Diamonds - Diamond

When looking for a Diamond Ring, you should be giving yourself some time. A Diamond Ring can be a realtively hefty investment, so you want to make sure your Diamond Ring is worth the money you pay for it.

To start with, you should check the 4 C's: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight, characteristics that contribute to a diamond's beauty and value.

Many consumers are aware of the 4C's, and understand how they influence the value of a diamond. It's however also important that you find out what appeals to you when selecting a diamond. This will allow you to get the most for your money. Let's look at this in detail:

Diamond Carat Weight

Carat weight refers to the size of the diamond. Based on a standard unit of measure, one carat is divided into 100 points. The term originated from carob seeds that were used to balance scales in ancient times. Of the 4 C's, Carat Weight is the most important consideration. The increase in dollar value is exponential to the increase in carat weight, as it's much more difficult to find a 2 carat stone than one with a weight of one carat, thus a 2 ct. diamond will have a value of about three times that of an equal 1 ct. stone. The carat weight however, doesn't necessarily reflect how the diamond appears. The most popular diamond shapes sold are the round cut and the Princess cut. The outer diameter of a 1 carat round diamond is about 6.5mm.

Diamond Color

When one talsk about 'color' for diamonds, it's really the absence of color that matters: The most desirable diamonds are colorless because the absence of color enhances the diamond's ability to reflect a rainbow of color. Diamonds are graded on a scale of D (almost clear white) to N-Z. The closer a diamond is to colorless, the more rare and valuable it is. The Grades D,E and F are the 'colorless' grades, and the diamond color grades G,H,I and J are 'near colorless'.

Diamond Clarity

Diamonds are produced by nature over the time of many thousand years, deep in the earth, under extreme heat and pressure. This process is the reason that diamonds often contain slight imperfections. These imperfections are mostly invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen under magnification. Experts talk of inclusions (internal imperfection) and blemishes (external imperfection). Fewer inclusions increase the value of the diamond. A standard has been set by the GIA, who uses 11 clarity grades: Flawless, VVS (Very, Very, Small), VS (Very Small), SI (Slightly Included), and I (Included), with gradations for the different clarity values. Diamonds with SI grades or higher are of a clarity which affects the rarity and the price, but seldom affect the visual beauty when seen with the naked eye.

Diamond Cut

The cut gives the diamond its brilliance. Of the 4 C's, the cut is the only one dependent on a human touch. Using precise mathematical formulas, a skilled cutter transforms a diamond in the rough into a sparkling jewel that reflects and refracts light. When a diamond is cut to proper proportions and is finished well, the light refracts into the diamond, it is reflected from one facet to another and then returns through the top of the diamond resulting in a display of brilliance (white light), dispersion (rainbow-colored light) and scintillation (sparkling when the diamond moves), and luster (bright reflections from the surface). Only when all proportions are right, this beautiful play of light come to live. Proper cutting is the key to a diamond's beauty and value.

Most diamond shapes are cut with 58 facets (separate flat surfaces) according to mathematical formulas. Using symmetry, the cutter aligns these facets at precise angles in relation to each other to maximize the reflection and refraction of light.

Continue here for the entire Gold Ring Buyers Guide.

• Rings
• Gold Rings
• Diamond Rings
• Engagement Rings
• Diamond Engagement Rings
• Promise Rings
• Wedding Rings
• Belly Button Rings
• Class Rings