Choosing your diamond can be an exciting process, when you choose a jeweller with skill and access to the best quality stones.
When understanding the beauty (and value) of diamonds, many people believe diamonds are expensive. This is not strictly true.
Diamonds can be cheap and almost worthless. The worth of a diamond depends on the 4 Cs.
Make sure you are dealing with trained diamond experts. Trained diamond experts can help you to select the ideal stone and cut for the design of your choice.
THE 4 CS – CARAT, CUT, CLARITY AND COLOUR
Once thought to be magical and created in the “flames of love,” the beauty of a diamond is complex.
TIP. Check a sales person’s level of training in this area before taking their advice.
Carat. Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. A larger single diamond is more valuable than many smaller diamonds combined to make the same weight.
For example, the cost of 20 0.25ct diamonds is a fraction of the cost of a single 5ct diamond (assuming all else is equal).
Cut. Of the four aspects, it is the cut that gives the diamond most of its sparkle. The more “facets,” or surfaces that reflect the light, the greater the sparkle.
In 1919, a mathematician discovered the angles and proportions to cut a round diamond for excellent brilliance and “fire.” This lead to the classic 58 facet cut that most diamonds now have. More recently a new scientifically calculated method has created even greater sparkle and “fire”.
These Riente DiamondsTM use 74 facets and are visibly superior. If you can, we recommend selecting a Riente DiamondTM for maximum sparkle. There are a variety of different diamond shapes. Whichever you end up choosing, make sure it has been cut by a skilled jeweller. A poorly cut diamond does not look as good or have the same value.
Clarity. Natural imperfections and visible fractures can detract from a diamond’s beauty and value. If you are being offered a large diamond for a low cost, chances are it is because of its poor clarity.
These flaws are not always easy to see, unless you use the right light and a good magnifying glass. These flaws affect both the sparkle, and the cost.
Below is a guide to help you understand the clarity of diamonds, and how this is graded.
Colour. Diamonds come in a wide range of different colours. There is some confusion over the value of coloured versus non-coloured diamonds. Some people believe that the colour adds value; others believe that a totally colourless diamond is the most valuable.
The fact is that value differs depending on the colour. Brown, grey, yellow and orange diamonds are often less valuable, whereas some pink diamonds are more expensive and red is the rarest and most valuable of all. When choosing the colour of a diamond, just choose what you love the most.
TIP. As a rule of thumb, always look for a colour grade of G or better. If in doubt consult with a diamond expert, or feel free to give us a call on +64 3 5480640 and ask.