Common Considerations When Buying A Diamond

Looking for a gift she’ll never forget? Diamonds are forever, but only when they’re supremely cut and offering a high-quality shimmer. If you’re interested in buying the best possible jewelry for your lady friend, here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a rock.

Shape

Diamonds come in a variety of shapes, including ovals, pears and hearts. What shape you’ll need will depend on where and what kind of diamond jewelry you’re purchasing. For example, diamond pendants tend to be princesses or emeralds, but diamond earrings are almost exclusively round or marquise. Diamonds NYC tend to have rounded edges; others are sharper and more rectangular.

Cut

The dimensions of a diamond matter less than its proportions. Scintillation only occurs when the facets (sides) are in perfect harmony with its girdle (circumference) and cutlet (tip), so you don’t want anything cut too shallowly or too deeply. Those will both negatively impact the shine. Before you lay down any money on a diamond, make sure you’re getting a balanced, well-proportioned stone.

Color

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) ranks diamonds on a color scale from D to Z, with D being completely colorless and Z being yellowish-white. You should look for something as high up the alphabet as possible. The less color in the diamond, the more light can pass through it and reflect back.

Clarity

It should go without saying that a good diamond is without scratches, dents and blemishes, but sometimes they aren’t visible to the naked eye. You’ll need to look at the stone under 10x magnification to be sure of its smoothness and clean surface area. Also beware of “inclusions,” or tiny flaws that occur naturally on the facets of a diamond. These are additional enemies to the reflection of light and therefore shine.

Carat

Carat weight is one of the most important aspects of choosing a diamond. All diamonds are measured on a scale of 100 points, with a .50 carat diamond being worth 50 points, a .75 carat diamond being worth 75 points, et cetera. The price hikes as the weight increases, so be careful when perusing a diamond collection under glass. Make sure to browse points within your means.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a diamond that will last a lifetime. Not only will you be giving her a classy, one-of-a-kind gift, but she’ll remember your love every time she slips on the bracelet or adjusts her earrings.

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