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Home The BlogA Newbie’s Diamond Buying Guide

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A Newbie’s Diamond Buying Guide

If you’re planning to buy a diamond fo engagement rings, pendant, bracelet or earrings but don’t know where to start? This quick diamond guide will help. Usually most people looking to buy a diamond are clueless and intimidated by the complexity of diamond grades and why they are so expensive. All it takes is a little research and to learn the basic factors of a diamond. Basically all you need to know is the 4-Cs of a diamond – the four important factors that contribute to its price and quality.

Diamond Cut

Let’s start with diamond cut – it’s the cut of a diamond that determines the symmetry, proportions and ability to reflect light which all contribute to its fire and sparkle. Although there is no visible difference between cut grades, there is a difference in the perfection of proportions that determine how much light reflects through. Usually you have the option to choose between three cut grades -
  • Good Cut –
  • Very Good Cut –
  • Excellent Cut – also referred to as an ideal cut diamonds where the diamond is perfectly proportioned and is usually 5-10% more expensive.

Diamond Carter Weight

The weight of a diamond is measured in carats – 1 carat is equal to 0.2 grams. Diamond with a higher carat weight are more valuable than diamonds with a lower carat weight. A carat can also be divided into points, where one point is equal to 0.01 and 0.50 points is the equivalent of half a carat. Carat weight does not always determine the size of a diamond as other factors influence size like the cut and the shape of the stone.

Diamond Colour

The appearance of a diamond cab be influenced by its colour grade or lack of colour when referring to white diamonds. Colour grades range from D – colourless to Z light yellow. The higher the colour grade the more ability to reflect light and exhibit fire, so diamonds with a lower colour grade with noticeable yellow colour will not have the same fire. Usually grades between D to G have no noticeable difference in colour to the visible eye.

Diamond Clarity

Clarity refers to the amount of inclusions or marks a diamond has. These inclusions are usually not clear to the naked eye and the fewer inclusions the more expensive a diamond will be.

Diamond Clarity Chart

As you can see in the chart IF is the highest clarity grade where the diamond will be internally flawless with no inclusions or marks. There is also no visible difference to the naked eye between VVS1 and VVS2.
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