Buying a Diamond: Where & What To Search For
For hundreds of years, diamonds have been given to mark special occasions such as a birthday, engagement or anniversary. Traditionally, this stone has been the preferred gemstone for engagement rings due to its pure white color and timeless appeal. While most people are familiar with rings that include stone settings, slowly, more and more consumers are becoming interested in purchasing loose diamonds to upgrade existing jewelry or to embellish a custom ring. Considering the dangers of buying a diamond online, make time to visit local jewelers in your area to find out more about purchasing a quality stone. If you prefer buying a diamond online, make sure you are familiar with the 4-Cs: cut, clarity, color and carat.
Why Choose A Loose Diamond
Rather than purchase a ring with a stone setting, many individuals prefer to select a loose stone to use with an existing piece of jewelry or ring. In some cases, a loose stone is needed to replace a damaged stone or to update an old piece of jewelry.
About Diamonds
If you plan to purchase a diamond, be sure to select a stone that is a quality grade to ensure you are making a purchase worth the investment. Quality diamond stones are certified based on each stone’s cut, clarity, color and carat. These measurements are used to place a stone on a scale that denotes a diamond’s overall quality – from poor to ideal.
• Diamond Cut
Cut refers to a diamond’s outer surface or reflective qualities. Diamonds can be cut in a variety of ways and each cutting method encourages the play of light over the diamond’s surface.
• Diamond Clarity
The term clarity refers to a stone’s transparency. As diamonds are made via a natural process, they sometimes include small blemishes or discolorations. Some stones are also damaged during the cutting process and may have inclusions such as bubbles or scratches.
• Diamond Carat Weight
Diamond stones are measured by carat weight, which denotes the size of a diamond. Quarter-carat stones are fairly small, while 2-carats stones are a larger and more visible option.
• Diamond Color
While most diamonds are a clear icy white color, diamond color refers to the presence of color or cloudiness within the stone. While rare colored diamonds are available in yellow and pink tints, most diamonds are a crystal white color. Color is graded on a scale ranging from D-Z with D denoting a flawless, colorless diamond.
• Shape
The shape of a diamond refers to the general appearance of the stone. Diamonds come in a variety of styles including round, oblong, rectangular and other shapes. If you are interested in a round stone, you may prefer a round or circle cut diamond. If you’d like to opt for something different, try an oblong shape such as an oval, marquise, cushion or flower cut. If you prefer hard lines and edges, you may like a rectangular cut like an emerald, princess cut or radiant shape.
Where To Buy
Diamonds can be purchased from a variety of locations - from discount jewelry sellers to local jewelers to traveling jewelry showcases to the Internet. Regardless of where you choose to purchase your loose stone, be sure to inspect it for the 4-Cs and make sure it has the proper certificates to prove its authenticity.
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