When buying a diamond it is important to do your research before you forfeit a large amount of your money. To make your journey enjoyable and hassle free we would like to offer consultations to assist you in the decision making process. At Terrace Showcase Jewellers we ensure that you gain exceptional value. At the same time we strongly encourage consumers to do their own research and gain an understanding on what it is they are after. As such we have prepared this guide, wherein you will be taught the skills to ensure that you are purchasing a diamond according to your own standards.
That is very much up to you. Some people consider one or two months’ salary a good guide for an engagement ring. The important thing to remember is that unlike a wedding dress, a diamond engagement ring is worn everyday of your life so you would be wise to choose something that will continue to give pleasure year after year, because a diamond really is forever.
To determine a diamond’s quality and worth you begin with the 4 C’s: Clarity, Cut, Colour and Carat weight. These are the traditional units of measure when looking at this precious stone, however, you must add one more imperative ‘C’ to the list and that is Certification.
The cut of a stone is not relating to the shape, but refers to the way the cutter has formed it to best ensure that light bounces within the stone and back out through the top. If it has a defective cut (too long or too short) the light refracts on the inside and falls out down the bottom. This decreases the brightness and lustre of the stone. A well cut stone is neither exceedingly long nor shallow, it is luminous and will always dazzle even when dirty.The grading system varies from Ideal Cut to Good and lastly, Poor Cut. With round diamonds, it is suggested to never purchase below ‘Very Good’ and ‘Good’ in all other shapes. Again, the better cut stone the more it will cost.
Diamonds come in every colour, however, coloured stones are less desired as it diminishes the light's ability to dazzle as it does in colourless diamonds despite the cut. Unless, they are ‘Fancies’ which are rare diamond so unusually strong colour. The grade used to determine the desirability of colour in a diamond is measured from D (colourless) to Z (coloured yellow). The clear diamonds are the most prized and are the most expensive. It is recommended while purchasing a diamond you do not choose one less than grade H.
The method of measuring the carat of a diamond is by weight. One carat is 0.2 grams and can be further divided into 100 points which is used to determine the lower carat stones. For instance, a stone with 25 points is 0.25 carats. For a more visual indication of what this means, is the smaller the stone the lower in carat weight and the larger the stone, the higher the carat and price.
However, if this is not enough, you can go beyond the highest level of quality and purchase a ‘hearts and arrows’ diamond. This is the perfect diamond. It is the perfect cut which enhances the way the light bounces in and out of the top of the diamond. When looking through the telescope from the top you will see arrowheads lining up with the shaft and when looking down on the bottom you will find perfectly shaped hearts. There are many who boast of having the perfectly cut diamond, however though there may be the appearance of hearts and arrows, they can be misleading.
Be aware that GIA’s highest standard of diamond does not automatically constitute your stone being hearts and arrows. It may state on the card that it is hearts and arrows, however only certificates from HRD Antwerp Labs will provide the guarantee that your diamond is in fact true hearts and arrows.
At minimum it is suggested that you adhere to the 4 C’s and modify your standards according to your budget. Always ask questions to your jeweller, in order to ensure that you are getting what you pay for.