Diamond Education
Choosing the right Diamond
The quality and value of a diamond are judged on five fundamental criteria known as the ‘five C’s.’ The carat-weight, colour, clarity, and cut…and the most important C of all, confidence. Confidence is found in the form of an accurate diamond grading certificate.
Some differences in quality are easily noticeable, others need specialist equipment and qualified graders with years of experience to assess and detect. Accurate assessment of a diamond is only possible prior to being set.
DIAMOND’S 5Cs – COLOUR
The standard “color range” for white diamonds is “D” through “Z”. “D” represents a diamond that is colorless. “Z” represents a diamond that has a yellow or brownish color shade.
As a rule, the closer a diamond is to colorless, the more valuable and rarer it is.
Color Designations:
- D, E, F – colorless
- G, H, I, J – near colorless
- K, L, M – faint yellow or brown
- N, O, P, Q, R – very light yellow or brown
- S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z – light yellow or brown
White color diamonds are the most popular. Yet, there are more rare diamonds that have strong “other” color hue called fancy diamonds. The hues of these diamonds can compete with any color gemstones. These diamonds come in many different colors – red, pink, canary yellow, blue and green and are all prized.
DIAMOND’S 5Cs – CUT
An important aspect of the allure of diamonds is the way they sparkle. Sparkle is a result of how good the stone’s cut grade is. The cut is based on the diamond’s symmetry, polish, durability, and proportion of its parts. Cut grade also determines how light travels through the diamond and back to your eye.
Well cut diamond also have brilliance and shine. This is the result of light being refracted off all the facets which then exits the table or top part of the diamond.
IDEAL CUT VS POOR CUT DIAMONDS
A diamond cut in “ideal” proportions will allow the most light to exit through its table. This results in breathtaking brilliance and shimmer.
When the diamond cut is too shallow or too deep, a significant amount of light exits through the sides and bottom of the stone. This results in a lack of brilliance and scintillation.
There are also different types of diamond cuts and shown below. The most popular is, of course, the classical round brilliant which is the “ideal” diamond cut.
DIAMOND’S 5Cs – CLARITY
Clarity identifies a diamond’s purity. It is normal for diamonds to have inclusions, small flaws, scratches, or other minerals. The less inclusions a diamond has, the more valuable and beautiful it is.
The scale for grading diamond’s clarity is:
- Flawless – These diamonds do not have any inclusions and considered to be perfect.
- Internally Flawless – These diamonds may have very minor blemishes on the outside surface of the stone.
- VVS1, VVS2 – These diamonds have very, very small inclusions.
- VS1, VS2 – These diamonds have very small inclusions.
- SI1, SI2, SI3 – These diamonds have small inclusions.
- I1, I2, I3 – These diamonds have flaws that can be seen with the human eye.
DIAMOND’S 5Cs – CARAT
Carats refer to the size of the diamond. Each carat has one hundred points. The carat weight refers to the mass of a diamond.
For example, a diamond that is a 1/2 carat referred to as a 50-point diamond. But bigger does not always mean better. A fair cut two-carat diamond will not be as beautiful as a smaller excellent cut diamond. Also, a large diamond that has poor color or clarity grade will be less attractive.
DIAMOND’S 5Cs – CERTIFICATE
While a diamond can be the ultimate symbol of love. It also represents an investment in time, energy, and money. You need to feel confident in the integrity of your stone. Many consumers are now relying on a more precise document that evaluates the true value.
A diamond certificate is a report based on a gemological analysis of a specific stone. Certified gemologist from independent laboratories create these certificates. The certificate will state your diamond’s 4Cs: color, clarity, cut, carat weight.
Certificates also provide following information:
- Diamond’s shape
- Measurements
- Table and depth percentages
- Polish and Symmetry Grade
- Fluorescence
Some certificates may estimate the replacement value of the stone for insurance purposes. Finally, the certificate should include a detailed sketch of the diamond. The most premium certificates in the diamond market are GIA.
WHY CHOOSE US
EXPERIENCED MASTER CRAFTSMEN
Life’s great loves deserve custom designed Jewellery. A handcrafted masterpiece as unique as the person who will wear it. We can create custom design engagement rings or breathe new life into sentimental pieces so they can be worn with love for years to come.
NEW JEWLLERY
The Jewelry Studio has an assortment of pre-made pieces ready for you to take home. Come inside our studio to view our range of expertly crafted pieces. With a commitment to quality, we pride ourselves providing exceptional service, delivering unique in store collections that will last a lifetime.
JEWLLERY REPAIRS
Do you have items of Jewelry that are broken, sitting in your jewelry box? The Jewelry Studio team specialize in jewelry repairs. We understand that many pieces hold special significance, every piece is special and so is the story attached to it. If your beloved piece of jewelry is broken, or has been damaged, let our onsite jeweler fix it for you. Our onsite jeweler is highly skilled, her attention to detail, quality workmanship and true love for her trade, ensures each individual piece is restored to its former glory.
CUSTOM JEWLLERY
Creating an individual piece, especially for YOU, is what we do best. Come and meet with our onsite jeweler. Let us create that special piece of jewelry that is as unique as your love. From the initial drawings, through to the completed product every detail is hand crafted in store, made just for you.
JEWLLERY RENEWALS
Love is a beautiful thing, happy memories from one life’s journey, wanting to be passed on throughout the ages. Many may have items that hold special significance, every piece is special and so is the story attached to it, however the design, size, style or stone, may not be right for you. The Jewelry Studio can tweak an existing design or melt down old items of jewelry that can be a gift of love to create something new.