| Diamond Facts | | | | clarity, look to see if there are dark spots inside |
| The first diamonds were mined in India, more | | | | the diamond. |
| than 2800 years ago. The diamonds that we find | | | | How to Buy a Diamond based on Carats: Larger |
| today are all extremely old. In fact, most are 900 | | | | diamonds cost more than smaller diamonds, even |
| million years old or more, with the oldest known | | | | if the total carats of the diamonds are the same. |
| diamond being 3.2 billion years old. Like snowflakes, | | | | For example, a single one carat diamond will cost |
| each diamond is entirely unique. There are no two | | | | you more than three diamonds set in a ring that |
| diamonds that are exactly the same. | | | | add up to one carat. This is because larger |
| | | | diamonds are much more rare to find. When |
| The "4 C's" | | | | diamonds are cut, they lose about half their size. |
| Everyone has many things to consider when | | | | How to Buy a Diamond based on Color: The |
| determining how to buy a diamond. All around the | | | | actual color of a diamond is a personal preference. |
| world, jewelers use the "4 C's" as a way of | | | | But diamonds that are colorless, known as white |
| describing the value of a diamond. If you want to | | | | diamonds are the most rare and therefore cost |
| learn how to buy a diamond, you need to learn | | | | the most. Diamonds also come in different |
| exactly what the 4 C's are, and how each aspect | | | | shades, including yellow, green, blue and pink, |
| contributes to the value of the diamond. | | | | among others. |
| The 4 C's are Cut, Clarity, Carats and Color. | | | | Certificates and Appraisals |
| How to Buy a Diamond based on Cut: The cut of | | | | In addition to understanding what to look for in |
| a diamond describes how an artisan angles the | | | | regards to the 4 C's when learning how to buy a |
| gemstone to best reflect light through the | | | | diamond, you should also learn how to read |
| diamond, causing it to sparkle. A quality cut brings | | | | certificates that describe details about the |
| out the beauty of a diamond and makes it more | | | | unmounted diamond and perhaps have any |
| valuable, while a poorly cut diamond will sell for | | | | diamond you are interested in professionally |
| less because it isn't as brilliant or shiny. | | | | appraised by an independent organization. You |
| How to Buy a Diamond based on Clarity: The | | | | may not want to accept the appraisal done by |
| clarity of a diamond refers to how clear the | | | | the jeweler for the simple fact that they are |
| diamond is when you look through it. A perfect | | | | biased and may appraise the diamond for slightly |
| diamond is rare; most have inclusions and flaws, | | | | higher than it's actual worth in order to gain more |
| although many cannot be seen without | | | | money for the sale of the diamond. |
| magnification. When looking at a diamond for | | | | |