Diamond jewelry is a big investment, so it's only natural that you want to make sure everything goes smoothly when you purchase it. After all, diamonds are forever and whatever piece you choose will be able to be passed on through generations, which is precisely what makes diamond jewelry an excellent gift not only to yourself, but also for that special someone.
Yet, in light of so many options to choose from, many may feel overwhelmed in terms of what to look for in diamond jewelry to guarantee that their investment is worth it. So, we at Blakeman's put together this guide to walk you through the main points to consider prior to buying diamond jewelry. That way, you can rest assured about the quality of your future piece.
In general, how is diamond quality guaranteed?
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), diamond quality is ensured based on the following qualities: color, clarity, cut, and carat. Combined, these elements are known as the 4Cs. For more information about diamonds with easy-to-understand illustrations, check out our diamond education section.
But for now, let's take a look at each one of them:
Diamond clarity
Natural diamonds come to life as a result of carbon being exposed to tremendous heat and pressure conditions deep in the soil. This rare process is likely to create small imperfections inside and outside the surface of the stone, the so-called inclusions and blemishes, respectively.
When GIA assesses clarity, it is referring to the absence of inclusions and blemishes in the diamond. The higher the clarity, the lesser the amount of total imperfections are found in the stone. GIA's diamond clarity scale is classified in 6 categories, establishing 11 grades, each of which classify blemishes and inclusions.
Yet, clarity is not very visible to the human eye. So, that brings us back to the original question of how to ensure diamond clarity in your jewelry? And the short answer is: always count on a trusted jeweler, as s/he will have the right tools - and a trained eye - in order to identify the diamond clarity of the piece of jewelry you have in mind.
Diamond color
When it comes to diamonds, this gem's color actually means the absence of color. In other words, a good color diamond should be chemically pure and structurally perfect, and its hues as such be comparable to clear water, ideally with the least hint of color possible. The aim is for it to be "colorless.
The GIA has a color-grading system to measure the degree of colorlessness. The way it does so is by assessing the diamond under controlled lighting and precise viewing conditions when compared to stones of an established color value. GIA's scale begins with the letter D, which stands for colorless, and increases the presence of color up to the letter Z
Even though GIA's color distinctions are still subtle and invisible to the naked eye, they still do make a very big difference to diamond quality, its overall aesthetics, and its price, so they also need to be considered.
Diamond cut
The diamond cut refers to, of course, the way a diamond is cut. The stone’s cut directly relates to its design, craftsmanship, diameter, thickness, symmetry of its facet arrangement, and lastly, the quality of the gem's facets polish.
Of all the diamond 4Cs, the cut is the most complex and technically difficult to analyze. Thus, you should always count on the help of a trusted jeweler prior to choosing your gem to assess the cut of the diamond in your piece. The GIA cut grade standard takes the aforementioned factors into account, as in the end, they are all about reflection and will affect its brightness.
Diamond carat
A carat is the diamond's measure of weight, and it is established the following way: one carat is defined as 200 milligrams. Each carat is subdivided into 100 so-called 'points.' This metric classification enables extremely precise measurements in a scale of decimal points to be made by jewelers.
According to the GIA scale, a diamond’s weight can be referenced by its 'points.' While a diamond that weighs 0.25c is a 'twenty-five pointer,' one that is over one carat can be equivalent to a one point decimal scale carats. In case you're wondering what a good starter is, an ideal diamond should be 0.50 carats or more, but that alone is not enough to ensure shine; it should also be considered along with diamond cut.
One last thing to keep in mind is: the 4Cs are connected and mutually affect each other to extents that only trusted experts can fully tell, so our last advice is to always have the 4Cs of your future piece of jewelry be evaluated by an expert, to be on the safe side.
Where to get unique diamonds in Rogers, AR
Now that you know all you need to consider prior to buying diamond jewelry, visit our store at 3202 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway in Roger, Arkansas to meet with our experts and take advantage of a complimentary visit in which our team will help you find the perfect diamond jewelry for you. And to be in the loop for more info and inspiration, follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
