It’s time to buy a diamond.
A very emotional, yet practical decision needs to be made. You must feel confident in your decision-making and the only way to achieve confidence is with knowledge.
So, let’s begin with the gems themselves…
By now you have heard of “The Four C’s”, but let’s clearly walk you through the steps for confident purchasing since equally important is the Fifth C… Cost.
Every slight variance in Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight does affect the Fifth C. I believe the purchase of a diamond is not about the price, but the right combination of the 4 C’s to give you the most Value for the Price and to assure that your loved one is proud and excited to show everyone what a dazzling, special piece of jewelry is on her/his finger.
You should be consulted by a Graduate or Certified Gemologist on the best and most efficient way to buy a diamond. Beautiful. Rare. Cherished. Each diamond is unique and is a miracle of time, place and change.
And each has specific qualities that establish its value.
Until the middle of the twentieth century, there was no agreed-upon standard by which diamonds could be judged. GIA created the first, and now globally accepted standard for describing diamonds: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight.
Today, the 4Cs of Diamond Quality is the universal method for assessing the quality of any diamond, anywhere in the world. And today we now have another great choice of Laboratory Grown Diamonds.
Understand the 4 Cs of Diamond Quality
This basic knowledge will not only unlock the mystery of a diamond’s quality, it will help you understand a diamond’s value and price.
- Diamond Color: In most diamonds, the term actually refers to the absence of color. The less color in the stone, the more desirable and valuable it is. Some of these differences are not visible to the naked eye, but directly impact the overall quality and price of the stone.
- Diamond Clarity: This measures the amount, size and placement of internal ‘inclusions,’ and external ‘blemishes.’ Grades run from ‘Flawless,’ with virtually no imperfections, to ‘Included,’ which contain a significant number of imperfections.
- Diamond Cut: This does not refer to a diamond’s shape, but to the proportion and arrangement of its facets and the quality of workmanship. The amount of brilliance, sparkle and fire in a diamond from ‘Excellent’ to ‘Poor.’
- Diamond Carat: This refers to a diamond’s weight. Generally speaking,
the higher the carat weight, the more expensive the stone. Two diamonds of equal carat weight, however, can have very different quality and price when the other three Cs are considered.
The Difference between Laboratory Grown VS Mined Diamonds
Believe it or not, there is no difference. Both the mined and Lab grown diamond are the same. The mined diamond takes years to form with high heat and pressure miles down in the earth, LG diamonds are formed in a high heat-high pressure chamber within weeks. They both start with carbon so they both have the same chemical composition. They also have the same hardness and refractive index. No two gems ever have the same refractive index, which is what a gemologist measures to determine a gem’s identity.
The biggest difference is the price. There is no way to look at either and tell which is Mined vs Lab Grown. A LG diamond of equal 4c’s will cost about 80-90% less.
Please also understand that LG is not considered a synthetic since it has the same properties. Any synthetic is Lab created not Lab grown (i.e. Cubic Zirconium) They both use the same GIA 4C’s analyzation.
The best advice is to insist on Certifications on buying either and of course only go to a jeweler you trust has a good reputation and has the knowledge to guide you to make the best decisions for your everlasting ring.
