Diamonds are a symbol of power, prestige as well as love and romance. They are a women’s best friend and a man’s too, as what else can be more an expression of love, then a diamond ring or a solitaire given by a man to his beloved!! The brilliance of a diamond lasts more than a lifetime. In fact, diamonds are eternal and they all have some story to tell.
Diamonds Guide
Your Diamond Matters
While purchasing a diamond, you need to have a thorough knowledge as to what are the parameters that a diamond has to pass through, so as to promise you a company for the lifetime and more. There are various shapes, sizes, designs and colors and while choosing one, you have to have at least some basic knowledge about your favorite, diamonds.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) notes that no two diamonds are alike. First and foremost, you have to take into consideration the four C’s:
The 4 C’s
Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut. These are the 4 C’s that determine the most basic characteristic of a diamond.
Carat
What is Carat? Carat is nothing else but the basic unit by which a diamond is weighed. A carat has 100 points. And more the Carat a piece of diamond weighs, the more is the diamond going to cost you.
Color
Gone is the belief that a perfect diamond has to be colorless. The colored fancy diamonds are in trend, hot and popular, since ages. Diamonds are Pink, Red, Green, Yellow, Brown, Orange, Lilac, and more.
Colored Diamonds
Most of the diamonds have a tint of two different colors. For eg, one of the most common existence of twin colors within a single diamond piece is that of orange with pink. However, colored diamonds are rare and expensive. No doubts, they are also the most sought after. The cost of the diamond depends also on the color of the piece of diamond. The rarest the color, the more you have to pay to possess it. For example, brown diamonds are common and hence, less expensive when compared to other colored diamonds. Yellows, Pinks and blues are rare and expensive too. It’s the reds and greens that are the most sought after, expensive and rarest. Natural diamonds with some faint tints of colors may be treated to enhance the color, in the laboratory. If colored diamonds are your thing and you don’t wish to spend a lot, you have an option of purchasing a synthetic diamond in the color of your choice.
Clarity
Diamonds have to be perfect. But almost all diamonds have imperfections. The lesser the imperfection, the more expensive the diamond piece gets.
Diamond Clarity
A diamond is graded under 10 X magnification and most of these imperfections are invisible to the naked eyes. This makes it more necessary to know if you are paying for the right piece.
Cut
The cut of a diamond also matters. It is the cut of a diamond that determines the brilliance of the diamond piece. A finer cut piece may help trap and interplay of light and hence, brilliance.
Diamond Cuts
A well cut diamond is more expensive.
Diamond Shapes
Diamonds come in a number of shapes. By keeping in mind your budget as well as your personal taste and choice, you can get the desired shape.
Diamond Shapes
The shape that offers maximum brilliance and power is the brilliant round cut. However, you may also choose from the oval, marquise, pear, heart as well as the princess cut. Pink diamonds are mostly available in princess cut.
Diamond Size
The size of your diamond matters as it determines the weight and the cost of your diamond piece.
Budget
Budget is the most essential thing to any purchase. Diamonds may cost you an amount that may seem to be astronomical to your pocket. These irresistible and alluring things may get you some bigger holes into your pocket, if you are not so careful about your budget.
The Right Place Matters
Always buy your diamonds from a trusted, reputed and experienced dealer or jeweler.
The Fancy Colored Stones
There are seven natural color grades for natural fancy colored diamonds, (in ascending order), faint, very light, light, fancy, fancy intense, fancy vivid and fancy deep. Fancy vivid and fancy deep top the demand list.
Colored Stone Diamonds
Diamond Hair Accessories
Diamond Jewelry
Diamond Necklaces Tiffany & Co
Images: Tiffany & Co