All About Diamonds

Diamond Education For Diamond Shopping

Understanding What You Are Looking At

Buying Diamonds

A little knowledge on a large subject

You’re in the market for a diamond and whether it’s your first time or you’ve done this before, a little education helps. When shopping for a diamond consider; Size, Color, Price, Quality, Shape, and the piece it will be set in. A single diamond of size vs. several smaller ones that are well placed with each other.

Always Ask Twice

Before you shop, take the time to become familiar with the 4C’s of diamonds. Become comfortable with the terms and take time to understand the quality factors. Shop around to educate yourself, do research online, never let anyone rush you into making a decision. And always check with more than one source.

Cut Does Not Mean Shape

A diamonds Cut affects its brilliance and cost NOT its shape. A well cut diamond will have lots of sparkle and inner fire. A poorly cut stone will always sell for less of an exceptional cut. Poorly cut stones will be prone to faults and chipping and breaking.
The more white or colorless means the more the diamond will sparkle, and that’s what you’re looking for.

While Cut affects the brilliance and sparkle a diamond, clarity effects the amount of light that will be reflected back to the naked eye. Diamonds are graded on a number of scales for color, cut, clarity…the higher the grade of clarity in a diamond, the more white or colorless it will be.

Blue Diamonds

A word of warning: Blue diamonds are not superior to white diamonds. They are in fact a lower standard than white or colorless diamonds.

Size

Is bigger better? A diamond has 100 points to a carat. Prices increase as the stone reaches a full carat weight. Like dieting, size is not an indication of weight. Don’t confuse the two.

Shapes

Variety in the shape of diamond is becoming more popular than ever. Take the time to look at other shapes that enhance the piece you are intending on purchasing. A Marquise, Oval, or Pear cut may be more suitable over the traditional brilliant round cut and can be more appealing and seem larger in its setting.

Take It All In

Don’t just focus on the diamond. Think of the setting and how it will stand out. Options are to consider several smaller stones over one large diamond. Choose a design, then compare it. Go from a single large diamond to several styles. Perhaps three smaller diamonds that amount to the same carat weight may stand out better and show off more than one large solitaire.

What You See

A diamonds Color is measured in grades from D to Z. You can look up these grading systems with an internet search. While the D through F range might be out of your price range, choosing a diamond from within the top 10 color grades still provides a dazzling performance in any of our settings.

Settings

Choosing white gold or platinum can enhance the stone and make it appear whiter. If a lower grade diamond has tints of yellow in it’s color, choosing yellow gold will make the color less noticeable to the naked eye.

The Overall Effect

A diamonds Color is measured in grades from D to Z. You can look up these grading systems with an internet search. While the D through F range might be out of your price range, choosing a diamond from within the top 10 color grades still provides a dazzling performance in any of our settings.

Learning About Carat, Cut, Clarity & Color

The 4C’s Of Diamonds

Carat

A CARAT describes the diamonds weight & size. One carat is equal to 100 “points.”

A 25 point diamond = 1⁄4 carat, 0.25 carats, 0.25ct, or 0.25ct tw (carat total weight).

Size of the diamond is just one element in determining its value. Two diamonds of equal size can be very different in price because of their quality. Knowing what to look for is the biggest factor.

Cut

The CUT is the diamonds outside appearance not it’s shape. The cut is used to describe its reflective qualities. The better the cut the better the brilliance. This brilliance is the way the light seems to come from the inside of a diamond. The more perfect the finish and cleanness of angles the better its ability to handle reflect the light and give brilliance.

Cut is very important in selecting a diamond and there are several grading methods that have been developed to help choose the right diamond.

A diamonds cut is graded in a range from:  Ideal  |  Premium  |  Very Good  |  Good  |  Fair & Poor

When shopping for a diamond, knowing how to choose quality, cut, clarity, color, grade, and carat is not for the uneducated. Come in and our staff will take the time to help educate you and answer all of your questions.

Clarity

Diamonds are formed under incredible pressure over millions and millions of years. As a result most diamonds have tiny flaws that are hard to see with the naked eye. These flaws in the trade are called “inclusions” and affect the diamonds clarity and the way it reflects light. The fewer the inclusions or blemishes the higher the diamonds value and rarity. A nearly flawless diamond will always be the most valuable. A diamonds clarity is graded in a range from:

Color

Diamond ColorD-HA diamonds COLOR can refer to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. Its color never changes over time and a colorless diamond like glass allow more light to pass through it compared to a colored diamond. This color or lack of color gives the diamond their sparkle and inner fire. It is also important to know that white and colorless diamonds are graded differently from colored diamonds.

At D’Antonio and Klein, our diamonds are graded on the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) professional color scale. This begins with “D” for colorless all the way to “Z” for diamonds that are more yellow or brownish in color. Diamonds graded D through F are the most desired because of their rarity and near colorless nature.

Come in and talk to one of our staff to learn more about choosing the right diamonds. We are happy to answer all your questions.

Diamond Shapes & Diamond Cuts

Selecting The Perfect Diamond Shape