A diamond has long been revered as the ultimate symbol of lasting love because of it's purity and ageless beauty.
As an admirer of diamonds for engagement rings, whether past, present or future, one may wonder why there is such variation in price from store to store. What characteristics constitute a $5,000 diamond versus one that costs only $500?
The physical weight of a diamond is referred to as its "carat". The value of a diamond is directly proportional to its size. The larger the diamond, the more valuable it is, because larger diamonds are less common. Greater size makes the diamond more spectacular, and therefore increases the purchase price.
After carat weight is obtained, the next aspect that can cause price deviation is the clarity. You can determine the clarity of a particular diamond by a number of features. The term inclusions refers to imperfections inside the diamond, while blemishes refer to imperfections on the surface.
The clarity of a diamond can vary from 'pure' to heavily included. This designation is arrived at after anaylyzing the how many inclusions are found as well where the inclusions are located, whether they are tinted, and how large they are.
The appearance or absence of these imperfections is a result of how the diamond was formed underground over thousands of years. Since diamonds are often thought of as the symbol of perfection in our society, the more perfect they actually are under the scrutiny of a microscope, the more expensive they become.
Another important factor when evaluating the worth of a diamond is color. If certain gases were present beneath the earth when the diamond was forming, it may have taken on a distinct color.
The color of a diamond ranges from "D," which is a complete lack of color, to "Z," which is depicts a very noticable coloration. Diamonds are priced highly if they are deeply colored or are exceptionally clear. Hazy, off-colored diamonds are not considered a favorable item, so they are priced lower.
Cut is the final factor in diamond grading. This is an often forgotten element of diamonds, but it is extremely important, as it gives this remarkable stone its ability to come alive.
To view a diamond from the point of view of the cut is to investigate whether or not it has any 'fire'. Like the other criteria for grading, the cut has it's own grading scale that goes from excellent to irregular. If the diamond doesn't knock your socks off then it likely has not been cut very well.
So there you have it, the 4 C's of choosing a diamond: carat, clarity, color and cut. Understanding these basic concepts before you enter a diamond store will go a long way towards making an astute purchase decision. - 15252
As an admirer of diamonds for engagement rings, whether past, present or future, one may wonder why there is such variation in price from store to store. What characteristics constitute a $5,000 diamond versus one that costs only $500?
The physical weight of a diamond is referred to as its "carat". The value of a diamond is directly proportional to its size. The larger the diamond, the more valuable it is, because larger diamonds are less common. Greater size makes the diamond more spectacular, and therefore increases the purchase price.
After carat weight is obtained, the next aspect that can cause price deviation is the clarity. You can determine the clarity of a particular diamond by a number of features. The term inclusions refers to imperfections inside the diamond, while blemishes refer to imperfections on the surface.
The clarity of a diamond can vary from 'pure' to heavily included. This designation is arrived at after anaylyzing the how many inclusions are found as well where the inclusions are located, whether they are tinted, and how large they are.
The appearance or absence of these imperfections is a result of how the diamond was formed underground over thousands of years. Since diamonds are often thought of as the symbol of perfection in our society, the more perfect they actually are under the scrutiny of a microscope, the more expensive they become.
Another important factor when evaluating the worth of a diamond is color. If certain gases were present beneath the earth when the diamond was forming, it may have taken on a distinct color.
The color of a diamond ranges from "D," which is a complete lack of color, to "Z," which is depicts a very noticable coloration. Diamonds are priced highly if they are deeply colored or are exceptionally clear. Hazy, off-colored diamonds are not considered a favorable item, so they are priced lower.
Cut is the final factor in diamond grading. This is an often forgotten element of diamonds, but it is extremely important, as it gives this remarkable stone its ability to come alive.
To view a diamond from the point of view of the cut is to investigate whether or not it has any 'fire'. Like the other criteria for grading, the cut has it's own grading scale that goes from excellent to irregular. If the diamond doesn't knock your socks off then it likely has not been cut very well.
So there you have it, the 4 C's of choosing a diamond: carat, clarity, color and cut. Understanding these basic concepts before you enter a diamond store will go a long way towards making an astute purchase decision. - 15252
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Learn more about diamonds today. Uncover why man made diamonds are an impressive alternative to the real thing, and how to recognize fake diamonds before you pay too much.