Buying Diamonds For Cut, Carat And Clarity
We've all heard that
cut, carat and clarity are important considerations when buying a diamond, but most of us have no idea what that really means.
In this article, we will give you a little explanation of each so that you can be armed with a bit of knowledge the next time you buy a diamond.
Carat
Diamonds are measured in what is called carat weight which stems from an old form of measurement involving carob beans.
At one time, if a diamond weighed the same as a carob bean, it was considered one carob or one carat.
Today, the measurements are a bit more precise and
one carat is 200 milligrams.
You may also hear a diamonds weight referred to as grains which stems from another ancient form of measurement.
In the far east, rice was used to measure the weight of a diamond.
If the weight equaled 4 grains or rice it was called four
grains ? or one carat as we know it to be
now.
You have to be leery when buying diamonds that
are already set or mounted. If there is more than one
diamond in the piece then the tag will show
the CTW or Carat Total
Weight which is the combined weight of all stones.
It will not tell you the weight
of each stone in the piece, therefore you must
ask
the jeweler for the total carat weight of the largest diamond in order to really know what you are buying.
Clarity
There are basically two things to think about when evaluating the clarity of a diamond - inclusions and blemishes.
Inclusions are flaws inside the diamond and blemishes are those on the surface.
Diamonds are graded by the amount of inclusions and blemishes and whether or not they can be seen by the naked eye.
Many diamond buyers mistakenly think that diamond
clarity refers to how clear it is but this is not the case.
Clarity actually refers to the external as well as internal imperfections in the stone.
The
best diamonds, of course get a grade of FL
or IF ? Flawless or Internally Flawless ?
meaning that it is perfect.
A grade of I-1, I-2
or I-3 means that the diamond is imperfect,
with a grade of I-3 being the worst.
Cut
Contrary to what most people think, cut
does not refer to the shape of the stone, but to the facets that are cut into each stone.
These facets are critical as they are what causes the stone to reflect light and what gives it, it's brilliance.
Even the most wonderful diamond can be ruined if it is not cut properly.
Jewelers follow a mathematical formula to insure that a diamond is cut to show the maximum brilliance of the stone. As with anything cut affects price and there are several grades of cut to consider when buying a diamond.
The best cut is called "Ideal Cut" and it is perfectly per portioned to maximize the brilliance of the stone. The next best cut is called
"Premium" which is also very desirable and is less expensive than the ideal cut. A "Very Good" cut is one step down from the premium but still reflects most of the light from the stone.
In some cases, the cutters vary the proportions of the cut to result in a larger diamond. The "Good" cut is an economical grade - lower than the "Very Good" but quite popular with most people buying diamonds as it still shows the stone off quite well.
"Fair" and "Poor" cuts should be avoided as they do not result in a sparkly brilliant diamond. These diamonds are cut to specifically maximize size but they sacrifice brilliance in the process.
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where you can find out more about handmade jewelry, diamonds and other gem stones.
Real Or Simulated Diamonds ? Can You Tell The Difference
When you buy a diamond, how do you really know if it is real?
Of course, if you deal with a reputable jeweler who has a reputation to uphold, your chances are pretty good that you will get the real thing. But if you come across a deal from a relatively unknown source and it seems too good to be true ? it just may be!You might think a fake is a fake, but just like anything else there are different qualities of simulated diamonds. Some are very inexpensive and easy to spot. A cheap cubic zirconia ring in a plated setting will probably look nice for a while but will soon lose it's luster and any jewelry would be able to tell right off the bat that it is not an expensive gem. That's not to say that these are no good ? on the contrary ? you can buy a very nice ring for around $20.00 and have it look gorgeous to the causal observer.
It might last a year if you take care of it and that's not bad for the price!Other simulated diamonds can be quite expensive. Some are very high...
Real Or Simulated Diamonds ? Can You Tell The Difference
Diamonds > Real Or Simulated Diamonds ? Can You Tell The Difference
Choosing Jewlery
People have enjoyed jewelry throughout history. It has been given as gifts and as a symbol of relationships. It is not only a beautiful accessory, it helps identify a person. Jewelry can be a very expensive investment so making a wise decision on your jewelry purchase is important to make sure the jewelry is of a good quality and (most importantly) that the recipient is happy.
How to select diamonds
When you're selecting diamonds there are four things that diamonds are measured on. These are called the 4 C's of diamonds:
Cut.
This refers to the shape of the diamond, which will determine how much it sparkles when the light hits it.
Carat. This is how big the diamond is.
Clarity. This measures how clear the diamond is. That is, if it has flaws (called inclusions) or not.
Color. This is the measurement of how white or yellow a diamond is.
Caring for your jewelry
Taking care of your jewelry...
Diamonds > Choosing Jewlery
Diamonds
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