Diamond Jewelry
Because purchasing a piece of diamond jewelry is such a big investment, it is very important that you research diamonds and completely understand all there is to know before shopping for that special diamond piece.
When you are ready to shop for that special piece of diamond jewelry, know the “Four Cs” of diamonds (clarity, color, carat and cut) so that you know the important points of what to look for when picking out a diamond. The most valuable diamonds are those that possess the best qualities of all of the “Four Cs”.
- Clarity – This is the term used to describe the size and number of inclusions in a diamond. Most diamonds have inclusions that are not picked up by the naked eye and are only visible through magnification. The larger the inclusion or the more inclusions present in a diamond, impacts the diamond’s value.
- Color – Most people think of diamonds as being colorless, or white, but there are diamonds that will have subtle brown or yellow tones to them. These are normally not that noticeable unless the diamonds are placed beside another diamond that is colorless. The closer a diamond is to being colorless, the more rare and more valuable it is.
- Carat – Diamonds are measured in carats. The Carat measurement of a diamond is the actual weight of the diamond, not the diamond’s size or diameter. A one-carat diamond is divided into 100 points. Thus, if a diamond has 25 points it is considered a quarter of a carat (or .25 carats). Two diamonds could be the same carat weight but one diamond could appear to be larger than the other depending on how the diamond has been cut.
- Cut – It is the cut of a diamond that gives it its unique sparkle and brilliance. Some diamonds are cut to give it the appearance of being larger in size when compared to other diamonds of the same carat weight. They are cut to have the appearance of a larger surface area on the top of the diamond or are sometimes cut in more shallow proportions to make the diamond appear larger. When this is done, it takes away from the brilliance and shine of the diamond. There are many shapes of diamonds to pick from with the most popular shape being the brilliant cut or round. The fancier cuts would include the marquise, pear and oval shapes as well as the baguette and princess cuts.
Purchasing diamond jewelry is the first step, keeping it looking bright and shiny is the second step. You should make sure you store and clean your diamond jewelry properly so you will enjoy wearing it for many years.