Are You Confused about the Critical Cs of Buying Diamond Jew

1. Are You Confused about the Critical C’s of Buying Diamond Jewelry? You may have heard of the four C’s of buying diamond jewelry, but are you aware of the other 2 which lead to big problems? The four C’s your jeweler is going to talk about are Clarity, Cut, Color, and Carats. These four items determine the value of the gem, but the other two C’s are the ones many jeweler’s count on using to close the sale. The two mystery C’s are certificates and confusion. Certificates issued by AGS – American Gem Society or by the GIA – The Gemological Institute of America are important. These certificates are intended to give you a clear understanding of the four C’s of the diamond you are considering. The problem, do you understand how to read the certificate? If you are unclear of the meaning of the terms the jeweler can use a certificate to add to your confusion causing you to waste money and purchase an inferior stone. Learn the Four C’s to Avoid Confusion and Diamond Buying Mistakes: Cut– The style of cut is not as important as the quality of the cut. Each diamond is unique and a highly skilled diamond cutter uncovers the perfect cut for each gem. The quality of cut is determined by the amount of reflected light which exits the top of the stone. Too deep or too shallow and the light escapes the bottom of the diamond. Cut determines the flash and brilliance of the diamond.

3. Clarity – Is determined by a gemologist by close examination through a microscope. The gemologist seeks imperfections in the stone. Most diamonds have small inclusions which include cloudiness, crystals, feathers, or dark spots. Any of these flaws, or inclusions, decreases the purity of the diamond. They reduce the diamonds ability to pass light. An F rating is Flawless, with IF being Internally Flawless. These two grades are ideal, but will add to the cost of your diamond purchase. (They also contribute to the long-term value of your diamond, too.) • Color – The color of your diamond can range from colorless to fancy. Colorless is clear, transparent, with no visible color. At the other end of the scale, Fancy indicates you will see definite color. These colors may range from blue, yellow, pink, or other hues in between. If anyone tries to tell you a blue or pink diamond is rare and valuable you can be confident they are working on the confusion principle of diamond sales. Colorless is the highest value. When you buy diamond jewelry, look for color grades ranging from D to J. These diamonds are colorless to nearly colorless. • Carat – The weight of your diamond. Do NOT be convinced the weight of the diamond is the only or most important factor in buying diamond jewelry. Two diamonds of equal carats can have wildly different prices based upon cut, clarity, and color. Prices increase rapidly as carat sizes increase. Small diamonds are easy to find, while large gems are rare. With this brief introduction you can avoid confusion when reading a diamond certificate. You can learn more diamond. Keep in mind both the GIA and AGS only rate un-mounted diamonds, but often jewelers have the certificate for the diamonds mounted in the jewelry. To get a deeper understanding and to assure you make the best purchase visit The Diamond Jewelry Buying Guide, an outstanding free resource for diamond shoppers. Do not consider buying diamond jewelry without the guide.