Diamond Education

If you are in the market to buy a diamond for you or a loved one, it is important that you learn the jargon and the traits that make a diamond valuable. There are many diamonds out there and many kinds of dealers. Below you will find elements to determine the right diamond for you and your budget.

First select your diamond shape

Diamonds come in a variety of shapes. These shapes are very different with unique characteristics. The following are the normal shape classifications for diamonds:

The Clarity

Clarity is the measure of the number and size of the imperfections that occur in almost all diamonds. These imperfections are usually microscopic and do not affect the diamond’s beauty in any way. Of the four C’s of diamonds, it has the least impact on the diamonds appearance. Gemologists refer to these imperfections as blemishes or inclusions. Diamonds with the least amount and smallest imperfections receive the highest clarity grades.

Diamond Clarity Grades

Rating	Description
FL, IF	Flawless, Internally Flawless: No internal or external imperfections. Internally Flawless: No internal imperfections. Very rare.
VVS1, VVS2	Very, Very Slightly Included: Very difficult to see imperfections under 10x magnification. An excellent quality diamond.
VS1, VS2	Very Slightly Included: Imperfections are not typically visible to the unaided eye. Less expensive than the VVS1 or VVS2 grades.
SI1, SI2	Slightly Included: Imperfections are visible under 10x magnification, and may be visible with the unaided eye. A good diamond value.
I1	Included: This grade of diamonds will have minor inclusions that may be visible to the unaided eye.
I1, I3	Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification which may affect transparency and brilliance

How To Buy A Diamond (or Engagement Ring) Wisely

1. Choose a Trusted Jeweler

Your chosen jeweler should be an expert in diamonds able to answer your questions about diamonds in clear, simple language. An educated jeweler will not only explain the Four C’s of Diamond quality to you, he or she will be able to guide you to the perfect diamond that fits your lifestyle and budget.

2. Get A Diamond Grading Report

If you are purchasing a high priced diamond, you should get a diamond grading report from an unbiased, scientific source such as GIA. It’s indisputable verification of its quality since a lab can see subtle differences that even a trained jeweler cannot. Most large diamonds will come with some sort of grading report.

When you go out to buy a sparkling diamond, you must consider 4Cs of diamonds – Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight, as a base for your buying decision. These 4Cs will help you to choose the best diamonds on the same criteria on which jewelers use to select them.

Diamond Cut is the most important property to increase its beauty because a well-cut diamond reflects light to maximize the stones brilliance. A diamond with perfect color and clarity could nevertheless have poor brilliance if it is not well cut. A Diamond Cut by Shape describes the outline of the stone and pattern of the facet arrangement. A stone can be cut in various Shapes like Round, Princess, Heart, Oval, Pear etc. To learn more, click on Diamond Shapes. On the other side, a Diamond Cut by Depth is the ultimate feature for its brilliance and fire. A stone’s cut by depth can be described with Shallow Cut, Deep Cut or Ideal Cut.

Diamonds are found in all colors of the rainbow, from colorless and transparent stones to ink black ones. Varying degrees of yellow or brown color is common in most of the diamonds and slight difference in color can make a substantial difference in value. A truly colorless diamond is extremely rare and considered the most valuable. It allows most light to pass through the stone and create the most brilliance. The color scale goes from D to Z, with D being the most white and Z being the most yellow.

Clarity is a term used to describe the absence or presence of flaws inside or on the surface of a diamond. In other words, the clarity of a diamond refers to a diamonds clearness or purity. When these flaws / marks occur internally, they are called inclusions and when these flaws / marks occur on the surface, they are known as blemishes. These slight flaws make every diamond quite unique but they also do affect the beauty and value of the diamond. Diamond Clarity Grading Scale grades a Diamond with any of the following grades: F (Flawless), IF (Internally Flawless), VVS1 – VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included – 1 & 2), VS1 – VS2 (Very Slightly Included – 1 & 2), SI1 – SI2 (Slightly Included – 1 & 2), I1 – I2 – I3 (Included – 1, 2 & 3).

Source: http://houstondiamonds.com/home/diamond-education/

Diamond Education – Part 3 – The Clarity