Choosing a Diamond
Buying an engagement ring is an important event for you and your fiancé, but it can be confusing.Should you go for a larger diamond or choose a smaller stone of higher quality? Is color an important consideration? How does the cut affect the stone? Is a solitaire diamond best, or is a ring with sidestones a better choice?
Before you buy a diamond engagement ring, take time to really understand the quality factors known as the 4Cs--color, clarity, cut, carat-so you feel comfortable juggling them to get just the right combination for you. Knowing how to juggle the 4Cs can enable you to achieve a high-budget look at a reasonable price
Cut
The cut of a diamond - its roundness, its depth and width, the uniformity of the facets - all determine a diamond's brilliance. Many gemologists consider cut the most important diamond characteristic because even if a diamond has perfect color and clarity, a diamond with a poor cut will have dulled brilliance. The width and depth have the greatest effect on how light travels within the diamond, and how it exits in the form of brilliance.
Too Deep: Light escapes out the sides causing the diamond to appear dark and dull.
Too Shallow: Light is lost out the bottom causing the diamond to lose brilliance.
Ideal Cut: Optimum amount of light is reflected back
It is fairly common to confuse a diamond's cut with its shape. The cut describes a diamond's light performance, dimensions and finish. Shape refers to the overall outline of the diamond when viewed from the top. Round is far and away the most popular diamond shape, followed by squared shapes such as princess, Asscher, and emerald.
Color
The best color for a diamond is NO color. A totally colorless diamond best allows white light to pass effortlessly through it and be dispersed as rainbows of color. While many diamonds may appear colorless to the untrained eye, the majority contain very slight traces of yellow and brown tones. When you look at them side by side with a jeweler, you can appreciate the simple beauty of a stone that has no underlying hue. The G.I.A. Report will guarantee your diamond color quality.
By rare accidents of nature, diamonds may occur in twelve other colors which are called Fancies. They are extremely rare and can be quite expensive.
Clarity
Most diamonds contain very tiny natural birthmarks known as inclusions. Inclusions interfere with the passage of light through the diamond and therefore effects the diamond\'s brilliance. Most inclusions require magnification to become visible. The fewer the inclusions the rarer the stone. The degree to which a diamond is free from these imperfections will determine the Clarity of the gem.
FL, IF - Flawless: No internal or external flaws. Internally Flawless: No internal flaws. Very rare and beautiful diamonds.
VVS1, VVS2 - Very, Very Slightly Included: Very difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. An excellent quality diamond.
VS1, VS2 - Very Slightly Included: Inclusions are not typically visible to the unaided eye. Less expensive than the VVS1 or VVS2 grades.
SI1, SI2 - Slightly Included: Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, and may be visible with the unaided eye. A good diamond value.
I1, I2, I3 - Included: SoKoBe does not carry diamonds of I-grade clarity.
Cost
Cost can be the most important aspect of your diamond purchase. Diamonds are priced by the PER CARAT basis. There are weight categories that will effect the price per carat for a specific quality diamond. As weight category increases so will price per carat. The weight categories are:
.70 - .89ct
.90 - .99 ct
1.00 - 1.49 ct
1.50 - 1.99 ct
2.00 - 2.99 ct
Certificates & appraisals
A Diamond Certificate is a document issued by a laboratory describing a diamond or jewelry product. There are various laboratories that grade gems and jewelry. A Diamond Certificate or report issues a "grade" indicating the physical properties of the Diamond "at the time of evaluation". A certificate is a document which retains its value over a long period of time, assuming the Diamond does not chip or is not otherwise altered.
There are various Laboratories that grade and report on a diamond's characteristics. The diamonds that are graded are popularly called "certified" or "certified diamonds", while actually these diamonds should be referred to as being accompanied by a grading report, or quality report. Shenoa sells diamonds that come with grading reports from the Gemological Institute of America, one of the most well known, as well as the Laboratories below:
| GIA | Gemological Institute of America |
|---|---|
| AGS | American Gem Society |
| IGI | International Gemological Institute |
| EGL | European Gemological Laboratory |
An Appraisal can be performed on a loose Diamond, a mounted stone, or jewelry. If the stone is not loose, the physical properties are estimated using various estimation techniques. Most importantly, an appraisal indicates the Dollar Value of the piece under consideration. Obviously, the Dollar Value can easily change considerably over a relatively short period of time. Appraisals are most often used for insurance purposes.
Many people make the mistake of using an retail appraiser to evaluate the purchase price of their Diamond. It is best to use a non-biased appraiser, that does professional analysis of jewelry. Appraisers that sell their own jewelry may be biased and should be avoided.
Sokobe employs GIA graduate gemologists to find and analyze jewelry that passes through it's inventory.
