Thursday, February 26, 2009

Critical Advice When Buying a Diamond

By Brad Morgan

A diamond has long been treasured as the ultimate symbol of lasting love because of it's purity and ageless beauty.

If you are confused about why some diamonds are so much more expensive than others, you are not alone. Why oh why can one diamond engagement ring be worth $8000 and another one that doesn't look that much different to the naked eye be worth only $2000?

The physical weight of a diamond is referred to as its "carat". The value of a diamond is directly proportional to its size. The larger the diamond, the more valuable it is, because larger diamonds are less common. Greater size makes the diamond more spectacular, and therefore increases the purchase price.

After carat weight is obtained, the next aspect that can cause price deviation is the clarity. You can determine the clarity of a particular diamond by a number of features. The term inclusions refers to imperfections inside the diamond, while blemishes refer to imperfections on the surface.

The quantity, type, location, measurement, and tint of its inclusions, or internal facets, as well as its blemishes, or features on the surface, all factor into the clarity. The clarity ranges from the rank of 'pure,' meaning no flaws, to 'heavily included,' meaning that it is seriously damaged.

These differences are due to the cooling process of the diamonds against other materials. Lack of clarity is a lack of perfection. A diamond is forever, and no one wants to be stuck with an imperfect one forever; therefore, this impacts the price.

Another important factor when evaluating the worth of a diamond is color. If certain gases were present beneath the earth when the diamond was forming, it may have taken on a distinct color.

There is a scale of coloration that ranges from "D," where no color is present, to "Z," where color is easily visible. There is a spectrum known as "beyond Z," where the colors are rich and vibrant within the diamond and are referred to as fancy colors.

The cost of a diamond is also determined by one final factor, the cut. The cut of a diamond gives it the ability to glitter by reflecting the light back out in very precise ways.

"Fire" is the ability to flash and flicker upon sight. Cut varies from "excellent," followed by "good," "average," "commercial," and then irregular. If the diamond is not dazzling, the cut is most likely very poor.

So there you have it, the 4 C's of choosing a diamond: carat, clarity, color and cut. Understanding these basic concepts before you enter a diamond store will go a long way towards making an outstanding buying decision. - 15683

About the Author: