I've met a lot of first time buyers scared of buying diamond jewellery as they have zero knowledge about the diamonds. They have heard the stories about people getting knockoff even after paying for the natural diamond. This is guide for the first time buyers who are willing to buy a diamond or the diamond jewellery.
Step 1. Check for the CUT of the stone.
Cut refers to the shape of the diamond. While Round, Princess, Oval, Square, Marquise, Pear, Emerald, or cushion-shaped are the most popular shapes, but with the latest advancement in the technology, the diamond manufacturers continue to offer a large variety of cuts to choose from.
A well-cut diamond will reflect light within itself, from one facet to another. If a diamond is cut too deep or too shallow, the light will be lost through the side or bottom which will eventually reduce its brilliance and, ultimately, its value.
According to Gemological Institute Of America, a diamond with a GIA certificate with CUT mentioned as Excellent will have the best cut followed by other grading such as Very Good, Good, Poor, Fair.
CARATIQUE’s TIP:- While selecting a diamond, try holding it up towards the light and look at the way the light dances around. It should throw a rainbow of colours and display the diamond's natural brilliance.
Step 2. Check for the CLARITY of the diamond
Diamonds are given a clarity grade based on the degree to which features like scratches and feathers or crystals are visible at 10 times magnification and their number, type, colour, size and position. Diamonds without features are rarer and therefore more expensive, the rarest being referred to as 'flawless'.
The GIA has standardised the clarity grades of which few are as follows: - Flawless (FL), Internally Flawless (IF), Very Very Slightly Included 1 (VVS1), Very Very Slightly Included 2 (VVS2), Very Slightly Included 1 (VS1) and so on so forth.
CARATIQUE’s TIP: - View and try the diamonds of different clarity grades. In some of the diamonds, the internal features may be hidden by the setting of the prongs. Though it will not detract from a diamond's overall beauty.
Step 4. Check for the COLOR of the diamond
Variations in color can be so slight that grading is done under controlled lighting by diamond graders. The GIA has standardized the color grading ranging from D to Z. After grade Z, the diamond color comes under “fancy grade”. Colorless diamonds D, E and F are so similar that only an expert will be able to distinguish them. Near colorless G, H, I will show faint hints of yellow only when compared with diamonds of better color, and diamonds graded as J, K and so on will show hints of yellow when set against a pure white background.
Fancy-colored diamonds are extremely rare and highly treasured natural wonders. They can be found in shades of Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Pink or the rarest of all - Red. The value of colored diamonds is determined by the intensity of the color, and can significantly outweigh the effects of the other 4 Cs.
CARATIQUE’s TIP :- While considering a diamond to purchase, consider the setting of the jewellery and the color of the metal ( rose, yellow, white) , as it can be used to draw attention or to reduce the attention on the color depending on the color grade you have chosen. Make sure you try on the jewellery as the color may look different when actually worn. If purchasing a loose diamond, carefully place the diamond on your hand and compare it with a similar diamond mounted in a jewellery.
Step 4. Check for the CARAT weight of the diamond
Carat is the measure to weight the diamonds. Please make sure you do not confuse gold’s Karat with diamond’s Carat. Gold’s Karat is the purity of the gold such as 14KT, 18KT, 22KT etc. whereas diamond’s Carat is the weight of the stone such as 1ct, 2ct, 3ct etc.
Broadly speaking, the bigger the diamond, the rarer it is. That also means that a one carat diamond will be worth a greater value than two 1/2 carat diamonds of equal color, clarity and cut.
CARATIQUE’s TIP: A diamond can appear larger (or smaller) than its actual weight, depending on its cut. So rather just don't go immediately for the biggest-looking stone. Look at different designs and mountings as they can affect the appearance of the size of the diamond.
From now on, make sure you ask about the 4C's of the diamond from your jeweller before considering buying a diamond jewellery or a loose diamond itself.