Is your fiance-to-be expecting a 1 or 2 carat diamond? As carat weight increases, so does the price. Carat weight impacts how large a diamond looks as does its shape and cut quality. Learn about the average diamond size people buy to help you decide. The goal with diamond color is to choose a diamond that appears white.
In general, diamonds in the G to I range appear white but cost far less. These diamonds look identical in a ring. Depending on the shape, you can usually find an eye-clean diamond in the VS1 — VS2 range. With most vendors, you can see the diamond up close to review its clarity. Blue Nile has also begun to offer high quality photography. Look at the diamond closely to see if you notice any blemishes.
For an informative overview of the different clarity grades, take a look at this diamond clarity chart. We have recently developed Ringo, a patented artificial intelligence model, that can examine videos of diamonds and determine if they are eye-clean. For an in-depth discussion of these three factors, check out these individual articles: Fluorescence , Polish , and Symmetry. Read more about GIA diamonds here.
Before making the big decision to buy a diamond, have one of our impartial experts review your choice. That said, some general guidelines for these individual factors are:. Any culet size of Medium or smaller will be invisible to the naked eye, and have no negative impact on a diamond's appearance. An Extremely Thin girdle is more susceptible to chipping, and for that reason should be avoided for diamonds that are to be set in a ring.
Earrings or pendants are less exposed to rough contact and so are less susceptible to chipping around the girdle.
Avoid even Very Thin girdles in Princess Cut diamonds, as this shape already has sharp corners more prone to chipping. If you do purchase a Princess Cut diamond with a Very Thin girdle, consider setting it in a style that covers and protects the corners. For diamonds with a polish grade of Excellent to Good, any polishing defects are not visible to the naked eye, and should have no impact on the diamond's overall appearance. For diamonds with clarity grades of I1 or lower, even a polish grade of Fair is acceptable, since these diamonds already possess internal inclusions that are visible to the naked eye, making any polish markings less relevant.
For diamonds less than. Poor is the only polish grade that should be avoided regardless of the size or clarity of the diamond. For this reason, Lumera does not carry diamonds with a polish grade of Poor. For diamonds with a symmetry grade of Excellent to Good, symmetry should not be used as a primary factor in choosing a diamond, since each of these grades is possible in diamonds of exceptional appearance.
Symmetry is more important in diamonds of VVS2 Clarity and higher, since the very subtle defects produced by Fair or Poor symmetry which can resemble pinpoint inclusions , would compromise the diamond's otherwise flawless appearance. This premium has more to do with consumer's perceived value of "excellent" grades, than the actual affect on a diamond's appearance.
Because diamonds with Poor symmetry have defects visible to the naked eye, these diamonds should be avoided in all cases. For this reason, Lumera does not carry diamonds with a symmetry grade of Poor. The vast majority of untrained observers and many gemologists cannot distinguish a color grade from the one just above or below unless the diamonds are compared side by side in a controlled environment. Even when side-by-side, changes in color are difficult to detect in I color and higher diamonds.
Color becomes much harder to detect once a diamond is set in a ring and placed in an environment that contains color as opposed to the all white background used in color grading. For instance, an H color diamond may look as colorless as a D when set in a ring under normal lighting conditions, especially if the two are not compared side by side. For the best value in what would appear to the naked eye as a colorless diamond, look for G-J diamonds. Because color is easier to detect in larger diamonds just as a large carafe of white wine shows more color than a small glass , opt for G-H in diamonds over 1 carat, and I-J for those under 1 carat.
Once set in a ring, these diamonds will look just like higher color grade diamonds. Instead of investing in higher color, invest in higher cut, the most important factor in a diamond's brilliance. Because diamonds with more facets reflect more light, they tend to hide color better than other shapes. So, consider round, princess or other modified brilliant cuts over step cuts such as emerald or asscher if you are concerned about color.
If you are concerned primarily about carat weight , and are on a tight budget, consider a yellow gold setting and a brilliant cut diamond in the K-L color range. The yellow gold will complement the faint body color of the diamond. If, while shopping for a diamond, you are ever given a color range e. G-H as opposed to a specific grade, the diamond is not certified by GIA.
The seller is only estimating the diamond's color using GIA terminology. In fact, the visible effects of faint to medium fluorescence are perceptible only to a gemologist using a special UV light source.
So, how do you get the best value on carat? The Best Value for Money: Other Diamond Cuts The principles of indentifying round-cut diamonds that are good value are generally the same for other cuts.
Radiant and Cushion Cut Color: For radiant and cushion cuts, H color will give you the best value, and going lower is not recommended for platinum or white gold settings. For yellow gold, I or J color provides the best value. For yellow gold settings, you can go as low as I or J color. Where to Buy Diamond Jewelry? Disclosure: Some of the links on our site may help us earn affiliate commissions from advertisers. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
More: Diamonds Gemstones. Platinum vs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Check on GIA Report Check and get the detailed certificate, which has a plot diagram showing the size, type and location of every clarity characteristic of your diamond. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.
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