Picking Out The Perfect Diamond - Tips And Pointers
When it comes to diamonds, there are four characteristics to go by: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. These are called the "Four C's". You can customize diamond jewelry to meet all four characteristics of your choosing.
A diamond's color is either natural or altered. Sometimes the color of a diamond can be influenced by fluorescence, which makes the color shift in certain lighting. Different lights will make the diamond color "shift". Fluorescence can be found in around 20% of diamonds. Diamonds can come in clear, pure colors as well.
A diamond with perfect clarity is rare. Perfect, clear diamonds are hard to come across. Flaws that exist in diamonds aren't usually seen with the naked eye. Diamonds need to be inspected for flaws with a jeweler's magnifying glass. Familiarize yourself with terms describing diamond clarity so you'll know what types of questions to ask when shopping around.
The "cut" of a diamond refers to more than just its shape. A gem's proportions also need to be taken into consideration. All of its facets ranging from depth, width, durability, etc. make up a diamond's cut. All the characteristics of a gemstone represent its cut.
The carat weight of a diamond affects both its appearance and price. You should want to purchase diamond jewelry that you can afford, but at the same time, you don't want one that is too cheap. Carat weight is especially a factor you should take into consideration when purchasing an engagement ring; you want to buy her quality at the most affordable price.
Understanding the Four C's will help you in determining the type of diamond jewelry you would like. What color or colors would you like the diamond to be? How much are you willing to spend for the best possible clarity? What type of characteristics are you looking for with the cut? What's the best carat you can get for your budget? Asking yourself these questions is the very first step you should take when planning to purchase diamond jewelry; especially an engagement ring.
