Gemstone Jewelry Or Diamond Engagement Rings - What You Must Know Before You Buy

There is something very special about diamonds. Perhaps it's their ability to reflect light in exciting ways. They can create a thrill which can only be fully satisfied through ownership. However, purchasing a diamond can test the nerves of even the most astute buyer - what do you look for? What do the terms mean? What makes one diamond worth more than another?

Here is a short aide-memoir to the vital points in diamond grading. knowing some of the terminology will assist you when you discuss with the diamond dealer exactly what you want, and this should ensure that you get the best value for your money.

Diamond appraisers look for four qualities in a diamond when discerning its value. Commonly called the '4 Cs' they are: Cut, Clarity, Carat and Color.

If you are planning on using the diamonds for diamond engagement rings, all these things must be understood.

The CUT

Dealers refer to cut clarity carat and color when discussing the qualities of the diamond and its value. The first refers to the quality of the cut - affecting the brilliance of the diamond - the other refers to the actual shape of the diamond. Diamonds come in all shapes and sizes.

The most familiar are: round, oval, pear (teardrop shaped), heart, princess (square shaped), Emerald (rectangular shaped), marquise (football shaped) and round. It's the round diamond that will radiate the most brilliance. The brilliance of the diamond is directly related to its ability to reflect light.

It is in the skill of the cutter to create the facets which will reflect the light and therefore the brilliance. Beware of diamonds cut to maintain a higher carat weight while sacrificing the cutting of a good angle as this will dramatically reduce the brilliance.

The CLARITY

Diamonds from natural sources are subject to individual flaws including trace minerals and scratches. A truly flawless diamond is almost impossible to come by. While these flaws are often not visible to the naked eye, they affect the light reflecting qualities of the diamond which affects the overall brilliance.

The notation for the clarity of the diamond follows the following gradings: Flawless, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, SI3, I1, I2 and I3.

The CARAT Weight

The weight of the diamond is referred to as a number of carats. Sometimes a carat is called 100 points. It follows that half a carat is 50 points.

An expensive diamond will be larger than the cheaper one. The rarity value of larger diamonds causes them to increase in cost significantly over their smaller brethren. a single diamond weighing one carat will cost much more than a number of smaller diamonds weighing one carat in total.

The COLOR

The color of a diamond is rated on an alphabetical scale from D to Z. A typical 'white' diamond should be as colorless as possible - a rating of 'D' being the rarest and most desirable. The more yellow the diamond the less its value, so when choosing a diamond go for one as white as possible or as colorless as possible which you will find in the range D to J.

Diamonds with a color rating beyond Z contain some famous diamonds such as the Blue Hope. When setting out to purchase a diamond please remember that these four characteristics are of equal importance and the diamond should be assessed bearing these things in mind.

inevitably there has to be compromise and therefore it is important to decide which of the four characteristics is the most important to you.

In summary - these are some of the things to remember:

    * Is the stone to be incorporated into a piece of jewelry?
    * Do you want a single diamond or a bunch of loose diamonds?
    * Prioritize your requirements

Diamonds or other stones might be used when creating sterling silver jewelry, but this knowledge will still have value. In any event, a diamond necklace should be a work of art, and very special.