* Diamond Information *
by: J.L.Layton Jewelry
Wanting to buy fine jewelry for a reasonable price? Unsure what to buy for your special sweetheart (or even for yourself?) Feel at a disadvantage when you see or hear that foreign language - diamondese?
"Ooh, this is a GORGEOUS diamond - it's an F color SI1 clarity 1 carat Cushion Cut! Tee hee hee hee!" What did she just say?!
We compiled this Diamond Information Guide to help you make an informed decision when making your purchases.
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Diamonds are "graded" (just like a report card in school) and assessed value on "the 4 C's":
- Carat
- Cut
- Clarity, and
- Color
As no two diamonds are the same, each diamond has differing value.
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Carat
A diamond's weight (size) is indicated by how many Carats or points it has. There are 100 points in a carat. The more carats a diamond weighs, generally speaking, the higher its value. However, the cut, clarity, and color ultimately affect the value of the diamond as well.
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Cut
The Cut gives a diamond its final aesthetic shape. The most common diamond cut is "round." Other cuts include marquise (see above), princess, emerald, heart, oval, pear, baguette, radiant, cushion, and more!
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Clarity
Whether a diamond has natural "inclusions" (or blemishes) - and to what extent - is represented in a diamonds "Clarity." Carbon spots and crystalline cloudiness (either or both of which are seen in virtually every diamond) are considered natural characteristics of the diamond, or inclusions.
"Clarity Enhanced" diamonds are injected with a material that disguises a diamond's natural imperfections. Clarity enhanced diamonds are genuine diamonds that cost 20-30% less on average. This enables many more people to afford a bigger and better-looking diamond for a lesser cost.
At a 30% difference, the same-looking diamond will cost $2000 without the enhancement and $1400 with the enhancement.
Many jewelers advise against buying clarity-enhanced diamonds. Their opinion may be that they are not a good investment. Jewelers may lead you to believe that the enhancement process reverses over time. However, consider this:
"The Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.), after extensive research, has determined that normal wear and tear cannot harm the enhancement."
The choice is up to you.
[We want to clarify that we generally sell only natural diamonds that have not been clarity enhanced. However, we will always disclose in our listings if a diamond we offer to you has been enhanced.]
Clarity Scale
IF - Internally flawless (rare and more expensive, less than 0.001% of all available diamonds in the world!)
VVS1-VVS2 - Very, very slightly included (inclusions very difficult to see under 10 times magnification)
VS1-VS2 - Very slightly included (inclusions difficult to see under 10 times magnification)
SI1/SI2/SI3 - Slightly included (inclusions easy to see under 10 times magnification yet unable/very difficult to see with the unaided/untrained eye)
I1/I2/I3 - Included/imperfect (can be seen without magnification)
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Color
A diamond can come in a variety of different Colors. Fancy colored diamonds can be natural or heated/treated. Colorless diamonds are D, E, and F. Near colorless diamonds are G, H, I, and J and get more yellow/color. Fancy diamonds can be naturally blue, canary yellow, champagne, or even black!
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Conclusion
To conclude, "the 4 C's" make up the grading of each individual diamond. The grading for each category (cut, carat, clarity, and color) determines the diamond's value.
It would help you to know what you want before you buy so that you will be happy with what you get (and not get into something out of your price range!) You know the old saying, "don't shop on an empty stomach."
Hopefully this diamond tuturial has helped.
Pictures and text owned by J.L.Layton Jewelry, please do not reproduce without explicit approval. Thank you!
* Quality jewelry at a reasonable price *
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