| The most common of engagement traditions
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| | color grade, which is extremely
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| is the groom presenting the bride to be
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| | extraordinary.
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| with an engagement ring. Most commonly,
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| | E: Colorless. An expert, still considered
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| the engagement ring is a diamond ring.
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| | a rare diamond, can detect only minute
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| While diamonds are the preferred precious
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| | traces of color.
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| stones, diamonds are not the only gems
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| | F: Colorless. Slight color detected by an
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| used in engagement rings.
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| | expert gemologist, but still considered a
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| The most important reason diamond rings
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| | "colorless" grade and a high-quality
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| are so popular is because they are the
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| | diamond.
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| most expensive of gems; therefore,
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| | Another important factor determining the
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| considered the most precious. The diamond
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| | price of a diamond is its cut. As any of
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| jewelry retail market is a $30 billion
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| | the other characteristics cut is equally
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| market with over $5 billion of it spent
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| | difficult to judge for the untrained eye.
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| on engagement rings in America.
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| | The grading certificate that normally
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| To the untrained eye, most diamonds look
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| | comes with the diamond will provide you a
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| equally beautiful. Most people evaluate
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| | good idea. Independent testing
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| diamonds based on its size, shape, and
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| | institutions, such as the GIA, provide
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| price. A lower price typically means
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| | certificates with a diamond's grading
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| lower gem quality, not necessarily a
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| | from excellent to poor. Naturally, a
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| bargain.
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| | certified diamond means a larger price
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| Estimating diamond quality requires skill
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| | tag.
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| and experience. It requires grading a
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| | In simple terms, the clarity of a diamond
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| ring based on a combination of
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| | refers to its purity. Most diamonds have
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| characteristics such as cut, clarity,
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| | minuscule imperfections called
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| color and carat weight. Such
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| | "inclusions". A flawless (no inclusions)
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| characteristics are called the "4 Cs". A
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| | diamond is extremely rare and valuable.
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| diamond's weight is measured in carats.
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| | At the same time, diamonds riddled with
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| One carat is one fifth of a gram.
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| | inclusions are less expensive. Clarity is
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| Generally diamonds range from 0.25 up to
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| | graded from "flawless" (FL) to
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| several carats. The largest cut diamond
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| | "imperfect" (I1 to I2). Most diamonds
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| in the world is 530.20 carats. Sorry, it
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| | fall between those with very, very small
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| is not fore sale. It is called the
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| | inclusions (VVS1) to rocks with slightly
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| Cullinan and kept in the Tower of London.
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| | larger inclusions (S1). If you can
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| The Cullinan is set in the sceptre of
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| | compromise on clarity, you are going to
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| King Edward VII.
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| | be able to save. To verify a diamond's
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| In addition to considering weight when
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| | clarity, examine the laboratory
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| valuing a diamond, color is an important
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| | certificate.
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| factor. Colorless diamonds are rarest and
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| | If money is tight but you must have a
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| they are the most expensive. Diamonds
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| | diamond ring, stay away from the big name
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| with a hint of yellow are considered less
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| | jewelry stores. Brand name more often
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| pure, and they are less expensive.
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| | than not comes with a larger price tag.
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| Diamond colors are coded from D to Z. A
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| | Buying wholesale may be a viable option.
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| through D grade diamonds are the most
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| | As a rule, the wholesaler's core business
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| expensive and Z are the least expensive.
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| | is selling diamonds to retailers, but
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| Diamonds graded D-F are considered
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| | they also sell to the public. Because
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| colorless and they are the most
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| | they do not advertise in the same venues
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| expensive. Reputable jewelry stores,
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| | as retail jewelry stores, you have to
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| usually, do not sell K thru Z grade
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| | seek them out. It is easier to find
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| diamonds.
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| | wholesalers than you think since many of
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| The most valuable color grades:
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| | them are listed as diamond merchants in
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| A - D: Absolutely colorless. The highest
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| | the phone book.
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