| > | | | | When a rough diamond is cut and polished it |
| Buying a diamond can be a very challenging | | | | obtains its sparkle and shine. If a diamond is |
| undertaking these days. There is an abundance of | | | | poorly cut, the light that enters the diamond from |
| information available to consumers, but not all of it | | | | above will leak out of the sides and bottom of |
| is accurate. This is probably one of the most | | | | the stone, and the diamond will not have the |
| important considerations to make when buying a | | | | optimum amount of sparkle or fireno matter |
| diamond. There is alot more to diamonds and their | | | | what colour or clarity the diamond is. |
| prices than just learning about the diamond's cut, | | | | Excellent and Ideal Cut Diamonds have been cut |
| colour, clarity, and carat weight. Every diamond is | | | | to precise standards to display the beauty of the |
| unique and the price of diamonds can vary | | | | diamond. Excellent and Ideal Cut Diamonds have |
| greatly. | | | | perfection in proportion, symmetry and polish and |
| What Influences The Price of Diamonds? | | | | they will always display the maximum brilliance, |
| Diamonds are cut in a range of shapes, sizes and | | | | fire & scintillation. |
| qualities all of which influence the price. Diamonds | | | | Excellent and Ideal Cut Diamonds have properly |
| that have an excellent or very good cut grade will | | | | proportioned facets, excellent symmetry & polish. |
| reflect maximum fire, brilliance and sparkle and | | | | Since 97.5% of a diamond's brilliance is controlled |
| the price of these diamonds will be higher than | | | | by the quality of the cut Excellent and Ideal cut |
| diamonds with a good cut grade. | | | | diamonds obtain higher prices. The Diamond Cut |
| The Shape of Diamonds | | | | Grade is made up of three main controlling |
| Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds are the most popular | | | | factors - Proportion, Symmetry and Polish. The |
| diamonds for diamond engagement rings followed | | | | light return of the diamond more commonly |
| by Princess Cut Diamonds. Any diamond that is | | | | known as sparkle or brilliance is also an important |
| not Round in shape is known as a Fancy Shape | | | | factor but it is governed by the proportions and |
| Diamond. Asscher, Cushion, Emerald, Heart, | | | | symmetry of the diamond cut. |
| Marquise, Oval, Pear, Princess, Radiant and Trilliant | | | | Diamonds that have a Very good cut grade are |
| cut diamonds are all fancy shape diamonds. | | | | able to disperse a good amount of brilliance |
| Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds are the most | | | | because they reflect most of the light that enters |
| expensive mainly because when cutting a Round | | | | them. Very Good cut diamonds have proportions |
| Brilliant Cut diamond there is a greater loss in | | | | which often overlap and are comparable to |
| rough which has to be factored into the price. | | | | Excellent cut diamonds but just differ slightly in |
| Another reason why Round Brilliant Cut diamonds | | | | one area or measurement. Very Good cut |
| are priced higher is because they take longer to | | | | diamonds are also highly valued. |
| polish and cut than other diamond shapes and the | | | | Diamonds are Sold By Carat Weight |
| demand for Round Brilliant Cut diamonds is | | | | Carat is a unit of measure not size. Two |
| greater than all the other diamond shapes. | | | | diamonds that have the same carat weight may |
| Clarity Influences Diamond Prices The Most | | | | appear to be different sizes depending on how |
| The clarity grade of a diamond influences the | | | | the diamond is cut. Some diamonds will have |
| price obtained more than any of the other | | | | extra weight on the bottom part of the diamond, |
| factors. Diamonds that have high clarity grades of | | | | the pavilion, or a thick girdle and therefore will |
| VVS1 or VVS2 have extremely hard to find | | | | appear smaller visually. |
| inclusions even with a jewellers 10x loupe. These | | | | Diamonds are sold by their carat weight. The |
| diamonds command a much higher price than SI1 | | | | heavier a diamond weighs once it is cut the higher |
| or SI2 clarity graded diamonds because they are | | | | the price per carat. A diamond cutter always try |
| almost pure and they are much rarer to find. The | | | | to retain as much carat weight and as few |
| rarest of diamonds have an Internally Flawless | | | | inclusions when cutting a diamond in order to |
| Diamonds -IF or Loupe Clean clarity grade and | | | | obtain the best possible price per carat. |
| these diamonds fetch premium prices. | | | | Sometimes the cut of a diamond might be |
| Colour Influences Diamond Prices | | | | sacrificed in order to produce a diamond with a |
| Colour is another important factor that influences | | | | higher carat weight. Hundreds of tons of rock and |
| the price of a diamond. Diamonds are graded for | | | | ore must be processed to uncover a single |
| their colour alphabetically starting at D colour going | | | | one-carat gem quality diamond. |
| down to Z colour. Diamonds that are colourless or | | | | 4C's - Cut, Colour, Clarity & Carat |
| show the least amount of colour obtain the | | | | After diamonds have been sorted into their |
| highest prices along with fancy coloured diamonds | | | | different shapes they are then assessed with |
| such as pink, red, green and blue diamonds. | | | | what is known as The 4C's- The Cut, Colour, |
| Diamonds that display the least amount of colour | | | | Clarity and Carat weight. These individual factors |
| are known as exceptional white. Exceptional white | | | | are all combined resulting in the price of the |
| diamonds includes D and E colour graded | | | | diamond. The price of diamonds is also influenced |
| diamonds. Rare white is the next colour grade and | | | | by international market conditions such as |
| this includes F and G colour diamonds. H colour | | | | exchange rates, supply and demand, fashion |
| diamonds are graded as white and I and J colour | | | | trends as well as inflation. |
| diamonds are known as slightly tinted white | | | | Diamonds, just like your marriage, are an |
| diamonds. | | | | investment, and have been an investment device |
| Cut Influences Sparkle, Shine & The Price of | | | | for several thousand years. Diamonds are a |
| Diamonds | | | | symbol of love and commitment so buying the |
| Did you know that if the diamond is poorly cut, | | | | perfect diamond for an engagement ring or that |
| the colour and clarity can not make up for it? | | | | special occasion is a crucially important decision. |