Diamonds
Just like no two snowflakes are alike, no two diamonds are alike, and that makes them extremely difficult to evaluate and price. So the most important decision you make when purchasing a diamond is choosing an educated professional that you trust.
At D&D Jewelry, every diamond is personally selected by our owners, Don and Dawn. Only the most brilliant ones make it into our cases. We reject many diamonds because they are poorly cut, off color or included. Those diamonds we leave for other merchants!
For colorless to colored diamonds, all sizes and shapes, we’ll help you select the diamond that is exactly right for you.
Most people have heard of the 4C’s, here is a resource to help you better understand them.
Diamond Cut
Cut is perhaps the most important of the four Cs, so it is important to understand how this quality affects the properties and values of a diamond.
The angles and finish of any diamond are what determine its ability to handle light. A good cut gives a diamond brilliance (the brightness that seems to come from the very heart of the diamond) and scintillation and dispersion (the sparks of color that seem to leap out from the diamond's surface when the diamond is tilted back and forth).
Don't confuse Cut with Shape. Cut refers to how well the diamond has been designed and proportioned by the cutter. Shape refers to the general silhouette or outline of the diamond.
When a diamond is well-cut, the light that enters through the table travels deep into the pavilion. Once light reaches the pavilion, it bounces back and forth on the mirror-like inside walls of the pavilion, multiplying in brightness and intensity before reflecting back out of the diamond through the table and to the observer's eye.
Diamond Clarity
When we speak of a diamond's clarity, we are referring to the presence of identifying characteristics on and within the stone.
F-IF: Flawless or Internally Flawless. Diamonds in this range have no internal inclusions. Very rare.
VVS1-VVS2: Very Very Slightly Included. Inclusions are tiny and few in number and are very difficult to detect, even under 10x magnification.
VS1-VS2: Very Slightly Included. Inclusions are small and are generally invisible to the naked eye and seen only under 10x magnification.
SI1-SI2: Slightly Included. Inclusions are usually either a little larger or greater in number than in a VS stone, or are located more centrally within the stone, rather than off to the sides. These inclusions are fairly easy to find under 10x magnification, though they are usually still invisible to the naked eye. In some cases, inclusions might be slightly visible to the naked eye when the diamond is viewed at certain angles.
I1-I2-I3: Included. Inclusions are large and/or numerous and may be visible to the naked eye. Diamonds with a grade of I3 are generally not considered jewelry-quality and they are not sold by Mondera.
While the presence of these clarity characteristics do lower the clarity grade, and therefore the value, of a diamond they can also be viewed as proof of a diamond's identity. Most AGS and GIA certificates (except for dossiers) include what is known as a "plot" of a diamond's inclusions. (Dossiers identify diamonds with an inscription number and a written description of the main clarity characteristics instead of a plot). Since no two diamonds are exactly the same, comparing the uniqueness of your diamond's clarity characteristics with the plot provided on the diamond certificate offers assurance that the diamond you pay for is the same diamond you receive.
Diamond color
When jewelers speak of a diamond's color they are usually referring to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. Color is a result of the composition of the diamond, and it never changes over time.
Because a colorless diamond, like a clear window, allows more light to pass through it than a colored diamond, colorless diamonds emit more sparkle and fire. The formation process of a diamond ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colorless. Thus the whiter a diamond's color, the greater its value.
(Note that fancy color diamonds do not follow this rule. These diamonds, which are very rare and very expensive, can be any color from blue to green to bright yellow. They are actually more valuable for their color.)
To grade 'whiteness' or colorlessness, most jewelers refer to GIA's professional color scale that begins with the highest rating of D for colorless, and travels down the alphabet to grade stones with traces of very faint or light yellowish or brownish color. The color scale continues all the way to Z.
Carat Weight:
A carat is a unit of measurement, it's the unit used to weigh a diamond. Don't confuse Carat with 'karat', the method of determining the purity of gold. They are two totally different terms with different meanings.
Large diamonds are rare and have a greater value per carat. For that reason, the price of a diamond rises exponentionaly to its size.
How important size is to you is probably contingent on how important it is to the person you're giving it to. A few tips to keep in mind will help guide you to the right decision.
The general rule of thumb when buying a diamond is "two months salary". This is just a guideline, it's not carved in stone, but it's useful in establishing a budget for how much you can comfortably invest in her diamond.
Deciding on carat size is really about striking a balance between size and quality. If she prefers larger jewelry items, and you are working within a budget, you can still find a larger diamond of excellent quality gem by selecting one which is graded slightly lower in terms of color and clarity.
