When buying a diamond?

When you're buying a diamond, consider four criteria, often referred to as "the 4C's" - cut, color, clarity and carat weight. Each factor affects the price.

Cut not only refers to the shape of the diamond, but also to the size, angle, uniformity and polish of the facets.

Color is sometimes "graded" on a scale. However, scales are not uniform: a "D" may be the best color for one scale, but not for another. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represents the color of the diamond you're considering.

Clarity refers to the presence or absence of internal flaws, called inclusions, that occur naturally within the stone, or to external blemishes, such as scratches or chips. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only if it has no visible surface cracks or other imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.

Carat weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat. If the weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate to the last decimal place. For example, ".30 carat" could represent a diamond that weighs between .295 - .304 carat. Some retailers describe diamond weight in fractions and use the fraction to represent a range of weights. For example, a diamond described as ½ carat could weigh between .47 - .54 carat. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, the retailer should disclose two things: that the weight is not exact, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight tolerance being used.

The Essential Four Cs

Every diamond is unique, reflecting the story of its arduous journey from deep inside the earth to a cherished object of adornment. Yet all diamonds share certain features that allow us to compare and evaluate them. These features are called the 4Cs.

CARAT WEIGHT:
One carat equals 0.2 grams. For diamonds under a carat, each carat is divided into 100 points, similar to pennies in a dollar. For instance, 0.75ct. = 75 points and 1/2 ct. = 50 points.

CLARITY:
The GIA Clarity Scale includes eleven clarity grades ranging from Flawless to I3. Because diamonds form under conditions of tremendous heat and pressure, internal inclusions and external blemishes are common and help gemologists identify individual stones. The Clarity Scale also helps separate natural diamonds from synthetics and simulants.

COLOR:
The GIA Color Scale extends from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Although many people think of diamonds as colorless, most diamonds used in jewelry have subtle tints of yellow or brown. Each letter grade represents a range of color and is a measure of the degree of color within the diamond, all measured by comparing the diamond to a set of master stones.

CUT:
A polished diamond's proportions affect the performance and interplay of light which, in turn, affects its beauty and desirability. Brightness is the combination of all white light reflecting from both the surface and interior of a diamond. Fire describes the colored flashes that can be seen in a diamond. And scintillation is the sparkle of light you see and the overall pattern of bright and dark areas when you look at a diamond face-up. The design and craftsmanship of a diamond also affect its cut quality, and these factors are considered in determining a diamond's GIA Excellent-to-Poor Cut Grade.

Many diamonds emit a visible light, called fluorescence, when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Diamond Care

Diamonds are remarkably durable, resistant to scratching except by another diamond, and maintain their brilliant fire extremely well. These qualities make a diamond well-suited to regular wear and are perfect for engagement and wedding rings, which are usually worn every day.

But even a diamond isn't indestructible. It can be chipped by a sharp blow or become loose in its setting and fall out. A diamond should be worn with care.

Because diamonds tend to pick up grease and oils, they can become dirty with handling and should be occasionally wiped with a lint-free cloth. Other methods for safe cleaning include warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush or a commercial cleaning solution. It is not recommended to use ultrasonic and steam cleaners.

History of The Kohinoor Diamond

Gold is Gold

Gold is a soft, very dense metal which is highly valued for use in jewelry and coinage. Called a "noble metal", it does not react readily in ordinary chemical reactions, so it can be found in essentially pure form as gold nuggets. It is also used in dental work because it can be precisely shaped and does not react chemically in the mouth. Its high electrical conductivity makes it valuable for tiny electrical contacts, and its very high reflectivity has led to use in thin films as a reflector.

Gold is bright yellow by reflected light, but in thin films may be blue or green.

Gold is the most malleable and the most ductile of all metals. It can be hammered into sheets only 1/100,000 cm thick and drawn into wires 1/5000 cm in diameter.

Gold is often alloyed with copper, silver, palladium or other metals. The amount of gold in these alloys is described in carats. The carat value is the number of parts of gold in 24 parts of alloy, so that 24 carat gold is the pure metal. American coinage gold is 21.6 carat and British coinage is 22 carat.

White gold as used in jewelry is usually an alloy of gold and nickel.

Gold is found in the mineral nagyagite, a sulfide, along with lead, iron, antimony, and tellurium. Tellurium combines with gold to form krennerite, AuTe2.

How to Buy a Diamond?

People mark special events with sentimental gifts of jewelry. While weddings reign as the biggest diamond event, there are many small yet glorious celebrations that are honored with beautiful sparklies, too, such as new jobs, anniversaries, graduations, births…the list, happily, is endless.

So how do people learn about diamonds so they can buy, own and enjoy them with confidence? The nonprofit Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world’s foremost authority in gems and jewelry and the creator of the famous 4Cs of diamonds offers these five tips:

Choose a qualified jeweler.

• Select a jeweler as you would a doctor, a lawyer or any professional. Ask around. Find someone who is a trained gemologist, a GIA Graduate Gemologist or GIA Accredited Jewelry Professional, and is affiliated with a professional jewelry association.

Research.

• GIA’s Web site offers in-depth information on diamonds, pearls and other gemstones. GIA even built a special Web site on the Four Cs. Knowing the Four Cs helps you speak the language of diamonds and communicate with jewelers.

Learn the 4Cs.

• All diamonds are rare and no two diamonds are alike. A diamond’s quality and rarity is determined by its unique combination of characteristics of Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight. The International Diamond Grading System, used around the world since its invention by GIA in the 1950s, is based on the 4Cs.
  
  
• Carat: Diamonds are weighed in metric carats. Two carats weight about the same as a small paper clip. A carat is divided into 100 “points”, so a diamond of 50 points weighs 0.50 carats.
  
  
• Clarity: Nearly all diamonds contain unique clarity characteristics. Flawless diamonds are exceptional and costly. Most inclusions are invisible unless magnified.
  
  
• Color: Colorless diamonds are extremely uncommon. Most diamonds have a slight yellow or brown tint. GIA uses letters to represent colors, beginning with D (colorless) and ending at Z (light yellow or brown). “Fancy colored diamonds” come in every color imaginable, are also very unusual and have their own GIA color grading system.
  
  
• Cut: While diamonds come in different shapes, such as round, pear or marquise, the term “cut” refers to proportion. The well-cut, balanced diamond has unbridled brilliance, sparkle and fire.

Get an independent diamond grading report.

• A diamond grading report tells you the exact gemological quality of your diamond. Is it a natural diamond? Is it a synthetic diamond? Has it been treated and how? What are its quality ratings according to the Four Cs?

Have your diamond appraised and insured.

• A diamond grading report describes the precise gemological quality of your diamond while an appraiser puts a monetary value to the stone. You can laser inscribe a personal message or the diamond’s unique GIA Grading Report number on the diamond’s girdle.

So, relax, do a little research, and before you know it you'll be as brilliant as diamond when it comes to diamond shopping.

Diamond Care

Diamonds are remarkably durable, resistant to scratching except by another diamond, and maintain their brilliant fire extremely well. These qualities make a diamond well-suited to regular wear and are perfect for engagement and wedding rings, which are usually worn every day.

But even a diamond isn’t indestructible. It can be chipped by a sharp blow or become loose in its setting and fall out. A diamond should be worn with care.

Because diamonds tend to pick up grease and oils, they can become dirty with handling and should be occasionally wiped with a lint-free cloth. Other methods for safe cleaning include warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush or a commercial cleaning solution. It is not recommended to use ultrasonic and steam cleaners.