Diamond Buying Guide
Planning to buy a diamond then we at DeAngelis Jewelers, Inc. understand its importance and our guide below will make your diamond buying a more easy and enjoyable experience. Most important criteria that a jeweler uses while grading a diamond are Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat weight. It's commonly known as 4 C's of a diamond. All this four properties will determine how much a diamond is worth.
CUT
Most often a person gets confused and thinks cut is the shape of the diamond but actually it refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond. Diamond cut is considered the most important of the four Cs, so it is important to understand how it affects the properties and values of a diamond. Diamonds that are cut either too deep or too shallow can lose or leak light through the sides and bottom and will be less brilliant-and ultimately of less value. But a well cut diamond is able to handle light better, creating more scintillation and more sparkle which leads to brilliance.
CLARITY
Diamonds are graded for clarity under 10x loupe magnification. Clarity ranges from flawless (perfect) to I (included). Below is the chart that certification societies have standardized for grading to describe the clarity of a diamond.
COLOR
Diamond's color is usually referring to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. Diamonds act as prisms and can divide light into a spectrum of colors and reflect this light as colorful flashes referred to as fire. The more colorless a diamond is the more colorful the fire will appear. Diamond colors generally range from D - Z for white and yellow diamonds. D is the whitest. Around S they become "Fancy" yellow Diamonds.
CARAT - WEIGHT
This is the weight of a diamond measured in carats. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. Sometimes one carat is referred to as 100 "points", so that a diamond of 75 points weighs .75 carats. Carat-weight is the easiest of the 4C's to determine. But two diamonds of equal weight can have very unequal value, depending on their cut, color and clarity. Larger diamonds often cost more per carat due to their size. Diamond cost increases exponentially with an increase in weight because larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds and this rarity increases the value of a larger diamond.
CUT
Most often a person gets confused and thinks cut is the shape of the diamond but actually it refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond. Diamond cut is considered the most important of the four Cs, so it is important to understand how it affects the properties and values of a diamond. Diamonds that are cut either too deep or too shallow can lose or leak light through the sides and bottom and will be less brilliant-and ultimately of less value. But a well cut diamond is able to handle light better, creating more scintillation and more sparkle which leads to brilliance.
CLARITY
Diamonds are graded for clarity under 10x loupe magnification. Clarity ranges from flawless (perfect) to I (included). Below is the chart that certification societies have standardized for grading to describe the clarity of a diamond.
- F - Flawless: No internal or external flaws. Extremely rare.
- IF - Internally Flawless: no internal flaws, but may have minor flaws on the outside. Very rare.
- VVS1-VVS2 - Very, Very Slight Inclusions: Have very small inclusions. It's very difficult to detect inclusions under 10 x magnifications even by a trained gemologist. VVS1 inclusions can only be seen through the pavilion. VVS2 inclusions are more visible.
- VS1-VS2 - Very Slightly Included: Inclusions can only be seen with difficulty under 10x magnification. VS1 inclusions are harder to see than VS2.
- SI1-SI2 - Slightly Included: Inclusions easy to see under 10X magnification and might be visible to the naked eye
- I1-I2-I3 - Included: Inclusions visible to the human eye.
COLOR
Diamond's color is usually referring to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. Diamonds act as prisms and can divide light into a spectrum of colors and reflect this light as colorful flashes referred to as fire. The more colorless a diamond is the more colorful the fire will appear. Diamond colors generally range from D - Z for white and yellow diamonds. D is the whitest. Around S they become "Fancy" yellow Diamonds.
CARAT - WEIGHT
This is the weight of a diamond measured in carats. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. Sometimes one carat is referred to as 100 "points", so that a diamond of 75 points weighs .75 carats. Carat-weight is the easiest of the 4C's to determine. But two diamonds of equal weight can have very unequal value, depending on their cut, color and clarity. Larger diamonds often cost more per carat due to their size. Diamond cost increases exponentially with an increase in weight because larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds and this rarity increases the value of a larger diamond.
Jewelry Care
At DeAngelis Jewelers, Inc. we provide you with a Jewelry Care Guide that will help your jewelry last forever. There are many things you can do to prevent jewelry from getting damaged.
- It's always advisable to wait until you have applied makeup, perfume and hairspray before putting on jewelry.
- When showering or getting in a swimming pool make sure you have removed all of your jewelry.
- Wrap your jewelry in a tissue or cloth separately while it is being stored. Avoid using a leather case or plastic bags.
- When doing household work always remove your jewelry.
- Cleaning your jewelry on your own is a very good idea, but make sure you never use bleach as it can destroy your jewelry. Also, never clean jewelry that is already damaged, doing so may worsen the damage. Using water and mild soap is an acceptable way to clean most jewelry.
- Bring your jewelry to DeAngelis Jewelers, Inc. regularly to have it checked for wear to prevent further damage.
Diamond Comparison Information
If you are considering buying a diamond online, rather than in person, here is something to think about.
You may think these two diamonds will look exactly alike but, depending on the slight variations in proportions, they could have two different variations of brilliance.
That is the potential risk you take when buying online, not actually getting your best value for your dollar. What you potentially buy online can only be best described by the salesperson, who may or may not actually be looking at the stone. To have the ability to view a diamond in person and to see how your eye perceives a diamond's fire and scintillation we feel, is priceless. Not everyone will have the same opinion, or quality of vision.
Why you should shop with DeAngelis Jewelers, Inc.
We stock top quality, ideal cut diamonds that are tangible and breathtaking. We offer quality, selection, distinguished service, reasonable pricing, and the knowledge and tools to help you make the best informed decision.
This is one of the most cherished moments of your life and we want to take the guesswork out of the equation and make your purchase as carefree as possible.
You may think these two diamonds will look exactly alike but, depending on the slight variations in proportions, they could have two different variations of brilliance.
That is the potential risk you take when buying online, not actually getting your best value for your dollar. What you potentially buy online can only be best described by the salesperson, who may or may not actually be looking at the stone. To have the ability to view a diamond in person and to see how your eye perceives a diamond's fire and scintillation we feel, is priceless. Not everyone will have the same opinion, or quality of vision.
Why you should shop with DeAngelis Jewelers, Inc.
We stock top quality, ideal cut diamonds that are tangible and breathtaking. We offer quality, selection, distinguished service, reasonable pricing, and the knowledge and tools to help you make the best informed decision.
This is one of the most cherished moments of your life and we want to take the guesswork out of the equation and make your purchase as carefree as possible.
Birthstones by Month
January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite
July - Ruby
August - Peridot, Sardonyx
September - Sapphire
October - Opal, Tourmaline
November - Yellow Topaz, Citrine
