| Often when purchasing a diamond the different | | | | absolute best, by all means purchase a 'D' colour; |
| sizes, letters and names which represent these | | | | but don't be surprised if a lower colour grade |
| factors can be confusing. Our diamond guide | | | | looks just as good. |
| covers each of the 5 areas concerning diamonds | | | | Clarity |
| so you can be sure of purchasing your perfect | | | | Most diamonds have imperfections also called |
| diamond. The price and also the quality of a | | | | inclusions. The clarity grade is based on how many |
| diamond usually depends on 5 different factors: | | | | and how pronounced these inclusions are. Put |
| the colour, the cut, the clarity the weight and the | | | | simply, the fewer blemishes the more expensive |
| shape of the diamond. | | | | the diamond. Can you see the difference between |
| Colour | | | | an 'IF' (flawless) clarity and a 'VS1' clarity? Without |
| Diamonds are graded using a colour scale that | | | | the help of a magnifying glass NO! (Even with a |
| ranges from 'D' (completely colourless) to 'Z' | | | | magnifying glass most of our customers struggle |
| (tinted yellow). First Class Diamonds do not use | | | | to see any of the inclusions in a VS1 clarity |
| diamonds with tints below 'J' as they tend to look | | | | diamond). You can buy a flawless or a VVS |
| dull with subsequent letters, not offering you the | | | | graded diamond but the visual appearance of the |
| level of quality expected. The higher in the colour | | | | diamond remains the same. You can start to |
| the brighter the diamond and this is the part of | | | | notice a difference in the brilliance of a diamond |
| your choice were your money is best spent. The | | | | when you look at an SI clarity diamond with the |
| first three colours 'D' 'E' 'F' are colourless and are | | | | I1 to I3 clarity diamonds showing a noticeable |
| only recommended for the purist as they you can | | | | reduction in beauty. Most people will not be able to |
| usually only tell the difference between an | | | | tell the difference between an 'IF' and 'VS2' clarity |
| colourless diamond and those ranging from G - J | | | | diamond when mounted. Although there is an |
| when compared side-by-side. Colours 'G' 'H' 'I' are | | | | undeniable attraction in owning a flawless diamond |
| near colourless . They are easily the colours we | | | | a VS2 clarity diamond looks just as good. |
| recommend for most clients. Colours 'J' show | | | | Weight |
| very faint colour and are recommended for the | | | | The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. |
| budget conscious. | | | | One carat (Crt.) Equals 1/5th of a gram. A carat |
| It is really pretty simple. The closer to 'D' you go, | | | | is divided in 100 points so that a diamond of 50 |
| the more expensive the diamond. Can you see | | | | points equals 1/2 a carat. The larger diamonds are |
| the difference between a 'D' colour and a 'K' | | | | much rarer and their value increases exponentially |
| colour? In fact the 'K' colour will look pretty dull in | | | | with size. A diamond of 1/2 a carat has a |
| comparison to a D. However, if you look at 2 | | | | approximate diameter of 5.2mm , one of 1 carat |
| diamond rings from a distance, it becomes a lot | | | | 6.5mm and one of 2 carats 8.2mm. |
| more difficult to tell the difference between them. | | | | Although the weight of a 0.50 carat is half that of |
| Most people will not be able to tell the difference | | | | a carat diamond the size difference is only 25 fully |
| between a ' E' and a 'J' colour when mounted. If | | | | compliant with the Kimberley process. |
| you're the type of person who wants the | | | | |