Ring Buying Guide
A good understanding of diamonds is necessary before you begin shopping for a beautiful diamond that is just right! Our guide gives you all the necessary information on the all-important “four Cs” as well as additional information on all things diamonds. You will then be equipped to make the best decisons based on the simple, straight-forward informaition in this article.
Carat refers to the weight of a diamond not the size, however well proportioned diamond of a certain weight should be a certain size. One carat equals 0.200grams and contains 100 points.
Two diamonds of equal carat weight can have varying prices when you take into account other diamond factors such as colour, clarity and cut. As the carat size of a diamond increases, the diamond’s price increases at an increasing rate as larger diamonds are more rare.
The less colour in a white diamond, the more true colour it will reflect. The colour of diamonds is placed on a scale of D (colourless) through Z (light colour). Colour variations are very difficult to determine.
D, E. F diamonds are considered colourless; they are very rare and unique. Each of these colours is unique however the difference is only detectable by a gemmologist using side by side comparisons.
G, H, I, J diamonds are considered near colourless. While traces of colour are present the colour is not noticeable to the naked eye. When set in white gold or platinum the presence of colour is unnoticeable.
K, L, M diamonds have a faint colour. These diamonds can represent great value however the colour is detectable with the naked eye.
Diamond colours go all the way through to Z which present a yellow tint.
Clarity of a diamond is determined by the presence of, or lack thereof, of small imperfections within the diamond, known as inclusions. They are known are nature’s imprint on the diamond.
FL-IF Even under magnification, a skilled diamond grader, cannot detect any internal inclusions or flaws. These are the rarest diamonds and are much more expensive than VVS grade diamonds.
VVS1-VVS2 Using 10x magnification a diamond expert finds it very difficult to detect any inclusions or flaws. These are not visible to the naked eye.
VS1-VS2 Under magnification you can clearly see the diamond inclusions but they are very small. Again you cannot see these flaws with the naked eye.
SI1-SI2 Using 10x magnification the inclusions are obvious to a diamond grader. They are not normally visible to an untrained eye.
I1, I2, I3 – Inclusions are obvious and they sometimes affect the brilliance of the diamond.
In a well cut diamond, the light strikes each pavilion facet at an angle which allows most of the light to reflect back to the top. As it passes through the crown facets at a low angle, the light refracts upon exit. In this case, refraction is a good thing, as the bent light travels to the observer’s eye and is perceived as brilliance.
The shape of the diamond is very important when considering your diamond. There are many options and they all have their unique characteristics.
Round – The round brilliant cut diamond is by far the most popular choice of diamond. Over the years this shape has been optimized to make sure it takes the maximum amount of light giving it a fantastic brilliance and sparkle. This shape is perfect for a diamond engagement ring.
Oval – An oval cut diamond is very similar to a round brilliant cut diamond in its appearance. However it is a fraction longer with curved corners and straighter sides. For someone who has longer, slender fingers this shape of diamond is perfect in an engagement ring.
Marquise – The marquise cut is a traditional shaped diamond which depending on the cut can get longer or wider as the carat weight increases. The brilliance of this stone is that it looks stunning in a diamond engagement ring or with other shaped stones such as round or princess.
Pear – The pear shaped diamond is a traditional style and is also known as a tear drop shape. As the diamond increases in carat weight the stone becomes wider as opposed to longer. Fantastic choice for longer, slender fingers.
Heart – A heart shaped diamond is one of the more romantic shaped diamonds.
Emerald – Due to the large table it highlights the clarity of the diamond and in SI clarity inclusions can be visible. The straight rectangular cuts make this modern shaped diamond a fantastic choice for any diamond engagement ring.
Princess – The princess cut is a square shape, it’s pointed corners set it apart from the other shapes of diamond available. In a diamond engagement ring it has an unrivalled sparkle and fire.
Radiant – A radiant cut diamond is a similar shape to the emerald cut diamond but sparkles like a round brilliant cut. It has around 75 facets making it ideal for any style of ring or jewellery.
A diamond certificate is an evaluation of the diamond that is done by an independent company confirming the colour, clarity, and carat. You may see other names for these such as diamond grading reports, diamond dossiers and more.
Some of our diamonds are graded by a trained diamond grader and expert within Rocks Jewellers and the others are certified by GIA (Gemmological Institute of America), IGI (International Gemmological Institute), HRD (Hoge Rood Voor Diament). All diamonds that are certified will have their clarity, colour, carat and cut graded. They will also have the diamond measurements and fluorescence listed on the certificate.
MULTI-STONE DIAMOND RINGS.
A common question when a customer buys an eternity ring or a trilogy ring is will the diamonds be certified?
In an eternity ring there can be up to 30 stones in particular designs. These stones will also be around 10-15 points. In these ring Rocks Jewellers will grade these stones for you, keeping the costs down while still being reassured of the quality. You will receive a special certificate from us confirming the diamond grades of your diamond eternity ring or diamond tennis bracelet for example.
We hope you will find this information useful when you go to buying your diamond or engagement ring. Keeping all these factors in mind will give you the reassurance that you are making the perfect diamond choice for you!
If you would like to make an appointment to come in and talk to us and view some rings please do so here.
If you are looking for custom-made and bespoke pieces, we are prepared to work closely with you to get the perfect piece of jewellery for you.
If it's engagement rings you are looking for, we have hundreds of distinct designs for you to choose from.