Diamond Buying Tips
Every diamond has a love story, and part of that story can be told by the 4Cs of diamond quality. Before you buy a diamond, learn how to understand your diamond’s 4Cs and which of the quality factors you value most. The guidance of a GIA-trained retailer can also help you with the process.
In this article, we will cover:
What are the 4Cs of diamond quality?
How do you buy a diamond online?
Why do you need a GIA or IGI Diamond Grading Report?
How do you protect your purchase?
What are the 4Cs of diamond quality? The GIA 4Cs of diamond quality helps you understand a diamond’s characteristics as well as its value and price.
Cut: Perhaps the most crucial of the 4Cs, cut refers to the quality of workmanship and determines the amount of brilliance, sparkle, and fire that a diamond shows.
Grades range from ‘Excellent’ to ‘Poor.’ Most diamonds on the market have ‘Excellent’ to ‘Very Good’ cut, ensuring maximum brilliance.
Color: Measures a diamond’s absence of color. The less color in a diamond, the more desirable and valuable it is. Color grade impacts the price of a stone, but differences of one to three color grades are not easily detectable to untrained eyes.
Clarity: Measures the amount, size, and placement of internal ‘inclusions’ and external ‘blemishes.’ Grades range from ‘Flawless’ to ‘Included.’ Diamonds with grades down to VS2 (Very Slightly Included) or SI1 (Slightly Included) do not typically have eye-visible inclusions.
Carat: Refers to a diamond’s weight. Generally speaking, the higher the carat weight, the larger the diamond appears and the more valuable the stone.
Additional Tips:
- We recommend selecting a VS1 diamond for optimal clarity and brilliance.
- Understanding the disparity between lab-grown and natural diamonds is crucial. Despite their distinct origins, both types share identical physical and chemical attributes. Essentially, the divergence lies in their creation process: lab diamonds are cultivated through controlled methods using large machines, whereas natural diamonds are formed under the earth's immense pressure.
How do you buy a diamond online?
Online shopping allows buyers to browse vast quantities of diamonds from the convenience of home. Many websites let shoppers search according to 4Cs parameters. Grading reports are crucial when shopping online, so make sure to purchase a diamond with a report from a reputable laboratory such as GIA or IGI. Be sure to see the diamonds in different lighting situations to see which looks best to you overall.
Why do you need a GIA or IGI Diamond Grading Report? A diamond grading report from an unbiased, scientific laboratory such as GIA or IGI is proof of what you are buying. Purchasing a diamond with a GIA or IGI report ensures that you know the quality of your diamond and exactly what you are paying for.
About IGI (International Gemological Institute):
IGI is one of the world's foremost authorities on diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry. Their grading reports provide accurate assessments of a diamond's quality, ensuring confidence and transparency in your purchase.
How do you protect your purchase? Once you’ve purchased the right diamond, have it appraised and insured. Appraisers and insurers rely on diamond grading reports to determine the value of gems. If your diamond doesn’t already have an inscription, consider having it laser-inscribed with its GIA or IGI report number to provide verification if it is ever lost or stolen.
