Hey there, jewelry enthusiasts! Excited to dive into the second part of our series on Considerations When Buying An Engagement Ring.
Today, we're delving into the "Diamond Guide" - let's uncover how to evaluate diamond grades based on industry standards for cut, color, clarity & carat weight.
Let's spark some diamond discussions!
What Is A Diamond?
Approximately one billion years in the past, deep within the Earth's crust, carbon atoms formed tight bonds under intense heat & pressure, giving rise to the hardest natural mineral on Earth: the diamond.
After lying concealed for countless millennia, diamonds surfaced due to volcanic activities that carried them upward in magma. It was not until the 4th Century BC that the first diamonds were unearthed in India.
Even today, maintaining their allure & desirability over centuries, diamonds remain among the most exquisite & sought-after treasures in existence.
Types Of Diamonds
Natural Diamonds
Natural diamonds are created deep within the Earth under intense heat & pressure conditions. Consisting of almost 99.95% carbon, with the remaining 0.05% comprising trace elements outside their core chemistry, diamonds stand out as the sole gemstone made of a single element.
Renowned for being the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth, diamonds remain highly coveted.
Lab Diamonds
Lab diamonds are optically, chemically & physically identical to natural diamonds. Essentially, they share the same look, feel & characteristics. The primary distinction lies in their origins — natural diamonds are naturally formed within the Earth. In contrast, lab diamonds are cultivated by skilled professionals using specialized equipment.
Furthermore, a notable contrast pertains to their cost; due to the relative abundance of lab-grown diamonds compared to natural ones, they often come at a significantly more affordable price point.
4 C's Of Diamonds
When considering diamond qualities, a good starting point is to grasp the significance of the 4 C's: cut, color, clarity & carat.
Established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the 1940s, these standards serve as a universal method to evaluate & define the excellence of diamonds.
Cut
Cut refers to the proportion & arrangement of facets defining a diamond's brilliance, sparkle & fire. The grading scale spans from Excellent to Poor.
Color
Color refers to the absence of color within a diamond, with a scale ranging from D (colorless) to Z. Diamonds falling outside this range are categorized as 'fancy colored.'
Clarity
Clarity pertains to the lack of internal inclusions & surface blemishes found in a diamond. The scale extends from Internally Flawless to Included.
Carat
A carat is a unit of measurement used to indicate the weight of a diamond rather than its size. Approximately equal to the weight of a paperclip.
Diamond Shape
Shape refers to the external appearance of a diamond's outline, distinct from the cut, which relates to the internal facet arrangement. The round shape is most favored, while other shapes like emerald, marquise, or oval are categorized as 'fancy shapes.'
Shop Diamonds By Shape
- Round
- Oval
- Emerald
- Cushion
- Pear
- Radiant
- Princess
- Marquise
- Asscher
- Heart
Diamond Hardness
Diamond stands as the most resilient naturally occurring mineral on Earth. With unmatched hardness, it achieves a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale, a classification system dating back to 1822. The remarkable toughness of a diamond signifies its exceptional scratch resistance, granting diamonds the unique ability to scratch other diamonds.
Consequently, diamonds are exceptionally suitable for everyday wear, positioning them as an impeccable selection for central gemstones in jewelry & engagement rings.
Diamond Fluorescence
Diamond fluorescence refers to how ultraviolet (UV) light affects a diamond. Its grading is determined by the diamond's reaction to long-wave UV, a part of daylight.
Although fluorescence may cause diamonds to exhibit a blue or yellow fluorescence under UV light, it generally doesn't change the diamond's appearance under normal lighting conditions or affect the stone's structural integrity significantly.
Diamond Price
The price of diamonds can significantly fluctuate based on their rarity & quality. Diamonds featuring superior grades in cut, color, clarity, or carat weight are deemed rarer & consequently carry a higher price tag compared to those with lower grades.
Lab-created diamonds, being more abundant than naturally occurring diamonds, are generally priced lower.
Diamond Grading Scale
Diamonds are evaluated based on a scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which assesses cut, color, clarity, & carat weight.
These four criteria are widely recognized as the established norm for describing & assessing the caliber of any diamond.
How To Buy Diamonds?
When selecting your ideal diamond, it is crucial to undertake the following steps:
Study Up On The 4 C's.
To discover the optimal diamond for your needs, it is crucial to harmonize the 4 C's with your budgetary constraints. When pursuing a larger carat weight, one might need to compromise on the cut, color, or clarity to maintain affordability.
Conversely, in the quest for a colorless gem, one may need to forego carat weight, cut, or clarity. It is important to note that each diamond is unique, & there is no definitive standard for its appearance.
Pick Your Favorite Shape.
While round brilliant diamonds are highly favored, it's important to note the array of other shapes available.
At Solitaire Jewelers, we provide a selection of eight distinct shapes, including oval, cushion, princess, radiant, emerald, marquise, pear, & asscher.
Make Sure That It's Certified.
Your diamond should be accompanied by a digital or physical certification from an independent institution like GIA, IGI, HRD, or GCAL to verify authenticity & quality.
All Solitaire Jewelers diamonds are certified, & it's advisable to ensure any other diamond you're looking to buy is also certified.
At Solitaire Jewelers, we take pride in presenting our valued clientele with a remarkable selection of sustainable & ethical diamonds encompassing various shapes & sizes. We recommend utilizing our filters for a seamless browsing experience.
Once you have identified your desired shape & 4 C's specifications, use the filters to refine your search for the perfect piece.
Our well-experienced professionals are at your disposal round the clock, reachable via chat, phone, text, & email for any inquiries, no matter how big or small.
To view our diamonds in person, kindly schedule an appointment for a personalized visit to our premises.
Diamond Facts
- The term "diamond" originates from the Greek word "adamas," signifying invincibility or indestructibility.
- The Cullinan Heritage Diamond is a diamond of egg-like proportions, holding the title of the largest rough, uncut diamond ever found. Initially weighing 3,106 carats, it was later faceted into nine gems, among which are a 530-carat & a 317-carat stone, both currently part of the Crown Jewels in the United Kingdom.
- The earliest recorded engagement ring dates back to 1477 when Archduke Maximillian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a gold ring embellished with a diamond-spelled M.
- The Hope Diamond, a 44.52-carat blue diamond, holds the distinction of being the largest of its kind & is shrouded in the folklore of being cursed. Originally weighing 115 carats & originating from India, it was pilfered by a merchant who recut it after extracting it from the eye of a Hindu idol, incurring the ire of the priests who purportedly laid a curse upon it.
- Astronomers have identified a star located fifty light years away from Earth that is composed of a diamond weighing ten billion trillion trillion carats. This celestial body has been christened Lucy, a befitting name given its celestial brilliance.
This marks the completion of the second part of our engagement ring guide. Be sure to stay tuned for the upcoming segment, where we will explore the next crucial factor you should consider when buying an engagement ring - the choice of precious metal.
Remember, at Solitaire Jewelers, we take pride in providing top-quality diamonds paired with exceptional service to meet all your fine jewelry requirements.
Join us today to explore our selection of diamond engagement rings!