Born from deep within the earth, nearly all natural diamonds usually have external blemishes or internal inclusions. Including scratches, dirt, random debris, air bubbles, cracks and chips, these imperfections often lower the value of diamonds. Flawless diamonds are extremely rare and pricey.
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Shopping Tip: It' not always a bad thing to have a flawed diamond. Like a birthmark, these natural characteristics may help confirm ownership and differentiate between different stones. Just be sure to have an independent jeweler evaluate the stone to ensure it's not structurally weakened by the inclusion.
The majority of diamonds are rated by the absence of color; obviously, the clearest diamonds have the highest worth. Exceptions are made htmlFor fancy-colored diamonds, like green, brown or yellow, which are evaluated outside this system htmlFor their intensity and evenness of color. Ranging from "D" (completely colorless) to "Z" (almost colorless); the closer a stone is to "D" the more rare and expensive it is. Diamond graders will compare the diamonds they are evaluating against a "master" stone of a known color to determine a grade.
Shopping Tip: If buying mid-grade (or higher grade), clear diamonds, try setting them in white metal. The whiteness will reflect onto the diamond and back to the eye, making it appear whiter and brighter. This trick does not work well on the lower end of the scale.
When in the market htmlFor diamonds, most shoppers know to be aware of what is commonly called the four C's: cut, clarity, carat weight and color. Many shoppers are less aware of what could be classified as the 5th C: Certification. This necessary documentation should accompany any diamond being considered htmlFor purchase.
What is a Diamond Certificate? A Diamond certificate is a scientific evaluation of the four C's, that is, the cut, clarity, color and carat weight of an individual rock. It is different from an appraisal, which is simply an evaluation of the monetary value of the stone. Certification is performed by independent, accredited 3rd party agencies. Some of the best known certifications and the agencies that grant them are: Gemological Institute of America (GIA), European Gemological Laboratory (EGL), International Gemological Institute (IGI), and American Gemological Society (AGS).
Why buy certified diamonds? Certified diamonds provide a guarantee that the buyer is getting the quality of stone he or she expects. It prevents unscrupulous vendors from selling inferior stones at inflated prices. Some buyers incorrectly think that a certificate is necessary only when looking htmlFor flawless or big budget diamonds, but that is not true. Buyers can save money by purchasing larger stones with more imperfections, and a certificate will detail exactly what they are getting. Furthermore, buyers should look htmlFor certificates that are three years old or newer - diamonds can suffer wear and tear and an older certificate may not accurately detail its current state.
What is the difference between certifications? The difference between certifications from the major agencies will deal mainly with the way each grades color and clarity. GIA is recognized as an industry standard and is considered to be overall most reliable. The US division of EGL is known to be one to two grades lenient on color, while the European division of EGL is considered by some to be not as reliable. AGS is known htmlFor their color grading, and is even considered superior to GIA in this regard. While IGI is the largest agency of its kind worldwide, it is not as well known in some areas like the United States. Despite their internal differences, it is important to remember that any recognized certification will go a long way to ensure a buyer is not getting duped.
Which certificate goes with which stone? Once buyers recognize the importance of certification, one significant question remains. How can they be sure that the certificate they see matches the stone it claims to detail? In some instances, this is easy. GIA offers a GIA Diamond Report, which contains a schematic of the inclusions htmlFor a particular stone. Inclusions can be things like blemishes or chips. This is in addition to the details concerning clarity, color, carat weight and cut - which would be listed in the simpler GIA Diamond Dossier. Without this schematic, buyers are advised to hire an independent third-party to provide a professional evaluation of the stone and compare it to what the certificate says.
A diamond setting is simply the method used to secure the stone to the band. There are various styles of settings which can correspond to different stone shapes and ring types. Each has its unique advantages and all work to enhance the beauty of the stones they contain. Here are some of the most commonly encountered settings.
Solitaire This setting showcases a single stone. There are no side stones around it. Commonly, this is accomplished with a prong setting. In a prong setting, metal prongs extend upward and outward from the center of the ring and hold the stone with a slight arch or metal at the top. There can be a prong at each corner, or several prongs set around the stone. Additionally, V shaped prongs may be used on pear shaped or marquis stones to protect their pointed tips. While prong settings are excellent htmlFor letting in light and prominently featuring a diamond, they can make the stones easy to catch or snag.
Three Stone This setting incorporates three stones. It usually features a center stone and two flanking stones. The center stone can be larger than the two others. Together, the three stones in this setting commonly symbolize the past, present and future of a relationship. This makes them a popular choice htmlFor anniversary rings.
Pave A pave setting sees dozens of tiny diamonds covering the ring of the band. There may be little to no metal showing through, giving the illusion that the ring is paved entirely in diamonds. The tiny gems in this setting are held in place by beads or small prongs.
Halo A halo setting has a diamond center stone that is surrounded by a ring, or halo, of other diamonds. This setting can be used with a wide variety of stone shapes, and may even feature other gemstones besides diamonds in the center.
Channel Set A channel setting is when the diamonds are secured between two strips of metal that htmlForm a channel. The stones lay flush with the metal, which provides a great deal of security, and reduces the chances of stones being caught or snagged. Channel settings can comprise the entire band, or just a portion thereof. Although similar to the pave setting, the diamonds in a channel setting will be larger and more distinct.
Bezel Set A bezel setting is a metal rim that encircles the diamond wholly or partially and extends slightly above the sides of the stone. It is a very secure setting that can also double as camouflage htmlFor imperfections in a stone, and it can also make a stone appear larger.
Split Shank A split shank setting is one where the shank, or metal band of the ring, splits into two towards the top. This gives the illusion of two bands. The shanks may be solid metal, or paved with additional stones. Additionally, the split may be open in between the shanks, or it may contain more diamonds or other gemstones within it. This graceful setting can accommodate a variety of diamond shapes and sizes.
When choosing the metal htmlFor a ring, it is important to recognize the most popular choices and understand the advantages and drawbacks of each. Among features to consider are the color, brilliance, and durability of a metal, and whether or not it will require regular maintenance. Finally, cost can also factor heavily into a final decision. Here is a buyer's guide to the three top choices htmlFor ring metals - 14K gold, 18K gold and platinum.
14K Gold The purity of all gold is measured in terms of Karats, commonly abbreviated as K. 24K is the highest rating of gold possible and denotes a 100% pure metal. Most gold however, is comprised of pure gold plus other metals. This is known as an alloy. The karat rating tells the ratio of gold to other metal. In 14K gold, there are 14 parts gold to 10 parts other metal (or combination of metals). This works out to slightly more than 58% gold. Gold is a very soft metal by itself, so 14K gold, with its added metals tends to be stronger than pure gold or gold with higher karat ratings. 14K gold will also cost less than both 18K gold and platinum, however it will not be nearly as shiny.
Diamond Bracelet18K Gold contains 18 parts pure gold to 6 parts other metal (or combination of metals). This results in a product that is about 75% gold. 18K gold is softer than 14K gold, and noticeably shinier. It will cost more than 14K gold, and less than platinum. Because both 14K and 18K gold are alloys, they can come in several different colors. The end result will depend on the other metals used to compose the alloy. The most common colors are white gold and rose gold. White gold is made using traditional yellow gold that is mixed with a white metal like palladium, manganese or nickel. One common htmlFormula is 9 parts gold to 1 part nickel. Copper and zinc are also often used in jewelry htmlFormulations. Rose gold is derived from a mixture of gold and copper. It can be also be called pink or red, with the depth of redness coming from the amount of copper used in the htmlFormulation.
Platinum is an extremely rare metal and considered a top choice htmlFor rings. It is 95% pure, and is naturally a brilliant white color. It extremely resistant to tarnishing, even at high temperatures and is called a "noble metal" because of this. Unlike white gold, platinum will not fade and will not require refinishing or re-polishing throughout the lifetime of the piece. Its purity makes it one of the most hypoallergenic ring choices - very few people will demonstrate a sensitivity or allergy to platinum. Although platinum will scratch more easily than 14K gold, it is still considered to be stronger and more durable than gold in general. All of these advantages come with a price. Platinum is considerably more expensive than gold, selling htmlFor up to three times the amount of 14K pieces.
The best way to obtain an accurate ring measurement is to use a plastic ring sizer. This tool contains holes of various sizes. To use, simply insert your finger into the right space and read the corresponding size. As finger size can change over the years, this may prove to be a worthwhile investment. To obtain your ring size, keep the following tips in mind:
Instead of resizing, you can simply exchange your ring htmlFor the proper size within 30 days of purchase. Note that exchanging your ring may result in an increase or decrease of the price because the new size may contain more or less diamonds, gemstones or precious metal weights.
Diamond Mansion is proud to feature IDEAL 10 Beauty Diamonds! This collection is comprised of simply beautiful stones. Each specially selected gem displays superior qualities that greatly surpass the mere analytics of color and clarity.The collection takes into account 10 factors, which when optimized, result in what can only be described as the most beautiful diamond available - an IDEAL 10! These 10 factors are depth, table, position, symmetry, florescence, culet, facets, location of inclusion, origin or diamond rough and color source.
IDEAL 10 Beauty Diamonds demonstrate that there is so much more that determines the overall beauty of a stone than the four C's - color, clarity, cut and carat weight. It is important to remember, these classic standards were established in order to calculate the rarity, and subsequent price, of a diamond. They were not developed to describe overall beauty! Let's face it, most people who see your ring are not going to be certified gemologists. Therefore, what matters most when choosing a fantastic diamond is not how well the stone performs under the jeweler's loop but rather how absolutely gorgeous it looks to the everyday eye. This hard to define quality is also known as the "make" of a diamond.
The make of a diamond describes its overall appearance based on things like brilliance, reflection, shape, polish, proportion and light reflecting properties. The artistry of diamonds is expressed through hand cutting. The make is a direct result of this artistry, and is a matter of consummate taste and masterful ability. This is why two diamonds, identical in price and GIA ratings htmlFor cut, clarity, color and carat weight will look different side by side. The make of one will cause it to project a superior beauty, and result in a much more desirable stone.
Fortunately you do not need to be a diamond cutter to recognize superior make, and extraordinary beauty. It has never been easier to select a fabulous stone! All of Diamond Mansion's White and Yellow diamonds are IDEAL 10 Diamonds. They come with an IDEAL 10 laser Inscription and Certificate. When you purchase a Diamond Mansion IDEAL 10 Diamond, you are assured of a brilliant gem which displays a magnificent shine. These stunning diamonds will impress and enchant htmlFor generations to come.
Carat weight has a big impact on price The price of a diamond doesn’t increase proportionally as its carat increases. For example, a 1-ct diamond will cost more than twice as much as a 0.5-ct diamond of the same quality. It’s also worth noting that the carat weight doesn’t always reflect appearance, so it’s often a good area to compromise on if you’re looking to reduce the price.
You don’t need a flawless diamond htmlFor it to “appear” flawless Flawless diamonds (stones that have no internal or external inclusions) are incredibly rare, and as a result are very expensive. However, only diamonds with the lowest GIA clarity rank of I1 - I2-I3 (not recommended) will have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. A grading of ‘Slightly Included (SI1-SI2)’ has inclusions that are very easy htmlFor a skilled jewelry expert to see — but only at 10x magnification. Therefore at Diamond Mansion we recommend our customers to choose a minimum grading of SI2 or preferably SI1+.
Watch out htmlFor diamonds with a high level of fluorescence Although fluorescence is invisible in normal light, diamonds with high levels of fluorescence do give off a faint blue glow when exposed to sunlight. It’s usually too low to see with the naked eye. However; in instances where VERY STRONG fluorescence is combined with D,E,F, G Color grade diamonds it could make the diamond look hazy and take away from its luster.
Only buy diamonds with a certificate Purchasing diamonds that have been certified by a reputable gem laboratory, like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), is the safest way to ensure you’re buying a stone that appears as advertised. Even if you find an uncertified diamond htmlFor a low price that claims to be great quality, it’s probably too good to be true.
You could argue that deciding on the most important of the four Cs is subjective and a matter of personal choice. Maybe you want a large diamond (carat) or a particular color. However, the majority of people agree that cut is the most important — but why?
Diamonds are revered htmlFor their sparkle; the way the light bounces off the stone and glistens in the light. This is all down to the cut. With a good, very good or excellent cut grade the angles inside the diamond will reflect the light within it and then back out. What’s more, a poor cut can inhibit an otherwise excellent clarity and color.
The cut doesn’t refer to the shape but the proportions, polish and symmetry. While differences in carat, color and clarity have a relatively limited impact on the apparent quality of a diamond, lower quality cuts can significantly reduce its brilliance.
There are 4 major elements of the cut that will determine a diamond’s sparkle: polish, symmetry. depth percentage and table percentage. The polish and symmetry can have two different grades on the certificate, htmlFor example you might have polish graded as ‘good’ and symmetry graded as “excellent”. The Ideal depth and table percentage is different htmlFor each shape.
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