once-in-a-lifetime event. You don't think it's too hard for you to master, do you? Not now. When choosing a diamond ring, rather than covering your eyes and pointing blindly, consider the following information about the four C's of the diamond world.

Carat is the term used for the weight of precious stones. Diamond carat actually applies to the weight of a particular diamond and not its size, like most people think. The carat weight of a diamond is evaluated by dividing each carat further into points: one carat equals 100 points. So, for example, if the diamond has thirty points, then it is 0.30 of one carat. No two diamonds are identical, the carat or weight of the precious stone are the only ways of determining the value. Cut, clarity, and color must also be looked at carefully.

The Cut. Light reflections upon a diamond can have very different results, depending upon the type of diamond cut. The different cuts involve a variety of shapes that emphasize the brilliance of each stone. Diamonds are most popularly cut in six different ways: oval, heart shaped, emerald shaped, pear shaped, round, and marquise. The princess and the radiant, add two more other shapes. A quality cut will highlight the diamond's best attributes. Choose the best cut for you, using whatever criteria matter to you, such as cost, appearance, and availability.

The Clarity. As with any natural gem, diamond stones possess identifying marks called inclusions. These methods decrease the diamond's quality as the light is filtered before it enters the stone. While some stones contain inclusions that are visible to the naked eye, most can only be seen under magnification of 10x or more. The diamond stones that present the least apparent occlusions are thus considered most precious.

The Color characteristics. There are diverse rankings depending on the color of the diamond, with letter D being the peak, known as translucent, and Z as the lowest being pale yellow. The rating system for diamonds using the twenty-six letters of the alphabet; those ranging between D and F which have no color, those between E and J are almost colorless, the stones rated from K to M can be faintly yellow in color, diamonds between N and R are very lightly yellowed, and those at the end of the alphabet, or S to Z, are the least expensvie, and light yellow. Diamonds that are not colorless and not tinted yellow are referred to as "Fancies". Because of the implied name, they cost more than the clear diamond.

There is a famous saying that "diamonds are forever," I've always wondered if it's because the stones are so expensive to replace that the owner should be careful to not damage or lose them! A diamond is not simply a gemstone used in jewelry- it is a lifelong investment. When purchasing a diamond, always consider the four C's: these are carat, cut, clarity, and color. Considering the four C's will allow you to purchase a diamond of the highest quality and will last forever.

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