Diamond Education

Certified
GIA (Geonlogical Institute of America) , AGS (American Gem Society) and EGL (European Gemological Labs) are the three standards in the industry when it comes to grading diamonds. A certificate is a diamond pedigree and is the best way to ensure what you are purchasing is a true graded diamond. Grading certificates typically will evaluate a diamond’s dimensions, clarity, color, polish, symmetry, shape and style. ALWAYS keep your diamond certificate of authenticity and place it somewhere safe from fire or theft.

Cut
A diamond’s cut is its most important characteristic and most discerning factor. The brilliance and sparkle of a diamond, also its value, will be based on the cut of the diamond.

		If the diamond is cut too deep, light will pass through the bottom facets, with a dark diamond result.
		If a diamond is cut too shallow, the light will also be lost through the bottom facet and appear glassy and very dark. Diamonds may be cut too shallow in order to look larger in a setting, but the loss of light through the bottom of this cut ruins the brilliance and sparkle completely.
		An ideal cut allows light to enter the diamond and reflect back through the top of the diamond. This reflection off of the bottom facets, instead of through the bottom facets, is what the human eye recognizes as brilliant sparkle and distinct color.

Color
Color is the second most important factor when viewing a diamond. Diamonds work like prisms and can reflect a spectrum of colored light back to the eye based on angles or facets cut into the stone. Although diamonds appear to be colorless, there is often a twinge of yellow. To help determine the grading based on colors, the GIA create a special color scale, with colorless diamonds starting at D. Typically, most engagement stones are G or H in color.

Clarity
The clarity of a diamond is determined by reviewing the number of natural marks or “inclusions” that are within the stone. Again, GIA has determined a set of standards and rules regarding clarity and its ratings. What clarity is the best for you? That would be determined by your budget and what look you are aiming to achieve in your diamond.

Source: Blue Nile

Cost
Diamond cost is set by industry giants such as DeBeers, located in London or by Rappaport which is the pricing standard set in New York. Using the six C’s of diamonds, industry experts set pricing also based on market demands, economics and the simple concepts of supply and demand. Certified diamonds are more apt to retain or increase in market value where uncertified diamonds are not. Buyer beware that there are many retailers who have to build in overhead to cover their store costs. A more expensive diamond may not always be the “better” diamond.

The majority of customers fall within the indicated ranges below. As of October 2007, this was an average buyers cost analysis
asdone by Blue Nile.

Source: Blue Nile

Carat-Weight
A single carat equals 100 points, a half-carat is 50 points or .50 carats. Exact weight is always stated on the stone’s certificate. What is important to note is that a 2-carat diamond does not look twice as big as a 1-carat diamond. Based on color, cut of the diamond, and clarity of the diamond, varying carats may appear different. In addition, be sure to factor in the setting. Different settings will make different diamonds appear larger or smaller, clearer or more yellow, brilliant or dull.
Also, larger diamond rocks are found and mined much less frequently than smaller diamond rocks. Therefore, the price point is not proportionate. If a 1-carat stone were to cost $5,000 a 2-carat stone may cost $16,000 and so forth.
It is important to include all the factors which make a diamond beautiful, not just carat weight, when deciding on a diamond to purchase.