Diamonds
Advice provided by Crystalink Jewellery,
a family business that specializes in high quality Certified Diamonds.
Crystalink Jewellery Manufacturing Ltd.
35 Hall Street, Hockley, Birmingham. B18 6BS
0121 233 2547
Diamonds and how they are graded.
Every diamond is unique and has its own characteristics. At first glance two diamonds may appear to look similar, but can be quite different in cut, colour, clarity and carat weight, this will determine their value.
These are known as the 4Cs.
Diamonds with the most perfect combination of the 4Cs are the most rare and most valuable in the world.
Cut
A well-cut diamond is most important to get the maximum brilliance and fire. A round diamond that has been well cut should carry between 57 and 58 facets and will reflect the light from every angle. Diamonds that have been cut too deep or too shallow lose light that will spill through the side or the bottom of the stone.
You can have different shapes of diamonds and that is very much personal choice. Other shapes are princess cut, emerald cut, pear shape, marquise cut, oval cut, heart shape and asscher cut.
All shapes of diamond should be cut to the correct proportion.
Colour
The colour of a diamond is graded through an alphabet system that starts from D being the highest (colourless white) right down to Z being the lowest (tinted yellow colour). The closer a diamond approaches colourless (D), the rarer and more valuable the stone.
Diamonds with a strong pure colour are extremely rare and are called ‘fancies’. Amongst them can be found pink, blue, yellow, green and orange.
Clarity
Nearly all diamonds have their own characteristics called inclusions often known as nature’s fingerprints.
The number, type, colour, size and position of the birthmarks can affect a diamond’s value. Diamonds that are graded I1 to I3 have inclusions that are visible to the untrained naked eye. SI1 to SI3 (slight inclusions) are much harder to detect only to be seen under a magnification loupe. VS1 and VS2 (very small inclusions) are very hard to detect even under a magnification loupe with an untrained eye. VVS1 and VVS2 (very, very small inclusions) are all most impossible to detect under a magnification loupe with an untrained eye. IF (internally flawless) free from any internal inclusions.
The fewer the inclusions, the rarer the stone.
Carat Weight
Carat refers to weight and therefore the size of the diamond. One carat is divided into 100 points. Therefore, a diamond weighing 50 points is half a carat. Size is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond, but two diamonds of equal size can have very different values, depending on their cut, colour and clarity.
Tips when buying a diamond
When buying a high quality diamond it’s strongly recommended to have an independent laboratory report giving you a break down of all the 4C’s in great detail. These are called certified diamonds. Between D, E and F, VS and VVS in colour and clarity the difference is only subtle so you need to be sure that the grade is correct. Most reputable jewellers in the Quarter stock Certified Diamonds. Always ask how long the jeweller has been established as a retailer, trust and experience is very important.
Synthetic Diamonds
This brief resume has been compiled with the assistance of the British Jeweller’s Association for further more detailed advice you can consult the Website of the British Jewellers Association on http://www.bja.org.uk/consumer_information.php
The technology of creating synthetic diamonds is replicating the conditions under which natural diamonds are formed. They tend to be smaller sizes and mainly produced in the USA and Russia.
Some of the man-made stones that can be confused are
- Cubic Zirconia
- Zirconium Oxide
- Moissanite
- Diamonique
