Diamonds are cherished as symbols of love and strength. Their hardness makes diamonds durable enough for everyday use and a popular option for engagement rings.
Online fine jewelry stores like www.harrychadent.com provide ready-to-ship pieces as well as a bespoke process which allows customers to customize their lab-grown diamond jewellery according to their personal preferences. Their customer-first model prioritizes transparency and education about the stones they sell.
Brilliance
Even the smallest diamond trinkets are dazzling. Few other gemstones can compare. The brilliance of a diamond is the amount of light it reflects and emits, which is why it is valued in jewelry. It also helps determine a diamond’s resale worth – the brighter it is, the more valuable the stone.
Most people are familiar with the 4Cs when buying a diamond: carat, color, clarity and cut. The radiance and beauty of a diamond are also determined by the shape, faceting, and symmetry of its facets.
A diamond’s overall shape is determined by its appearance. It may be round, princess, oval, pear, or heart-shaped. The faceted brilliant diamond has 57 facets which control how light enters the stone, passes through it and reflects back. The brilliance of a diamond is determined by the cutting, placement, and symmetry.
The polish or finish of a diamond also contributes to its brilliance. A diamond’s finish or polish must be free from scratches, chips, and other defects in order for it to reflect light.
The most common finishing is a high-polish, which creates a diamond with a lot of sparkle and shine. Some people prefer a matte finish, which is more organic and natural.
The shape of the ring influences how much light is reflected off the diamond. Halo and solitaire are two popular ring styles. The halo setting is a ring that surrounds a diamond with smaller stones. Often, it has a metal ring band. The halo is intended to enhance the shine of the centre stone and make it appear up to one carat bigger.
Carat
The Carat is the diamond’s weight measurement. It was introduced as a standard measurement in 1907 when the previous system, which used carob seeds, proved to be inaccurate. Although the carat is an important determining factor in a diamond’s value, it shouldn’t be your main focus when choosing a diamond. The deciding factors should be the balance of all four Cs and your overall vision for your jewelry piece.
A carat equals 200 milligrams. Because the size of a diamond is directly related to its price, a larger stone will always be more expensive than a smaller one of the same quality. However, a larger diamond isn’t necessarily better. You should choose the size that is most appropriate for your personal style and budget.
It is important that you understand that, while a carat of diamond weighs the exact same as any other gem, it is different from gold. A carat of a diamond is different than a karat which measures the purity in gold.
While the etymology of the word “carat” has its roots in a carob seed, most gemologists, appraisers and jewelers use it to distinguish it from the more commonly used karat.
A jeweler can get the most up-to date and accurate diamond pricing information by using a price sheet named Rap. This includes the per-carat rates for different shapes, colors, grades of clarity, and many other secondary characteristics. A jeweler will then make adjustments to the price based on the knowledge they have of the diamond.
In rings with multiple diamonds, it is the total carat mass that is used and not the size of each stone. This is reflected by the term TDW or CW (for “carat weight”) on the diamond certificate or ring label.
Cut
The cut of a stone refers to how it is polished and how the facets reflect light. This is one of most important characteristics to consider when buying a diamond. It will determine how much fire, brilliance and durability the stone has, as well its weight ratio and other factors.
A well-cut stone will shine more and be easier for you to maintain in the long run than a poorly-cut stone, which may become dull or cloudy. Look at the diamond in natural sunlight to see how it shines and sparkles.
If you want to make sure that the diamond you buy is of high quality, it’s best to consult an experienced jeweler. They can check the diamond’s certificate. A well-established gemological institute like GIA, AGS or EGL will provide a standard certificate with a thorough description of the diamond’s features and characteristics. These certificates are most trusted and accepted by jewelry retailers.
You can also contact an independent jewelry shop that offers diamonds of the highest standard at a fair price. You can also purchase your diamond from a certified online seller who will provide you with an honest evaluation and a certificate. A reputable diamond dealer can help you find a diamond to fit your budget as well as your personal style.
Color
Color is the second most important of the 4Cs, after cut. It is measured on a scale of D-to-Z. While we all strive for a clear white diamond, natural or lab-grown gems often have a yellow tint. These tinges are typically caused by trace elements that replace carbon atoms in the diamond lattice. These impurities may be harmless but they can also affect the value of a stone and change its appearance.
If you are shopping for a diamond with accent stones, it is important to consider color. Accent diamonds are often paired with larger center diamonds in halo and three-stone engagement rings, so it is essential that the accent stones match well with the color grade of the main diamond. To achieve this, it is best to look for accent diamonds that are within a couple color grades of the center diamond.
The color of a stone can also influence how it shines. A higher color grade will have more contrast between the bright and dark areas of a diamond and will give it a much more sparkling appearance. Some diamonds emit a faint glow when lit in certain conditions. This can be distracting, but it is also not uncommon for some people to find that they like the way these diamonds glow in certain settings.
Clarity
Diamonds are not flawless, and in fact few things in nature are. They have internal features known as inclusions and surface irregularities known as blemishes that can affect their appearance and value. The absence of these is referred to as clarity.
Many seasoned diamond buyers also consider the shape of the stone, as well as its proportions. Round brilliant diamonds are the most popular. Other popular shapes include baguette, emerald and cushion. Steep cuts are more expensive than rounder shapes because they focus on the clarity of the cut rather than the sparkling facets.