Hi Folks
I thought a good starting point for our blog would be, Education! A huge portion of the
jewellery we sell at Bond Investment Jewellery, is set with diamonds and, in fact, we have a selection of loose diamonds
as well!
Yup! You’ve heard about the 4cs right! Well here’s some info
about the 4cs in layman’s terms! That’s right; it’s easy enough for ME to understand!
I’ve included a few other FAQs that may help you on your
quest for the perfect piece of jewellery!
Question: I've heard
of the 4C's but don't truly understand what they mean. In layman's terms, what
are a diamond's 4C's?
Carat:
The carat weight is simply the mass (size) of the diamond.
One carat is defined as exactly 200 milligrams. All else being equal, the value
of a diamond increases exponentially in relation to carat weight, since larger
diamonds are rarer. This being said, other factors (such as Cut, Color and
Clarity) come into play when determining the price of a diamond. The price of a
stone is not based on the size of the diamond alone. In a store you may see two
stones, one slightly larger than the other, yet the larger carat weight diamond
may be the same price or even cheaper than the smaller diamond. This is because
the grades of the color, clarity and cut of the smaller diamond will be better.
Cut:
This refers to the proportions and finish of a polished
diamond. Proportions are the size and angle relationships between the facets
and different parts of the diamond. Finish includes polish and details of facet
shape and placement. Cut affects both the weight yield from rough and the
optical efficiency of the polished diamond. A well-cut diamond will internally
reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another and disperse and reflect it
through the top of the stone. The better cut the stone, the better the sparkle,
or 'brilliance'.
Colour:
The colour of a diamond is ranked on a scale from ‘D' down
to ‘Z'. A ‘D' color is the top color grade (colorless) and a ‘Z' - would mean that stone has a noticeable
tint of color, typically yellow. If though, the stone has a greater colour
saturation than a ‘Z', it is considered a Fancy Colored Diamond and is graded
on a separate scale. It is also far more valuable. Most coloured diamonds are
yellow and brown. More rare are pink, blue and red.Clarity:
Question: What type
of cut is the best?
It's all down to personal preference. The most common is the
brilliant or round cut diamond. Other cuts include Emerald cut (rectangular
shape), Marquise cut (elongated shape with points at each end), Pear cut (resembles
a teardrop), Princess cut (square or rectangular shape), Radiant cut (square or
rectangular shape with the corners cut off) and Trilliant cut (triangular
shape). The best way to decide which type of cut you prefer is to simply look
at loose diamonds in a variety of shapes and choose your favorite. You should
also take into consideration what ‘look' you want from your stone. For example,
fancy shapes tend look larger than others, yet round brilliants hide defects
and yellow tints the best.
Question: Should I
buy a loose stone or do I get a better deal buying the whole ring?
This depends on the store. When setting a diamond, it is
common (and sensible) to put any defects or "inclusions" under a
prong. The problem with buying the whole ring is that the stone cannot be
examined out of the setting. Most stores will not charge a setting fee if both
the stone and setting are purchased there. Buy the stone loose if you can.
Question: What is the
difference between a "certified diamond" and a "non-certified
diamond"?
There is no physical difference between a diamond that is
certified and one that is not. The difference is that, with the certified
diamond, you have a third party assurance as to the particular nature and
quality of the diamond you are purchasing. A certified diamond comes with a
diamond grading report from a gem lab. This report assures the customer that
the diamond is independently recognized as possessing all the qualities
specified by that report.
Question: How do I
know that it is a ‘real diamond'?
There are several tests, but in reality, unless you're a
gemologist you can't really tell 100% whether the diamond you're looking at is
a simulant, synthetic of even ‘fake'.
If you cannot easily find inclusions under a 10 times
magnification you should become suspicious, most likely it is not a real
diamond. But be aware of the fact that some gas bubbles in cubic zirconium may
appear like inclusions if you do not look carefully. Diamond grading reports do
give you certainty on the nature of the gem.
Question: Is a diamond a good
investment?
The answer depends on whether you are investing in the
diamond itself, or in what a diamond represents. Diamond prices have been
steadily increasing for the past decades and diamonds tend to hold their value.
Question: Can a diamond break
or chip?
Even though diamonds are extremely hard, they can still be
damaged from abuse. Diamonds can scratch each other and all other gemstones,
such as sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and pearls. You should store your diamonds
away from other gems in a jewelry box and don't wear any valuable gemstones
while doing hard work.
Question: How should I clean my
diamond?
Anything that cuts grease will help remove the build-up of
oil and dirt from a diamond. Commercially prepared jewelry cleaner is perfectly
suited for this purpose as is a simple dishwashing detergent and a bit of
ammonia. You can of course also ask your jeweller periodically to clean your
diamond jewellery. He will on the same occasion verify the setting to make sure
your diamond remains in place.
Zaida
Bond Investment Jewellery
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