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Whether you are shopping for an engagement ring or you are looking for a pair of earrings or a necklace to wear for your wedding, buying a diamond is a big investment.
Not only is it meaningful, but it is also an expensive proposition, which means you want to make sure you get the best quality stone possible.
If you have never been shopping for a diamond before, prepare yourself for your shopping experience with some diamond education. Here is a look at some of the basics you should know about shopping for a diamond:
Diamonds Origins: While diamonds are quite stunning stones, they do have a dark past linked to them. A great majority of the diamonds in the world are mined in South Africa, where there has been a great deal of conflict associated with them.
Many are mined in an unsustainable manner and the mining of many others has involved bloodshed – hence the term “blood diamond”. When you are shopping for a diamond, the first thing you want to do is make sure that the store you are working with sells ethical diamonds.
Ask where their diamonds come from and how they are attained. Ethical diamonds will be mined in a sustainable manner that does not involve conflict.
Cut and Clarity: There are two words that are always associated with diamonds; cut and clarity. In fact, you have probably heard these words before, but you may not know what they mean.
Cut refers to the “fire and brilliance” of a diamond. This is considered the most important factor when determining the beauty of a diamond, and this factor is manipulated by humans.
A diamond cutter literally “cuts” the diamond from its original state in a manner that allows it to capture light, which creates that sparkling effect that these stones are so famous for. The better the cut, the better the sparkle.
As you would assume, the clarity of a diamond refers to how clear or transparent it is. The clearer the diamond, the more beautiful and valuable it is.
A diamond that is completely flawless is extremely rare. Expect to find a degree of inclusions, or flaws, within the stone. The less flaws, however, the more beautiful and valuable the diamond will be.
Carat: Another word that is always associated with diamonds is carat, which refers to the size of the diamond.
One carat is equal to 200 milligrams or 1/142nd of an ounce. Obviously, the more carats, the bigger the stone, and the bigger the price tag.
Shape: The shape of a diamond refers to the shape the diamond is cut in. Different shapes not only offer different looks, but they also offer different brilliance in a stone.
Diamond shapes include heart, marquise, cushion, pear, radiant, princess, oval, round, emerald, oval and asscher.
Setting: This refers to how the stone is set within the piece of jewellery. The setting plays a major part in the appearance of the piece of jewellery. Some settings allow the stone to be more pronounced, while others set the stone flush with the metal.
The most common types of settings include prong, flush, bezel, semi-bezel, channel, bar, pav and invisible.
Cost: While all of the above-mentioned elements of a diamond are important, perhaps one of the most important elements is the cost. It is the cost that will determine whether or not the diamond you are interested in purchasing fits into your budget.
The cost of diamond jewellery depends on all of the above-mentioned factors; the cut, the clarity, the setting, the shape and the manner in which the diamond is mined. It goes without saying that the higher the degree of each of these factors, the more expensive the piece of jewellery is going to be.
With these points in mind, you are ready to go out and successfully shop for a beautiful piece of diamond jewellery. With this information, you can have a more enjoyable shopping experience and really delight the person you are shopping for.
Uma Campbell is a freelance writer from Southern California. She understands the commitment that goes along with a big purchase, like diamond jewellery and has used some of the tips above when she’s bought expensive jewellery. She loves writing about style and crafting. When she’s not writing, she loves to practice yoga.
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Not only is it meaningful, but it is also an expensive proposition, which means you want to make sure you get the best quality stone possible.
If you have never been shopping for a diamond before, prepare yourself for your shopping experience with some diamond education. Here is a look at some of the basics you should know about shopping for a diamond:
Diamonds Origins: While diamonds are quite stunning stones, they do have a dark past linked to them. A great majority of the diamonds in the world are mined in South Africa, where there has been a great deal of conflict associated with them.
Many are mined in an unsustainable manner and the mining of many others has involved bloodshed – hence the term “blood diamond”. When you are shopping for a diamond, the first thing you want to do is make sure that the store you are working with sells ethical diamonds.
Ask where their diamonds come from and how they are attained. Ethical diamonds will be mined in a sustainable manner that does not involve conflict.
Cut and Clarity: There are two words that are always associated with diamonds; cut and clarity. In fact, you have probably heard these words before, but you may not know what they mean.
Cut refers to the “fire and brilliance” of a diamond. This is considered the most important factor when determining the beauty of a diamond, and this factor is manipulated by humans.
A diamond cutter literally “cuts” the diamond from its original state in a manner that allows it to capture light, which creates that sparkling effect that these stones are so famous for. The better the cut, the better the sparkle.
As you would assume, the clarity of a diamond refers to how clear or transparent it is. The clearer the diamond, the more beautiful and valuable it is.
A diamond that is completely flawless is extremely rare. Expect to find a degree of inclusions, or flaws, within the stone. The less flaws, however, the more beautiful and valuable the diamond will be.
Carat: Another word that is always associated with diamonds is carat, which refers to the size of the diamond.
One carat is equal to 200 milligrams or 1/142nd of an ounce. Obviously, the more carats, the bigger the stone, and the bigger the price tag.
Shape: The shape of a diamond refers to the shape the diamond is cut in. Different shapes not only offer different looks, but they also offer different brilliance in a stone.
Diamond shapes include heart, marquise, cushion, pear, radiant, princess, oval, round, emerald, oval and asscher.
Setting: This refers to how the stone is set within the piece of jewellery. The setting plays a major part in the appearance of the piece of jewellery. Some settings allow the stone to be more pronounced, while others set the stone flush with the metal.
The most common types of settings include prong, flush, bezel, semi-bezel, channel, bar, pav and invisible.
Cost: While all of the above-mentioned elements of a diamond are important, perhaps one of the most important elements is the cost. It is the cost that will determine whether or not the diamond you are interested in purchasing fits into your budget.
The cost of diamond jewellery depends on all of the above-mentioned factors; the cut, the clarity, the setting, the shape and the manner in which the diamond is mined. It goes without saying that the higher the degree of each of these factors, the more expensive the piece of jewellery is going to be.
With these points in mind, you are ready to go out and successfully shop for a beautiful piece of diamond jewellery. With this information, you can have a more enjoyable shopping experience and really delight the person you are shopping for.
Uma Campbell is a freelance writer from Southern California. She understands the commitment that goes along with a big purchase, like diamond jewellery and has used some of the tips above when she’s bought expensive jewellery. She loves writing about style and crafting. When she’s not writing, she loves to practice yoga.
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
