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The Ring
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Groom: How To Buy A Diamond
Diamonds are the most famous of gems. Through the ages, the brilliant fire of diamonds has been prized as an enduring symbol of perfection. As the universal engagement gift it is has come to represent eternal love and commitment.
If so, scroll through this "Primer on Diamonds." You'll have all the knowledge you need to be confident in your purchasing decision.
Diamonds are graded according to a system created by the Gemological Institute of America. The four factors used to determine a diamond's value are: Cut, Carat, Color, and Clarity - referred to as the "4Cs."
THE FOUR C's
Cut - Many people confuse "Cut" with the "Shape" of a diamond. The "Shape" refers to the outline of the stone and is more a choice of preference rather than a choice affecting quality. Some of the more popular shapes are shown here. It is the Cut of a diamond that enables it to make the best use of light. Every diamond, regardless of it's shape, gets it brilliancy by cutting and polishing the diamond facets to allow the maximum amount of light that enters through its top to be reflected from facet to facet and then dispersed back through its top. Different diamond shapes require different cuts. Most diamonds are cut with 58 facets. Each facet in the diamond must be cut to a precise formula to reflect the maximum light and give the diamond it's sparkling beauty. If the cut is too deep or too shallow, the light is reflected through the sides or bottom of the stone, diminishing the sparkle. Diamonds are sometimes cut with a spread cut so that a smaller diamond will look larger. But this diamond has a shallow depth and a great percentage of light will be lost through the bottom. Don't be fooled by highly discounted stones for they are probably poorly cut.
Carat - The weight or size of a diamond is expressed in carats. One carat is divided into 100 "points," so that a diamond of 50 points weighs 0.50 carats (or 1/2 carat). Although size is the obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond, two diamonds of equal weight can have very different values because of the difference in cut, clarity and color.
Color - Diamonds, when cut acts like a prism, allowing light to pass through it and be transformed into a rainbow of colors. The best color for a white diamond is no color (colorless). The purest, colorless stone carries a "D" rating and the color scale goes down through the alphabet to a "Z" rating, designating a diamond with a strong yellow or brown hue. Diamonds rated "D", "E", or "F" carry a high price. The average stone bought carries an "I" or "J" grading for its color. Most diamonds worn in jewelry are not past the "M" rating. The more colorless a white diamond is the more rare and the more valuable it is.
Color ratings established by the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A) include:
D E F
Colorless
G H I J
Near Colorless
N O P Q R
Very Light Yellow
S T U V W X Y Z
Light Yellow
Besides colorless diamonds, there are twelve other colors called Fancies. These are yellows, pinks, blues, greens, and the very rare red diamonds. As their name implies they are quite expensive.
Clarity - This is the criteria that determines a diamond's purity. Most diamonds contain very tiny imperfections called "inclusions" (internal breaks or foreign bodies) and "blemishes" (surface flaws). Inclusions interfere with the dispersion of light and therefore the diamond's brilliance. The clarity of a diamond is determined by the number and location of flaws when viewed under 10x (power) magnification.
Clarity grades include the following categories:
FL -- Flawless, perfect outside & inside -- No inclusions visible even under 10x
IF -- Internally flawless, minor blemishes -- No inclusions visible even under 10x
VVS 1 & 2 -- Very, very small inclusions -- Extremely difficult to find even under 10x
VS 1 & 2 -- Very small inclusions -- Difficult to find under 10x
SI 1,2 & 3 -- Small inclusions -- Noticeable under 10x
I 1,2 & 3 -- Imperfect -- Flaws visible to unaided eye
The fewer and smaller the imperfections, the more valuable and rare the diamond.
Whenever possible, get a Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.) certificate or a European Gemological Laboratory (E.G.L) Certificate of the diamond you are buying. These laboratories are considered the international authorities on diamond grading. A Diamond Grading Report issued by the GIA or EGL is the ultimate guarantee of the quality of your diamond. If you cannot get a certificate, get a money-back guarantee in writing and have a G.I.A. gemologist appraise or evaluate your diamond.
 
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