All You Need to Know Before Buying Diamonds

When people are shopping for diamond jewelry, there are four C’s that they should keep in mind. These are color, cut, clarity, and carat. The latter is a measure of the size of a diamond, usually in carats. The size can be confusing because many jewelers’ guides give carats in milligrams, which is a more familiar scale.

The best cut is probably the most underrated of the 4C’s. If you look at a diamond and judge it solely by its appearance, you may be inclined to believe that it has brilliance. On the other hand, if you ignore it completely, you could create an enormous faux pas. For instance, this fancy diamond shape looks exactly like an ordinary diamond but is only 5 percent less valuable because it lacks brilliance.

Cuts and shapes

Diamonds can be found in many different cuts and shapes. The majority of diamond cutters work with either an oval pear shape or a heart-shaped diamond. There are some exceptions, such as those used for engagement rings. The optimum shape would be the oval for these rings, although it can also be shaped like a heart, pear, princess, or marquise. No matter what diamond shape you choose, make sure that you understand the difference between diamond cut and shape and make sure it will be proportioned right to your hand, finger, and finger-joint position.

Depth and width

Depth and width, on the other hand, are significant. They have to correlate with one another for the diamond to have worth. It takes a great deal of knowledge about proportions to judge both correctly. You must be able to consider how well the facets are cut to produce the diamond’s proportions.

Carat size and clarity grade

Carat size and clarity grade are the last two facets to consider. In the past, these were the only aspects to focus on, but with today’s diamond cutting technology, they are now combined into a single Q-value called the diamond’s clarity grade. A diamond that has a high clarity grade will sparkle more brightly and have a better fire. However, it will cost more.

The last and least understood facet of a diamond is its cut grade. Diamond cuts are determined by three factors – the proportions and angles in which the diamond is cut, the diamond’s shape, and the proportions of the diamond’s central paraffin area. The best cut for any diamond enhances its fire and brilliance while also ensuring that the corners and rhinestones do not cancel out the central diamond’s beauty. The brilliant and fire that diamonds reflect are what give them their sparkle.