| When setting out to purchase a piece of diamond jewellery, it helps to understand the basic factors which affect the quality and price of your diamond. The four factors are COLOUR, CLARITY, CUT and CARAT weight. |
| We are sometimes asked- Is bigger always better ? |
The answer is NO. Given the choice between a larger 'yellow' diamond with lots of inclusions, compared with a smaller, white diamond with better clarity, it's better to opt for quality rather than quantity. This is particularly relevant for important pieces of diamond jewellery like engagement rings. |
| 1. Diamond Colour- The less colour, the better (and more expensive) the diamond.* |
| Diamond colour is graded on a scale of D to S, with D representing 'colourless' through to S, representing Very Light colour (yellow). CLICK HERE for more about diamond colour. |
| 2. Diamond Clarity- The higher the clarity, the better (and more expensive) the diamond. |
| Almost all diamonds have naturally occurring minute crystals, cleavages and small impurities called inclusions. Diamond clarity is graded on a scale range from Flawless (F) through VS to Inclusions (I). CLICK HERE for more about diamond clarity. |
| 3. Diamond Cut- There are several shapes of diamond available, the most popular being Brilliant Cut. |
| Other cuts are baguette cut, emerald cut, marquise cut, pear, heart and the Princess cut. CLICK HERE for more about diamond cut. |
| 4. Diamond Carat weight- A Carat is 200 milligrams in weight. |
| Carat is a measure of weight- A carat is divided into 100 points, so that a 1/2 carat diamond can also be referred to as a 50 point diamond. As the carat weight increases, the price increases dramatically. For example, a 100 point diamond might cost three times as much as a 50 point diamond, all other factors (colour, clarity and cut) being equal. CLICK HERE for more about diamond carat weight. |
| * There are also some other colours of diamonds, such as pink, brown, green and even black, called 'fancies', which are quite rare and therefore more expensive. CLICK HERE for some examples of famous diamonds from DeBeers. |
1. Diamond Colour- The less colour, the better (and more expensive) the diamond.
Diamonds graded D, E or F are considered 'Exceptional to Rare White'. It is extremeley difficult to distinguish between the very subtle differences in these colour grades, as in the face-up position D, E and F diamonds all appear colourless.
Diamonds in the G, H, I and J color range are considered 'White to Slightly Tinted White". They have very subtle traces of colour when viewed face-down, but generally appear colourless when viewed face-up.
Diamonds in the K, L and M range are regarded as 'Tinted White". These diamonds show faint colour in both the face-down and face-up positions. Diamonds in the N through S range are considered 'Tinted Colour ' and have noticeable colour in both the face-down and face-up positions.
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"Thank you so much for designing such unique wedding rings - you have exceeded our expections- thanks for adding to our special day" -Robert and Sharon
2. Diamond Clarity- The higher the clarity, the better (and more expensive) the diamond.
Diamonds, like all natural materials, have natural blemishes in their make-up. These tiny faults, or inclusions, are formed by minerals or fractures while the diamond was forming in the earth over millions of years. When light enters a diamond, it is reflected and refracted out. If there is anything disrupting the flow of light in the diamond, such as an inclusion, a proportion of the light reflected will be lost.
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3. Diamond Cut- There are several shapes of diamond available, the most popular being Brilliant Cut.
The Brilliant Cut is a round shape, which has 57 facets, each designed to maximise the total reflection of light. Much of a diamond's brilliance is controlled by the quality of it's cut (proportions, polish, and symmetry). Subtle and minute dimensional differences, perhapes even of half a millimeter or less, can make the difference between a truly brilliant diamond and one which is rather dull and listless. Although the brilliant cut is the most common, there are several other shapes available, such as emerald cut, pear, heart, oval and marquise, as shown in the diagram below-
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4. Diamond Carat weight- A Carat is 200 milligrams in weight.
The Chart below shows an APPROXIMATION of the relative size and carat weight of Brilliant cut diamonds. Please note that the size displayed on your screen may vary depending of screen size and pixel resolution !
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