Posts from — December 2009

Diamonds are graded for certification by
laboratories using grading criteria. Four of
these criteria are critical to understand when
making a diamond purchase or investment.
Known as the “Four C’s” these criteria are:
color, cut, clarity and carat.

Color is the result of the composition of a
diamond and it does not change. When a
jeweler is describing the color of a diamond
they are referring to the presence or absence
of color in white diamonds. Because a
diamond with no color allows maximum light
to pass through, colorless diamonds are
preferred for their sparkle.

Cut refers to a diamonds reflective quality.
Most diamonds are cut with 58 facets. The
brilliance of diamonds is heavily dependent
on the cut. The different angles and the finish
of a diamond determine its ability to reflect
light and cause its brilliance and fire.
Remember that the cut of a diamond can
have an impact on its durability as well as its
beauty. Some cutting faults can make a
diamond prone to breakage. A diamond
that is cut too thin can also cause light to
leak out of the back and the diamond will
lose some of the sparkle and appear not
to shine. So, as you can see the Cut is
probably the most important of the Four C’s.

During the formation process, inner flaws, or
inclusions occur in most diamonds. The
number and size of these inclusions
determine what is referred to as the clarity
of a diamond. Diamonds that are clear
create more brilliance and therefore are rarer
and highly priced. To be considered
“flawless”, a diamond must have no surface
or internal imperfections visible upon being
viewed by a skilled diamond grader using
10 power magnifications.

Carat is the unit of weight by which diamonds
are measured. One carat is equal to 200
milligrams. A carat is divided into 100
segments called points. 150 points would
equal one and a half carats.

When you go to the store to make that all
important diamond purchase, do not be shy!
Ask questions, get the answers needed to
make an informed purchase. Shopping for
certified diamonds enables you to make an
informed selection. Knowing the “four C’s”
allows you to comparison shop and purchase
the best diamond at a fair price. But, before
making a purchase, shop around and decide
what shapes and styles really appeal to you.
Enjoy your diamond for years to come!

There may come a time in your jewelry making
career when you need to select diamonds for a
special piece you are working on. Buying diamonds
is much like buying any other gem – you find one
that is the right size or shape for the piece you are
making and you purchase it. WRONG. Much more
thought and consideration must go into purchasing
a diamond. After all – Diamonds are forever, and
you want your jewelry wholesale to last forever too.

There are four C’s when it comes to buying a
diamond: cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. All of
these must be considered because you want the
diamond used in your jewelry wholesale to be as
beautiful as possible. Remember that the diamond
should not overpower the entire piece, but it should
be the main attraction and compliment the rest of
the piece as well.

The cut of the diamond does not refer to the shape
of it. It refers to the way that it was cut – the quality
of the cut. The shine and fluorescence of the
diamond is determined by how it was cut. The
shape of the diamond is only a second factor – or
an after thought – in terms of the quality of the cut.

The clarity of a diamond does not refer to how clear
it is. Instead, it refers to how perfect or flawless –
or imperfect – a diamond is. There are internal
imperfections and external imperfections. A
diamond that has no imperfections is flawless –
and expensive.

Diamonds come in many colors. The most common
are white and yellow. Other colors are available, but
they are rare and expensive. The only color you
should never consider is a ‘blue white’ diamond. A
jeweler may try to tell you that this is a rare quality
diamond, but it is in fact an inferior diamond, and
you have no use for it.

The carat weight of the diamond will be important to
your customer. Large diamonds should come with
a certificate. You should request this from the
company that you are purchasing the diamond from.
If they refuse to give you a certificate from a
reputable grading company such as GIA, walk
away.

The chances are good that you will put more work
and thought into purchasing diamonds for your
jewelry wholesale than in any other gem or stone.
Diamonds are by far the most popular gemstones
in the world – and with good reason. Not only are
they the most beautiful stones, but they are also
the most durable stones on the face of the earth –
or under the earth for that matter!