Which Quality of Diamond is Best?
It would seem that the size of the gemstone determines its price. But it’s not that simple. A massive diamond of ten or more carats can cost much less than its two-carat counterpart. It turns out that other characteristics of the gem are of fundamental importance in pricing. Let’s get acquainted with these concepts, get a general idea of the most popular certification systems, and decipher the mysterious numbers and letters that adorn the tags of diamond jewelry. After reading this article, the diamond price won’t be a mystery anymore.
Diamond Certification
Until the middle of the last century, there was no diamond certification system: each stone was assessed individually, using only an approximate color scale. At the very least, this was inconvenient for both sellers and buyers. The system introduced by the Gemological Institute of America was the first sign of the unification of diamond assessment. Now, all gems in radiant cut engagement rings have certificates. The GIA certification system is still considered the most authoritative in the world.
The classification of diamonds is based on the assessment of the stone according to four parameters contained in the corresponding fields:
- color (describes the color of the gem);
- clarity (the presence of inclusions);
- carat weight (weight after cut);
- cut.
The main GIA scale evaluates only white diamonds, with yellow and brown tints considered flaws. Fancy-colored gems are assessed on a separate scale (yellow, pink) or even individually outside the system. A moissanite ring is usually perfect, since the stone was grown in the lab.
Diamond Clarity
One of the fundamental characteristics of diamonds is clarity. It determines the number and color of foreign inclusions in a cut diamond, cracks, and the degree of transparency. The ideal sample is entirely clear; it is considered a standard. However, such diamonds do not exist: even the purest stones have flaws. They can be different: graphite, ilmenite, magnetite, garnet, malacolite, and the like — they determine the color of the defect (white opaque inclusions are most acceptable). Many dark, large areas, visible to the naked eye, transfer the stone to the “piquet” or “borde” category, bringing down its price.
External inclusions are called spots. Most of them are eliminated during cutting. Thus, perfectly transparent stones may not have been so initially. However, internal defects (inclusions) must be addressed: it is not always possible to eliminate them without significant losses in the mass of the precious mineral. So what? They are practically invisible to the naked eye in a good stone, but they prove their natural origin without words.
According to GIA, diamonds with a purity of up to SI3 are almost perfect, so their cost is prohibitive – such stones are available only to very wealthy people. Diamonds with a rating of VVS 1 and VVS 2 are very good from all points of view: they are excellent as inserts in exclusive jewelry (they are rarely found in standard jewelry – they are pretty expensive).
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Diamond Color
Another important point to consider is the color. The ideal is stones without a tint or with a slightly bluish tint. The more yellowish or brownish tint, the worse. Characteristics of diamonds by color and clarity are fundamental for pricing. For example, the Gemological Institute of America publishes “Rapoport tables” every two weeks, essentially universal price lists for the world diamond market. GIA has developed two diamond color scales: white stones and the fancy category (diamonds of fancy colors). They exist separately from each other.
What Else to Consider When Buying?
Of course, everyone would like to acquire a large gem with the highest grades for clarity and color. However, as mentioned above, such stones cost a fortune and are unavailable to ordinary people.
Many potential diamond owners ask themselves: what is more critical when choosing color or clarity? It all depends on what you need the stone for. If you plan to invest hard-earned money in diamonds, this ratio is not too important, but these figures should be either the same or close — such stones are as liquid as possible.
However, there is a solution that allows you to buy the perfect stone at an affordable price. We are talking about lab-grown diamonds. A jewelry with such a gemstone will cost you much less and look perfect.
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Conclusion
Nature is a brilliant creator. However, mankind has surpassed its capabilities in creating precious stones. Natural stones of ideal quality are expensive and available only to a few. At the same time, lab-grown diamonds have no flaws and are environmentally friendly and affordable. Therefore, the choice is obvious if you want a genuinely high-quality decoration.
