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How do I know if a diamond is genuine? You will not. You need to be an expert and use specialised equipment to make sure a diamond is real. Do not trust ideas like scratching a beer bottle (it may damage the diamond too), thermal conductivity, looking through, comparing weight, etc. If the diamond is accompanied by a certificate, you will know it is real and if it is treated artificially or not. Back to top Which shape gives me the greatest value for my money? Round brilliant diamond has the most brilliance, and the most popular. Fancy diamonds look more elegant in larger sizes. Also, they tend to look larger than they are by virtue of their shape. The choice of shape is also governed by the shape of the hand and Diamond Colour and Diamond Clarity. Round brilliant diamond hides defects and yellow tints the best. Back to top What is the structure of a diamond? 1. Facet: any of the flat "sides" of the diamond. OK; now that I know the terminology, what are the more important factors? The first six terms describe the geometry of the diamond. Fire and sparkle are variable characteristics that are determined by the proportions of the diamond. Modifying proportions to increase one may decrease the other! Look for a good balance of fire and sparkle. Fluorescence occurs naturally and synthetically. It is not common, so jewellers will try to command a higher price. In general, it does not change the value of the stone, but severe fluorescence gives stones an oily appearance in sunlight, and decreases its value. Naturals if not severe are not bad. Small feathers are common. Any crack that extends more than 1/3 of the way through the stone may cause structural problems. Back to top How many facets does a diamond have? A. On a brilliant full-cut stone, there are 58 facets; 32 facets plus the table above the girdle and 24 facets plus the culet below the girdle. Some stones with only 18 facets are refered to as "single cuts". Back to top What are the "four C's" relating to diamond quality? The four C's are Carat (weight), Colour, Clarity and Cut of the stone. 1. Carat: The weight of the stone, referred to in points in case of small stones.
2. Colour: Colour is usually undesirable in diamonds. Typically ratings
will be alphabetical with the earlier letters of the alphabet having less colour.
Most stones you will find will be in the E-F to the J-K range. 3. Clarity: You will typically find ratings such as this:
Inclusions are imperfections within the stone. Inclusions range from bits of 4. Cut: All diamonds are cut. The resultant dimensions of the cut stones vary. All dimensions are given as a percentage of the width at the girdle. There are a few accepted ideal cuts, which have all of the proportions within a few percentage points of an optimum mathematical model. This optimum model returns maximum light What is the most important C in the choice of a diamond? Colour or Clarity? The most desirable colour of the diamond is white. The Colour scale ranges from D to Z, where D is the whitest of the white and hence most expensive. However, colours between E to H are regarded as very white, and you cannot make out the difference in colour once a diamond is set. However, diamond colour becomes more obvious as in larger size diamonds, or in shapes other than the round brilliant. For instance, the Asscher and the emerald cuts are more see-through with large facets, and require a higher colour and clarity than other shapes. What is most important of the 4 Cs in India? In India, Colour takes precedence over Cut. The order or priority for most Indian customers if Colour -> Cut -> Clarity. Is the shape the same as the cut? No. They are different. The real "cut" as it is referred to deals with the quality of the final product in terms of its maximising the return of light.Four shapes of diamonds are the most popular: Round (or brilliant), Emerald, Marquis and Pear. Back to top
The "Ideal Cut" is a cut based on a specific set of proportions for a round brilliant diamond, proposed by gem cutter Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. While Tolkowsky's original theories presented only one particular combination of proportions for creating the best balance of brilliance and dispersion, today the American Gemological Society recognizes any diamond falling within a narrow range of proportions and finish quality as being an "Ideal Cut" (also called an "AGS 0" or "AGS triple zero"). I know that most rings have inclusions; what is OK and what is not? Avoid the following flaws:
Is there any way to identify a poor cut? Yes. Well, you can tell if a stone is poorly cut by looking for the following:
What is the shape of the diamond used in engagement rings? The most common is the round brilliant cut. It reflects more light back from the table, accounting for the beauty of the diamond. Due to the facets or sides, inclusions (defects) are tougher to see. Some prefer the pear or marquis. The emerald cut is less common in sizes less than 1 carat. The value of the stone is affected in some cases by shape. Shapes other than round are called “Fancies.” Back to top What is the best shape of diamond for an engagement ring? A. The best shape of diamond for a ring depends on: 1. Personal preference 2. Desired brilliance (round brilliant cut has the most) 3. Weight (Fancies look more elegant in large sizes) 4. How big you want it to look (Fancies tend to look larger than white diamonds) 5. Shape and size of hand (experiment to find what is most flattering) 6. Colour and clarity of diamond (round brilliant cut hides defects and yellow tints best). Back to top Why do they seem to follow this pattern? Small round diamonds are more common, easier to cut, and easier to sell than fancies. About 75 per cent of the diamonds sold in the world are round brilliant cut diamonds! For larger stones, rounds are in higher demand and the supply is limited. The only exception is the large marquis, which is can cost as much as or more than the round brilliant. Back to top Should I get my diamond set in platinum or gold? A platinum setting will usually work best with a diamond, though it is usually a little more expensive. Because platinum is a stronger metal, your diamond will be safer under a platinum setting. The cost of platinum is about four times that of gold, but People think in comparison to the price of the ring, the difference is not much. However, if you have a very clean, good diamond, then the platinum can make it stand out. Yet, in the same situation, if you had a gold setting, the gold might make the diamond look more yellow than it really is, which is not desirable. If you are looking at grades D-G and IF - VVS2, platinum may be a better choice. Back to top I'm getting my diamond inspected/remounted/etc. How can I be sure they don't switch the stone on me? Know where the inclusions are on your stone. Inclusions are the signature of diamond, which are the identifying marks. You can have it certified by the GIA for a fee. They will document the exact location of all identifying inclusions along with colour and carat. This is the exact and easiest way to identify your own diamond. You can re certify your diamond to compare it with the old certificate you have. Certification is not very expensive. Back to top What should I look for in the workmanship of the stone? In a brilliant cut,
Which are the most popular fancy colours in diamonds? Fancy colored diamonds are called Z+ diamonds. These Z+ diamonds are the rarest hence the most expensive Z+ is more expensive than D s. Yellow and pink diamonds are the most commonly sought after fancy colours, and most likely will continue to be for years to come. Of late, there has been an increased demand for orange, blue, and green coloured diamonds. As they are rare in nature, supplies are limited, and demand can shift price. Back to top How are colour diamond prices determined? Retail pricing is generally set by observing the prices of the competition, but prices depend on several factors:
What else should I know about colour diamond prices? Remember that:
In a white diamond, clarity can make or break the stone, and VS clarity is usually ideal. For fancy colour diamonds, clarity is not the most important factor. Do colour undertones affect the diamond's worth? A secondary undertone that enhances the color of a diamond is a plus. A secondary that detracts from the color is a negative. For instance:
The predominant hue is always expressed as a noun, such as "pink." Any secondary colors will precede the primary hue and are usually expressed with an "ish" at the end, such as purplish pink. This means that the primary hue of the diamond is pink with some hints of purple throughout. If the grade is stated as two nouns—like "brown pink," it means the two colors are virtually even throughout the diamond. Back to top What type of inclusions do you see most in colour diamonds? In coloured diamonds, the inclusions are often crystals that exhibit much the same colour as the diamonds. To the untrained eye, these crystals blend right in with a diamond's colour and can create the appearance of more brilliance. Back to top Are "champagne pink" diamonds desirable? Champagne diamonds with a secondary pink colour are popular. When faced up, these stones display light to bold flashes of pink in their fire. The bow tie effect, visible to the naked eye, is often observed in marquise, oval, pear and some heart-shaped diamonds. The bow tie looks like two triangular dark shapes joined at a point in the centre of the stone. It is caused by variations in the pavilion facet angles that are longer than wider. If prominent, it is considered a negative factor. In a well-cut diamond its appearance should be minimal or absent and certainly not a distraction. Back to top Cubic Zirconia stones are a man-made diamond simulants with optical characteristics very close to natural diamonds. On the mohs scale of 1-10 for hardness, a CZ is 8.5 - 8.9, while a diamond is 10. Sand or dirt will not scratch a CZ or a diamond, but CZs and diamonds will both scratch glass. A CZ weighs more than a diamond, and this is a principal way to tell them apart. Back to top What are "synthetic" diamonds? Real diamonds have been created naturally through intense levels of heat and pressure deep within the ground. All natural diamonds are thought to be between 70 million and 3 billion years old. They are mined, cut and polished by highly skilled craftsmen, and are not otherwise tampered with. Synthetic or 'cultured' diamonds are created in the laboratory. All synthetic or 'cultured' diamonds must legally be declared as such. Carat Lane offers only are real and natural diamonds. Back to top There exists an illegal trade in diamonds in several parts of the world, and the money is used to fund conflicts (war and other outrages). These diamonds are called conflict diamonds or blood diamonds. Carat Lane is vehemently opposed to this trade in every form. We strive to assure that every diamond we sell is 'conflict-free'. Back to top Does all Carat Lane diamond jewellery come accompanied with a certificate? All diamonds used in our 'Create Your Diamond Ring' items are accompanied by their original and unique diamond certificate. Certification for items in our 'Diamond Jewellery Collection' depends on the size and quantity of the diamonds contained in the item.e do, of course, assure that all our diamonds are real, natural and "conflict-free". Back to top Is it possible to have the certificate number 'engraved' onto the diamond? Each GIA certified diamond of less than one carat in size has its unique certificate number microscopically laser inscribed into its girdle, meaning that there can never be any doubt that the diamond and certificate are one of the same. Carat Lane also offers this service on other certified diamonds as well at the point of valuation. It is not possible to see this inscription with the naked eye, and extremely difficult to see even with a 10x magnifying loupe. Back to top How does the HRD certificate compare to GIA certificate? GIA is the oldest lab and so has become the most well-recognised and reputed, especially in the United States. On the other hand, HRD is well-regarded by the diamond community in Europe. HRD and GIA differ ever so slightly in systems of grading. Both strive to conform to their own system and overall, both do good and comparable jobs. You should to be able to buy a diamond with a high degree of confidence with either lab's report. Back to top How do I choose the largest diamond within my budget? Use the search option on Caratlane that searches for loose diamonds and fill in your preferred budget details. You will get a range of stones that you can sort by size. Alternately, you can first enter the size of diamond you were considering (in case you do not want to buy anything less than a carat, for instance).You can choose your diamonds from CaratLane Colossal collection if the size does matter to you. Sort the search results to see which diamond in this size suits your budget. Back to top I am looking for diamonds without black inclusions. How do I identify those? Since diamonds are a natural substance, most come with some small internal flaws or inclusions that are like their defining characteristics, similar to birth marks. Completely flawless diamonds are extremely rare, and usually found only with collectors. For a good idea of the inclusions in a diamond, examine its certificate for a description of these. You need to have an idea of how the clarity of a diamond is measured, to understand the relative impact of black inclusions. For instance, diamond inclusions can be characterized as Slight, Very very slight etc. Visit the section on diamond clarity, for a better understanding of this. Back to top Is it important that I buy a diamond that is accompanied by a certificate? Yes. Buying with a certificate from a recognized authority such as the AGS, GIA or IGI means that your diamond has the credentials to be recognized worldwide as a valuable item. Resale values of diamonds drop drastically when unaccompanied by a certificate. Also, a certificate makes you sure about the authenticity and purity of your diamond. Back to top
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