Diamonds are costly, that is why they should be purchased with careful thought. A diamond has absolute ageless splendor and beauty. It is important to learn how to choose a perfect diamond. This might be the difference between a diamond that will be treasured for a lifetime and one that will fall flat.
When it comes to picking a stunning diamond, it’s all about narrowing down the diamond’s shape. When choosing one, you can use the 4Cs of diamond selection as a guide. The four Cs of a diamond are carat weight, cut quality, color, and clarity. If you’d prefer not to deal with a salesman and instead do it yourself, follow these six simple steps to choose a perfect diamond.
A Simple Guide to Selecting the Perfect Diamond
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Choose the Diamond Origin
Diamonds can be derived from different origins such as man-made or lab-created diamonds and mined diamonds. Lab-created diamonds are just as genuine as diamonds harvested from the ground. Except for the fact that they are developed in a lab. Diamonds created in the lab are similar to diamonds harvested on the ground in every way except it is more environmentally friendly. Mined diamonds have the same chemical, physical, and optical qualities, as well as the same fire, scintillation, and sparkle.
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Research Retailers
Before buying something, it’s typically a good idea to conduct some research. You want to know that if you spend tens of thousands of dollars on a diamond or anything else, it will look great and that you aren’t overpaying for something substandard.
However, as mentioned, the quality of a diamond is influenced by a variety of elements such as clarity and color. You don’t need to be a professional to recognize what looks excellent. But choosing the right retailers can help guarantee a good diamond purchase.
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Select the Diamond Shape You Want
You must first choose a shape for your diamond before you can focus on its quality. Although most people like round diamonds, there are a variety of diamond shapes to choose from, and certain non-round shapes will stand out. In comparison to round diamonds, they’re also less expensive.
The majority of these non-round shapes appear to be bigger than round diamonds of the same carat weight. This is owing to their elongated shape, or diagonal length, which gives them a bigger appearance. After the round diamond, the square princess cut is the second most popular diamond shape. Oval and pear forms are also fashionable right now.
Consider a marquise cut if you’re looking for a diamond under 3 carats. Marquise cut diamonds look bigger than other diamond shapes of the same carat weight due to their elongated form.
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See Diamonds Before Buying
For first-time diamond buyers, finding a diamond that just looks great is the key to being satisfied with their purchase. Until you see a diamond, you won’t know if it’s a fake or a dud. As a result, the place where you buy your diamond is quite important.
You’ll be able to examine your diamond personally if you’re purchasing at a physical jewelry store. Make sure the jeweler displays the diamond under magnification and from several angles, as well as in its planned setting. Even if you’re buying a diamond online, you must see it first!
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Determine Carat Weight
Carat is sometimes mistaken for the size of a diamond because it is a weight measurement. Although most engagement ring diamonds are one to two carats, make sure you take the time to find out what your preferred minimum carat size is.
A diamond’s carat weight has a considerable influence on its price. This is because diamond prices increase as the carat size increases, such as 0.50 carats, 1.00 carats, 1.50 carats, 2.00 carats, 3.00 carats, 4.00 carats, and 5.00 carats.
The price of a diamond climbs exponentially as its carat weight increases. Reducing the carat weight has a bigger impact on price than it does on appearance.
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Check Clarity and Color
The color of a diamond refers to how clear or golden it is. Diamonds of the best grade are colorless in general, however diamonds of inferior quality might have a faint yellow hue. The visual appearance of each diamond is graded using qualitative criteria called diamond clarity. The lower the number of flaws and defects in a diamond, the higher its clarity grade.
The clarity of a diamond is graded on a scale of I (included) to FL (flawless). There are subgrades inside each clarity grade that give more information on the visibility of inclusions in the diamond.
If you can’t tell the difference between D and H color diamonds, there’s no reason to spend extra for a D color diamond. There’s also no use in paying more for a diamond with Flawless (F) clarity when most diamonds will seem flawless.
Also when choosing a diamond for an engagement ring, the ring itself has an impact on the look of your diamond. The color of the diamond whether metal hue, white, yellow, or rose will also play a part in the look of the diamond.
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Consider Budget and Re-Evaluate
Purchasing a diamond is a very special activity. Of course, you want the greatest diamond you can get for your money. But, especially if you’re on a budget, you’ll want to keep expenditures as low as possible.
It’s always possible to locate a diamond that satisfies all four criteria but is still beyond your price range. If that’s the case, you can decide which of these features you’re ready to sacrifice.
Once you’ve chosen the perfect diamond carat, you may work within your budget by compromising on the other four c’s: carat, clarity, color, and cut. Before proceeding, the clarity of the diamond might be reduced. As well as the carat weight. Also, the diamond color or hue of a diamond can be reduced. For round diamonds, the cut can be very good, while for exotic shapes, it can be good.
Conclusion
Choosing a diamond might be difficult. As discussed in this article before buying a diamond it is recommended to research the diamond retailers. Select the shape of the diamond and make sure you see the diamond before buying it. Also most importantly check the carat weight and color. Then finally consider the budget and re-evaluate.
