The GIA Retailer Lookup is a handy tool that allows you to locate local retailers that have GIA-trained staff or carry GIA-graded diamonds. They will encourage you to compare a number of diamonds that fall within your budget. Your jeweler should be armed with expert training, be open to questions, and be able to explain how to buy a diamond in clear, simple language. A jeweler’s professional training can help you evaluate how knowledgeable he or she is. Preferably, their training comes from a highly recognized and internationally accredited program, such as the GIA Graduate Gemologist (GG) or Applied Jewelry Professional (AJP) diploma programs.Īs your personal diamond-buying guide, an educated jeweler will not only explain the 4Cs of Diamond Quality, but will also be able to demonstrate the differences between apparently similar stones. The first step of buying a diamond in-store is finding a reputable jeweler. Buying right below a “magic size,” such as purchasing a 0.95 carat diamond instead of a 1.0 carat diamond, can save money without making much of a difference in visual impact.Īnother factor to consider when buying a diamond is diamond fluorescence. They increase more at certain “magic sizes,” such as 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 carats etc. Tip: Diamond prices go up exponentially as carat weight increases. For example, a one-carat diamond that is wider but has shallow proportions will appear larger than a one-carat diamond with excellent proportions. How large a diamond appears also depends on its proportions. Generally speaking, the higher the carat weight, the larger the diamond appears and the more valuable the stone. If you want to buy a step cut diamond (such as an emerald cut), you may have to go higher in color and clarity than with a brilliant-cut diamond. Tip: Brilliant-cut diamonds show clarity characteristics less than step cut diamonds do, because the pattern of the facet arrangement obscures inclusions better. Diamonds I1 (Included) or lower have inclusions that are easily seen and can appear less attractive some of these inclusions might also impact the diamond’s durability. Diamonds with grades down to VS2 (Very Slightly Included) or SI1 (Slightly Included) do not typically have eye-visible inclusions. Grades range from ‘Flawless,’ which means a diamond has no visible imperfections at 10x magnification, to ‘Included,’ which means a diamond contains a significant number of imperfections. Clarity measures the amount, size and placement of internal ‘inclusions’ and external ‘blemishes.’ Inclusions include small crystals or fissures within the diamond.Color becomes more visible in the I grade and below. G and H diamonds are typically considered good value. Tip: D, E and F grade diamonds tend to be extremely rare and valuable. Diamonds graders evaluate diamonds face-down in special environments to see subtle color differences. Color grade impacts the price of a stone, but differences of one to three color grades are not easily detectable to untrained eyes.Any diamond beyond the Z color grade is a fancy color diamond and is evaluated on a different color scale. There are 23 color grades on the D-to-Z scale, with D meaning that a diamond has no detectable color at all and Z meaning that a diamond has “light” color. The less color in a diamond, the more desirable and valuable it is. This is because most “colorless” or “white” diamonds actually contain trace amounts of yellow, brown or gray color. Color measures a diamond’s absence of color.The diamonds in this image show Poor, Good and Excellent cut grade from left to right. Diamonds with a ‘Poor’ cut grade will generally appear lifeless and dull. Tip: Most diamonds on the market have ‘Excellent’ to ‘Very Good’ cut. *Note that fancy cut diamonds such as pear or heart-shaped diamonds do not have GIA cut grades, because there are wider parameters for their proportions and facet arrangements. Cut does not refer to a diamond’s shape, but rather to the quality of workmanship (proportion and arrangement of facets) for round brilliant diamonds.* The quality of a diamond’s cut determines the amount of brilliance, sparkle and fire that a diamond shows. Cut is perhaps the most crucial of the 4Cs.The GIA 4Cs of diamond quality helps you understand a diamond’s characteristics as well as its value and price. Why do you need a GIA Diamond Grading Report?. Having the guidance of a GIA-trained retailer can help. How do you buy a diamond you love that is also within your budget? First, make sure you know what 4Cs quality factors you value most.
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