| A diamond's price is directly related to the | | | | determined through the use of complicated |
| combination of the five C's. Diamond prices | | | | formulas, through tables as well as through |
| are determined first by adding the cost of | | | | reliance on expertise and experience. |
| the rough diamond, the cost of cutting the | | | | |
| diamond, and all other costs necessary to | | | | Â Cut of Diamond |
| turn the rough diamond into a marketable | | | | |
| diamond. Depending on the importance of the | | | | Cut and proportions play an important role |
| diamond, an independent company may be called | | | | since they make a lower quality diamond look |
| into certify the grade of the diamond based | | | | good to the eye and they sharply reduces the |
| on color, cut, clarity carat and cost. | | | | price of high investment quality diamonds. |
| | | | |
| Â Carat of Diamond | | | | Cut is also the characteristic that is most |
| | | | neglected by diamond salespeople in the |
| The same principle applies at the dividing | | | | effort of making a sale. If the diamond is |
| line for 2 and 3 carat diamonds etc.-as the | | | | not well cut a fact which reduces the price |
| price increases in leaps with each complete | | | | of the diamond, the seller will emphasize the |
| and full carat unit. Price jumps for full and | | | | lower price rather than discuss the improper |
| numerically "round" "stages" are also applied | | | | proportions. |
| to diamonds of lesser weights, i.e., a 50 | | | | |
| points diamond vs. a 49 points diamond is | | | | Notice, however, that certain tolerances |
| more valuable weight per weight by being a | | | | apply and the diamond with good overall cut |
| "full" 1/2 carat (there are 100 'points' in | | | | is definitely acceptable. |
| one carat. Thus, e.g., 0.50 or, 1/2 carat is | | | | |
| equal to 50 points). | | | | Â Clarity of Diamond |
| | | | |
| Â Color of Diamond | | | | Clarity is a term used to describe the |
| | | | absence or presence of flaws inside or on the |
| Color also plays an important role in | | | | surface of a diamond or other gemstone. A |
| determining a diamonds value. The price of a | | | | perfect stone with perfect clarity, or |
| diamond varies quite sharply with color. As a | | | | clearness, is rare, and most flaws that do |
| rough guide, depending on market conditions, | | | | exist in jewelry grade diamonds cannot be |
| if a diamond with certain characteristics and | | | | seen without looking at the gems through a |
| weight of color "H" were worth 100 units of | | | | jeweler's magnifying loupe |
| currency another with the same | | | | |
| characteristics but of color "F" (two color | | | | Â Cost of Diamond |
| levels higher) would be worth approximately | | | | |
| 130 units, while one with color "J" (two | | | | The cost of buying diamonds can vary |
| color levels lower) would be worth 80. Moves | | | | considerably. |
| in clarity grades will affect the price in a | | | | |
| similar manner. | | | | Of course the difficulty with buying diamonds |
| | | | online is the uncertainty that you will get |
| Â | | | | what you pay for, and how do you know you can |
| | | | trust the seller or dealer? |
| As the combinations of clarity, cut and color | | | | |
| increases in "total score" -- their effect on | | | | It is important therefore that you educate |
| price becomes greater. However, due to the | | | | yourself very well with the various aspects |
| numerous different possible combinations of | | | | of diamonds that you need to make an informed |
| Clarity, Color and Cut grading for each Carat | | | | purchase. |
| weight size the price of each stone is | | | | |