Tag Archives: Buying

Choosing And Buying The Diamond Ring For Your Engagement

Posted on by

On the market today you don’t see many different styles of jewelry it seems there are hardly any new ideas out there on the market. Jewelry is something almost every woman adores. There are so many different types of metal that is used to make jewelry, platinum, gold, silver and titanium. Jewelry is suppose to last a long time so what many manufactures do is they use stronger metals in the jewelry like titanium. Diamonds will go with any type of jewelry, it can be used in earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets, it can also be used with other precious stones, but the most use of the diamond is in engagement rings.


The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. One carat is equal to two hundred milligrams of weight. In today’s world if the diamond is over one carat in size it will usually come with a certificate from the laboratory specifying the inclusions, color and size. Carat is the diamond industry standard, it is a unit of weight to measure diamonds. The carat itself is made of one hundred particular parts called points.


The best cut will display the diamond’s brilliance to the best effect. When looking at a stone you need to look from the top down, this way you can see all of the facets and you need to check to see if you can see any inclusions in the diamond. Another name for a teardrop diamond is known as pear and the emerald cut is an octagonal shape which is oblong, the marquise diamond is an oval and it has points at the end. However, the pavilion can be cut with 4, 6, or 8 pavilion main facets. There are so many different types of cuts, there is the round, square, pear and cushion. When a diamond is cut it is cut for brilliance and to let the light reflect off of the facets.


There are many shapes of stones, but the one shape that is most sought after is the round diamond, it has the greatest reflective power and brilliance. The brilliance is determined by the ability of the diamond to reflect light.


The transparent white colorless diamond is most popular variety, but diamond also occurs in colors. When color is prominent it is called a fancy diamond. There are many different factors that will create color in a diamond. One of those factors is carbon spots in the diamond itself which will through off the color.


You could use any diamond ring that you like to give for an anniversary present. The solitaire is another ring that people like to give as an anniversary present. Most people notice the engagement ring and not the wedding band. That’s why most women will want a nice round diamond of at least 1 carat in size. It is usually the engagement ring that is admired, not her wedding ring. And the setting of the diamond solitaire is there really just to hold the diamond.


Platinum is fast becoming the favorite choice in diamond settings and bands. When platinum is used for jewelry it is sometimes used for its strength and high shine and the ability to resist scratching. Platinum is geared toward a more modern look, whereas gold is traditionally beautiful.

David Marc Fishman is the owner of the platinum diamond engagement ring site. Find the finest diamonds and pearls.Buy diamonds at thejewelking.

Do and Don’ts of Diamond Buying

Posted on by

Buying a diamond is not as easy as 1, 2, 3. There are ways that a buyer could use in order to get the diamond that is actually desired and to avoid being talked into buying that diamond which is not of your liking just because you let yourself get persuaded into purchasing it by a dealer. Here are some pointers to ease your quest for your special diamond.

Do your own research. Talk to jewelry dealers only after you have the right information at your fingertips. Being knowledgeable and sure about what you want will earn their respect and you will be taken seriously from the start.

Do take great efforts to hear the jeweler’s suggestions. What you already know about diamonds from reading this article will greatly help you in easily knowing if he has your best interest at heart when he gives you his advice.

Do inform the jeweler about everything that you wanted done on your diamond before he works on it. A little delay in placing the order is better than having the stone undergo more work later because of wrong specifications.

Do be sure to have a money back guarantee when possible. This will allow you to go elsewhere and makes you confident that you really received what he promised.

Do inform others about your jeweler if you were satisfied with his professional services. The greatest show of appreciation is a referral of his excellent services to others.

Don’t be a sucker to everything you see on online auction sites. If you have learned about the prices of a diamond from several jewelers and you see it on those sites for a much lesser price, it is possible that it isn’t really the same stone.

Don’t be misled into thinking that sellers always use independent appraisals; they can also produce their own. If you feel that the diamond seems not worthy of its price, it probably isn’t.

Don’t be pressured to make a purchase on the spot. Buy the diamond when you feel that you are getting the best possible diamond for your money.

Don’t fail to remember that this diamond ring is really for your special someone. Enjoy the art of looking for the best diamond and be always positive about getting it.

For more information on this topic visit our Diamond Education & Resource Center

Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Rings Over 18,000 certified diamonds to choose from!

Your Special Diamond – Diamond engagement rings, Wedding rings, Earrings, Necklaces, Bracelets. No matter what the occasion may be, a birthday, holiday or popping the big question… we can help you find Your Special Diamond. Because lifelong memories begin here….

Eli Zabib graduated in 1993 from Queens College with a BA in Accounting. He earned his GIA Graduate Gemologist degree and has over 15 years experience in the Diamond and Jewelry Industry. Eli is passionate about diamonds and wants to help people find their special diamond at a price that will make them smile. He is currently the CEO of http://www.YourSpecialDiamond.com

A Guide To Buying Diamonds Earrings

Posted on by

Diamonds earrings have always been a popular choice for men to give to the one they love. Also, women choose these earrings because these are sturdy and beautiful. Therefore, before setting out to buy the pair that you have coveted, see if these are worth your money.

Diamonds earrings are expensive—a fact in life, really. Before you buy diamonds earrings, it is better to do some background research to determine which cut or shape should you buy. Diamonds are far too expensive for you to make instant decisions.

Four Cs.There are four Cs that you have to watch out for when you set out to buy diamonds earrings. The value of the diamond depends on these 4 Cs; thus, the value of the earrings depends on the 4 Cs too.

Carat. This is a familiar term to most of us because this is how gold is categorized too. However, although a lot of people are familiar with the word, not many know what it actually means. Carat is the measure of the weight and mass of the diamond. The higher the carat, the more expensive the diamond gets; thus, the more expensive your diamonds earrings will be.

Oftentimes, this is used as the main factor that would determine the value and the popularity of the diamond. For example, the Tiffany Yellow Diamond is recalled mostly as a large octahedron that weighed 287 carats (uncut) then was cut to 128 carats. This diamond is known as the largest golden-yellow diamond. It became popular more because it was large than because it was yellow.

Clarity. Diamond, the hardest material of natural origin, is so hard that only another diamond can scratch it. However, in the process of its turning from ordinary carbon into diamond, there are certain defects in its crystal lattice so that various imperfections can be found either inside or on its surface. The internal defects are called inclusions. Of course, diamonds earrings made of material with no defects will be far more expensive than with even a single defect. The more defects, the lesser the price.

Color. Loose Diamonds are commonly transparent and colorless. However, colored ones are rarer and are, therefore, more valuable. In general, diamonds earrings made of darker and more intense coloration will be more expensive than lighter ones. Also, blue, pink, and green ones are more expensive than yellow and brown ones.

Cut. Perfectly cut diamonds are very expensive. Moreover, those cut to different shapes would be more expensive. For example, lily cut or heart-shaped diamonds earrings will be many times more expensive than those with circle cuts.

However, imperfect diamond earrings will actually work to your advantage because, naturally, these will have lesser value than a perfect one; thus, you will be able to own a diamond that is affordable but still beautiful. Furthermore, these imperfections will act as unique fingerprints to determine your diamond. Also, jewelers have a way of hiding the imperfections so that the inclusions will not be visible especially to untrained eyes.
Always, it will be the size, the color, and the cut of the diamond that will determine its beauty. Those with higher clarity are more expensive; but since clarity does not really have an impact on the diamonds earrings’ beauty, it is better that you don’t choose your earrings based on this criterion.

When you have decided to buy your diamonds earrings, be careful in storing them. Remember that diamonds can scratch other diamonds, so make sure that they do not come in contact with each other.

For more information read our loose diamonds guide – how to buy loose diamond.

Angela Dolson is an expert author. She writes interesting articles about jewelry trends and styles that makes readers know more about the things.

6 Handy Tips on Buying the Right Diamonds

Posted on by

Believe it a not; there are jewelers who are unable to differentiate a diamond cut from a diamond shape. Everyone is so hyped up about the carat weight and has totally forgotten about the other 3 characteristics of a diamond.
It won’t take you years or months to learn something about diamond. There are plenty of articles and information on the 4C of a diamond. Spend some useful time in the library or internet and learn about diamonds. Who knows, you may become an expert in diamonds.
1. Prioritize the 4 characteristics
There are much more about diamonds than just the 4Cs. But at the end of the day, the 4Cs are still the major factors influencing the quality and price of a diamond.
Before you start prioritizing the 4Cs, you got to know what your girl actually likes about a diamond. If she like big one, go for a diamond with big carat weight but with poorer quality in terms of color, cut or clarity. If she likes the brilliance of a diamond and doesn’t mind the size, choose one with excellent cut and clarity. Whichever the case is, prioritizing the 4Cs will give you a better idea of what diamonds will suit her taste as well as your budget.
2. Do a price research
Based on your list, you should have a rough estimate of the market price of the diamond you are looking for. If the price is out of your budget, try going for a grade lower than your expectation and you may eventually find one that suits you well.
3. Do some background research on the jewelry stores
If you have been doing researching, you would have come across information on cubic zirconium diamonds. These synthetic diamonds are D-color graded, flawless and cut to perfection. In short, a CZ diamond is a ‘perfect’ diamond. It is brilliant, flawless and yet cheap. Their prices do not increase exponentially with their quality unlike diamonds.
And there are also some natural diamonds which have undergone treatments to reduce its blemishes thus enhanced its appearance. It is still a low grade diamond and dishonest dealers may try to pass it off as a good graded diamond and sell you at a higher price.
So, before you start swiping your hard-earned money away, do some research about the jeweler as well. Ask your family, relatives or friend who have purchased from the dealer. Online forum is a good place to ask around and there are plenty of sites that provide reviews on jewelry store online.
Give the jewelry store a call, talk to their staffs and decide for yourself if you are comfortable with the store.
4. Always ask for a money back guarantee
There are risks in very form of transactions, so do buying diamonds. Protect yourself and minimize any risks by making sure that the store has the complete details about their return policy. It should include information about the validity period, what to do if you wish to return your purchase and their address.
As a rule of thumb, online stores should offer you no less than 21 days return policy. In fact, most of them have a return policy of 30 days.
5. Choose jewelers who provide grading reports
Certified diamonds will come along with a grading report by reputable gemology organizations such as GIA or AGS. Some online jewelry stores certified their diamond by in-house gemologists and they may be using different grading standards from GIA or AGS, while others may not provide the grading reports. Diamonds from top online jewelry stores generally comes accompanied with a grading report.
After you have purchased your diamond, you should get it appraised again with the grading report by a trained gemologist. The grading report will be very helpful in ascertaining whether the diamond you have bought is up to the specifications shown on the report.

About the author:
Mr. P Sharma is the owner of the Diamonds and Diamond Jewellery (http://djewels.org), a website that offers reviews on online jewelry stores selling diamonds and diamond jewelry.

 

Djewels manufacturer and exporter of high quality certified diamond studded jewelry in 14/18 k Gold. We combine quality jewelry and hard work to bring out the best in every individual at a truly exceptional price. Our superbly crafted collection of diamond, white/yellowgold, gemstones, and Kundan Jewelry is specially designed to suit your preferences. Djewels offers bouquets of very special services to all customers. Honesty, Accuracy, Hospitality, perfect price and above all Customer satisfaction.

Learn 4C’S of Diamond before Buying Diamond Rings

Posted on by

Diamond rings are considered as one of the royal, romantic and precious gifts which you can give to your near and loved ones. Nowadays diamond rings are becoming very popular as beautiful engagement rings especially in the western countries like UK and US. And the reason of its popularity is that diamonds are associated with legend and romance

.

You can find host of choices in diamond rings and the prices of the rings vary according to the quality and size of diamond. Hence before selecting your diamond ring you must consider your budget. Another thing which influences your purchase is the 4C’S of diamond which are colour, carat, cut and clarity

.

Colour of diamond is measured on a scale ranging from D to Z. D is for colourless diamond and Z is for yellow. Generally colourless diamonds are considered as the most desirable stones and hence they are expensive also. But fancy coloured diamond such as pink and yellow are more expensive compare to colourless diamonds and they are also found rarely. Always remember that if you want a best deal then you must select a white diamond between G and J

.

Carat is the most important thing which you must consider while you are making your purchase. Carat refers to the weight of diamond and weight is measured in carat. Always remember that diamonds of lower carat are less expensive because they can be found easily. You must buy a diamond with a weight between one carat and one half carat

.

You can variety of cuts in diamond. But always remember that diamond with a proper cut can reflect light up to your eye. And a poorly cut diamond will allow the light to pass through and also reduce the sparkle and can cause the stone to appear dark. Before you purchase your diamond ring you must look closely at the way the stone reflects light

.

And at the last you must consider the clarity of diamond. Clarity of diamond rings is based on inclusions and flaws. The rating scale of clarity starts from FL for diamonds which are flawless to I3 for diamond which are imperfect. But you must keep in mind that if the stone contains inclusions then you can not notice them by your naked eye. Hence generally a stone between slight inclusions and flawless is accepted

.

If you want to know more about diamond rings then you can surf the internet and can log on to one of the most popular and reputed online jewellery stores and if you want then you can also buy your rings from these stores

.

After reading this articles as you have the right information you can easily find your ideal diamond.engagement rings,diamond engagement rings And if you want more information on 4C’S then you can visit www.whitefleur.co.uk

.

Buying Diamonds Safely

Posted on by

In order to buy the best quality diamond there are things you must know and understand. Do not rush in and buy a diamond on an impulse because it is advertised as a ‘good deal’ or is ‘discounted’. There are no bargains in diamonds and diamonds that are of excellent quality, cut and colour are not sold off cheap! Always make sure you buy a loose diamond that has been independently certified and compare diamonds before making any decision.

Do not confuse a diamonds carat weight with the size of a diamond. Even though two diamonds may have the same carat weight their appearance in size and diameter measurements can very greatly. A poorly cut 1.00ct diamond may look like a 0.75ct diamond from the top because they have the same diameter measurements even though their carat weights are different.

Diamonds are sold by their carat weight. A diamond cutter always tries to retain as much carat weight and as few inclusions when cutting a diamond. Sometimes the cut of a diamond might be sacrificed in order to produce a diamond with a higher carat weight. Excellent, Ideal and Very Good cut diamonds will sparkle with more brilliance and fire than diamonds which are poorly cut with a lower cut grade.

Buying a loose diamond for an engagement ring is a daunting task with so many jewellers, diamond dealers and diamond internet websites these days. There is an abundance of information available to consumers, but not all of it is accurate. This is probably one of the most important considerations to make when buying a diamond. There is alot more to diamonds and their prices than just learning about the diamond’s cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. All diamonds are unique, no two diamonds are exactly the same which is why it takes years of experience, training and learning to fully understand them.

Buy your diamond from a reputable diamond dealer. Most diamond buying guides advise you on the 4 C’s and suggest that you only shop at honest, reputable diamond dealers, but how does the average consumer determine this?

Our advice is to ask if the diamond is certified and to see which laboratory issued the certificate or grading report. The quality of the certificate, or lack thereof, goes a long way towards telling if you are dealing with someone reputable and professional.

A diamond certificate or grading report is only as good as the laboratory who issued it. A diamond certificate, is only useful if it is reliable and has been issued by a reputable independent laboratory which has no financial interest in the stone. If you’ve never heard of the institution that is offering a grading report, don’t hesitate to ask about its credentials and that of the people who graded the diamond.

a diamond certificate or grading report is a blueprint of a diamond which documents the details and statistics about a loose diamond such as the shape, colour, clarity, carat weight, proportions and finish of the diamond. A diamond certificate also confirms that the diamond is natural and is not synthetic or man-made.

There is also the undeniable fact that some diamonds are treated or enhanced in some way, and these diamonds are very difficult, and in some cases impossible to identify, without the correct laboratory equipment.

Synthetic diamonds are the latest threat to the uneducated consumer. If you are buying a diamond with out a recognized certificate (IE; a certificate recognized by either the WFDB, IDC, or CIBJO) it is possible that it may not be a Natural diamond at all.

Diamond certificates from respectable labs, meaning GIA, HRD, AGS or DCLA, are totally necessary if you want to compare diamonds intelligently. Laboratories such as GIA, HRD, AGS and DCLA issue grading reports of the highest international standards. All of these diamond grading laboratories utilize strict procedures, have the most advanced equipment, and affiliations which meet the strict requirements for recognition by international trade organizations.

It is up to you, the consumer, to verify the credentials of the diamond grading laboratory and the diamond merchant, wholesaler or jeweller you are dealing with when buying diamonds or engagement rings.

Be even more cautious of website dealers who issue their own ‘in house diamond certificates’ or ‘manufacturer’s grading reports’ as these simply are NOT independent certificates and they are NOT from a compliant laboratory.

Every diamond grading laboratory has a different set of parameters and specifications that they grade diamonds by and not all laboratories are as strict as each other.

In fact, some laboratories are popular with certain diamond dealers because they have a reputation for being generous with grades and are known not to be as strict as others. This is why at Diamond Imports we choose to only select and sell loose diamonds that have been independently certified by the following compliant and internationally recognized diamond grading laboratories – DCLA, GIA, HRD & AGS. This translates to Global Assurance.

Diamond grading laboratories which grade to IDC International Diamond Council rules, do not just use the opinion and expertise of one person. They must grade the diamond and have the opinion and consensus of three qualified diamond graders before the grade is applied to any diamond. In Australia, DCLA is the only IDC diamond grading laboratory.

Valuations or appraisals are NOT the same as a diamond certificate or grading report.

It is important to remember is that a grading report or diamond certificate does not include an appraisal, or any kind of statement about the monetary value of the diamond.

Diamond Imports is one of Australia’s largest importers of loose diamonds specialising in Excellent Cut and Ideal Cut diamonds, Certified diamonds and fancy shape diamonds. Diamond Imports will teach you everything you need to know about diamonds to make an informed decision when buying diamonds.

Buying Guide For Diamond Jewellery

Posted on by

by Monty Alexander
“Diamonds are a girl’s best friends”, but diamonds have the ability of making friends with everybody. The above words are very true, have you ever heard of a person who dislikes diamonds. We have been hearing about diamonds since birth and maybe that’s the reason why we feel so connected to it. Diamonds are treasured as gemstones since the time when they were used as religious icons in ancient India. Scientifically, Diamond is the hardest natural material known on Earth. It is a crystal of tetrahedral bonded carbon atoms. Because of the material’s exceptional physical characteristics, diamond is used for many purposes other than jewelry.

While purchasing diamonds there are four C points which have to be kept in mind, the below mentioned points may help you in procuring the real thing, the real diamonds.

DIAMONDS are graded by four characteristics:

CUT There is a special formula for diamonds also. According to standards, round brilliant diamonds are cut with 58 facets. More light should be reflected to the viewer’s eyes and it is possible when these facets are proportionately featured on the diamond and which is very important. Cut also refers to the shape of the diamond piece such as round brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart shaped and emerald. The new ones are Asher square cut and Royal radiant cut.

CARAT Carat actually refers to the weight of the diamond. The price increases with the size. A pint constitutes 100 points. There are just 5 carats in a gram. Always go for the actual point size rather than a fractional weight, you sometimes get cheated this way. Jeweler’s sale 90 diamond saying it a 1carat diamond. Always measure the stone to be on the safer side, because diamonds are not purchased every day…http://buydiamonds-buydiamond-jewelry.blogspot.com/

Diamond Color: Shoppers Buying Guide

Posted on by

Diamonds can be found in every color of the rainbow from clear, colorless (white) to black as coal. Some colors like blue, red, and green are extremely rare and very valuable. Brown is the most common color of diamond with about 80% of diamonds used for industrial purposes like drill bits and saw blades. For most diamond shoppers, their goal is to find a diamond as white (colorless) as their budget will allow.

Most diamonds suitable for gem use have trace elements of nitrogen that causes some level of yellow tint. The diamond industry uses a color grading system developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) that ranges from D (completely colorless) to Z (fancy yellow color). Each letter grade corresponds to a small range of color and the color grade of a diamond is determined by comparing it to a set of master stones whose color grade has been determined by a grading laboratory like the GIA.

The top three color-grades D, E and F are considered Colorless. Color-grades G, H, I, and J are known as the Near Colorless and color grades K, L and M are labeled Faint Yellow. It is important to have the color grade designated by one of the top diamond grading laboratories such as the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or AGS (American Gem Society). Color grades on other documentation can be exaggerated and not accurate relative to industry standards.

The bigger the diamond, the more obvious its color will be, just as a carafe of wine shows more color than a glassful. Some shapes of diamonds show more color than others do. Shapes like the princess cut are relatively bottom heavy and have more diamond material to look through. Individuals see shades of yellow differently and some shoppers prefer the warm look of the Near Colorless range rather than the cold, whiteness of the Colorless grades.

Another factor that influences diamond color is fluorescence. About a fourth of diamonds have a characteristic that when exposed to ultraviolet light, they glow a color, usually blue. The fluorescence is no longer visible once the light source is removed. The intensity of the fluorescence can vary from Faint, which is barely visible to Very Strong, which is easily visible in a brightly lighted room. A little blue fluorescence can sometimes make Near Colorless diamonds appear even whiter than their true color. Some very strong fluorescent diamonds appear milky or oily in appearance and thus not as clear. The presence of fluorescence in a diamond generally reduces its value with higher levels of fluorescence reducing the value the greatest.

There are some processes, like High Pressure/High Temperature (HPHT) or irradiation, which can alter the color of a diamond. With certain types of brown diamonds, the HPHT process can produce Colorless or Near Colorless color. With HPHT, other types of brown diamonds can be converted to fancy colors like yellowish-green, greenish-yellow, and even shades of pink or blue. Irradiation can result in a variety of fancy colors, even though they are often visibly different shades than natural colored diamonds.

Yellow is the most common and affordable of the colored gem diamonds. There are four color-grades of yellow diamonds with enough saturation to be rated Fancy Yellow; Fancy Light Yellow, Fancy Yellow, Fancy Intense Yellow and Fancy Vivid Yellow. Each deeper shade brings a higher price.

What do these color grades, fluorescence, and color treatments mean to the diamond shopper? There are many color grades between the top D color and J, which is the bottom of the Near Colorless range, with the price of a D being about double that of J color. Most of the difference in price is at the lower color grades where there is also the most visible difference to the eye. The price increase from a J to I can be about 20% while from an E to D is closer to 2%. Diamond shoppers need to examine diamonds with their own eyes so they can determine what color they will be happy with relative to the price.

Most shoppers find that for well cut round diamonds, I color provides a nice, white color and a good value. Fancy shaped diamonds tend not to be as brightly faceted as the round brilliant cut so H color is an excellent choice for value and beauty. However, some shoppers will prefer and can afford higher colors and other shoppers will choose lower colors based on what they find appealing to their eye and their budget.

Avoid diamonds with high levels of fluorescence or any kind of color enhancement unless you specifically want that, have been properly advised, and are paying the lower corresponding price. Beware of jewelry stores who stock larger number of diamonds with fluorescence or will not show you the GIA grading report before you purchase. A merchant who is hiding these factors from you is certainly not someone you want to trust with your important diamond purchase.

Denny Reinke is the Vice-President of Diamond Source of Virginia, an online diamond retailer specializing in loose diamonds, diamond rings and diamond jewelry located in Richmond, Virginia and on the web at www.DiamondSourceVA.com You can also visit Denny?s blog at www.diamonds.blogs.com

A Guide to Buying Diamonds

Posted on by

A Guide To Buying Diamonds

Those who are thinking about buying diamonds either as an investment, for mounting in custom diamond jewelry, or simply as an addition to a collection, it is a good idea to educate yourself on the subject. Not all diamonds for sale are necessarily a good value; the old Roman advice caveat emptor is especially applicable when it comes to buying diamonds.

Getting Started

There are two things you need before you start buying diamonds:

1. A thorough knowledge of the diamond market

2. Where to obtain reliable appraisal services

The latter is especially important. Any appraisal of certified diamonds should be undertaken by an independent agency that has no connections to or interest in the wholesaler or retailer who is offering the diamonds for sale in which you are interested.

This may require a bit of detective work. The problem is that the world diamond market is controlled by a relative handful of corporate and international banking interests. However, it is well worth your while to find such appraisal services so as to insure that your interests are protected when buying diamonds.

The “Four Cs”

The laboratories that analyze diamonds for sale examine these gems for four different objective characteristics:

* Carat: this is the weight and mass of the gem, equal to .2 grams.

* Cut: the way the stonecutters have shaped the gem, i.e. “round” or “square” and how well this has been done

* Clarity: this looks at any internal flaws, such as a “cottony” appearance within the gem

* Color: certified diamonds can range in color from crystal clear to dark amber and even black.

This analysis is done prior to the actual appraisal, but is an important part of the process.

The Appraisal

While a lab report is based on objective, observable criteria, an appraisal is more subjective. The purpose is to determine the market value of these gems, primarily for the purpose of insuring them.

So – how much will you pay when buying diamonds? This is what the appraisal will determine.

Some cuts are more valuable than others. Princess cut diamonds, which have grown tremendously in popularity over the past thirty years, are the product of a unique cutting method developed in 1979 by a Los Angeles jeweler. These gems combine elements of “round” and “square” cuts; the princess cut diamonds results in the lowest amount of waste, so the diamond retains more of its original mass and weight.

These are only a few of the issues that should be kept in mind when buying diamonds, but they are the most important.

Jonathon Blocker specializes in diamond jewelry and buying diamonds. He is a consultant for GemFind.com, a trusted name in the jewelry industry since 1999.

Diamond Clarity: Shoppers Buying Guide

Posted on by

Diamond shoppers typically want a diamond that is big, bright and has lots of sparkle. Yet when they go to the jewelry store, the attention seems to be on carat weight, color and clarity. What is diamond clarity and how does it influence the beauty of the diamond?

All diamonds have inclusions in them because nature forms diamonds in the high temperature, high-pressure regions deep below the earth’s surface. Diamonds are crystals of carbon and the crystals formed in this harsh environment are never perfect. Inclusions are the tiny identifying characteristics inside a diamond. Some of the more common types of inclusions are feathers, crystals, pinpoints, clouds, needles, and twinning wisps. Diamonds also have characteristics on the surface, called blemishes. Clarity affects a diamond purchase when inclusions and blemishes are visible to the eye, when they adversely influence the path of light through the diamond, or when they negatively affect the durability of the diamond.

The diamond industry has established clarity grades to identify various levels of clarity in terms of visibility. The visibility of a particular inclusion or blemish is dependent on its location within the diamond, its physical size and the affect it has when viewed under different lighting conditions. The clarity grades rate diamonds on the visibility of inclusions and blemishes under 10-power magnification.

Flawless and Internally Flawless (IF) are the highest clarity grades and indicate no inclusions are visible under 10-power magnification, with the Internally Flawless allowing only very minor blemishes. Even Internally Flawless diamonds have visible inclusions when viewed under higher magnification.

VVS1 and VVS2 grades indicate very, very small inclusions, which might take 30 minutes to find with a microscope.

VS1 and VS2 grades have very small inclusions that are visible under the microscope but seldom every visible to the unaided eye.

SI1 and SI2 grades have small inclusions under the microscope and are sometimes visible with the aided eye.

I1, I2 and I3 grades have inclusions that are obvious with the unaided eye.

It is important to have the clarity grade designated by one of the top diamond grading laboratories such as the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or AGS (American Gem Society). Clarity grades on other documentation can be exaggerated and inaccurate relative to industry standards.

What do these clarity grades mean for the diamond shopper? There are many clarity grades and often a big price difference between Flawless clarity and clean to the eye clarity. Most diamond shoppers want a diamond that has no visible inclusions. For brilliant shapes like rounds, ovals, princess, and radiant cuts, that usually means at least SI1 clarity. For step-cut shapes like the emerald and Asscher that have fewer facets to hide the inclusions, at least VS2 clarity is generally preferred.

If these are the target clarity grades, why do shoppers buy diamond with higher or lower clarity? Sometimes shoppers are under the false impression that higher clarity will make a diamond more beautiful. This is a myth promoted by jewelers who have high clarity diamonds they need to sell or want to sell because they require higher prices and therefore more profit. Some men feel only a perfect diamond (flawless) is good enough for a perfect woman. Some shoppers simply want to buy higher clarity, just because they can.

Shoppers who purchase lower clarity diamonds with eye visible inclusions often do so because lower clarity is the only way they can achieve bigger size within their budget. Sometimes diamond shoppers are swept up in the excitement of the purchase and end up with a diamond that looked great in the store lighting but has visible inclusions in normal lighting with closer examination. The bright lights in a jewelry store often make it hard to see inclusions that are easy to see at home or in office lighting.

The purchase decision of a diamond is a mix of logic, emotion and convenience. The shoppers who are happiest with their purchase long term are those who understand their own shopping priorities and then find a diamond that best meets those requirements. For diamond clarity, the shoppers need to determine how important it is to them not to see any inclusions with the unaided eye. Then they have to decide how important the higher clarity grades are regardless of whether they influence the beauty of the diamond or not.

Of course, the price of the diamond ultimately comes into play; even for those shoppers who claim price is not an issue. Most shoppers are seeking their own personalized mix of size, color, clarity, cut, and price when making the purchase decision for their special diamond.

Denny Reinke is the Vice-President of Diamond Source of Virginia, an online diamond retailer specializing in loose diamonds, diamond rings and diamond jewelry located in Richmond, Virginia and on the web at www.DiamondSourceVA.com You can also visit Denny?s blog at www.diamonds.blogs.com