Getting engaged is perhaps one of the most remarkable, yet also one of the most nerve racking moments of any person’s life. The pressure can be enormous and with so many factors that need to come together before uttering the words “Will you marry me?”, choosing an engagement ring can be tricky. But have no fear, because getting it right is easy, as long as you know all about the four C’s (Clarity, Cut, Color and Carat weight)! Today’s blog will focus on one of the most character-defining of the four C’s: the Cut.
When deciding on the perfect cut for your diamond, the biggest misconception is thinking that cut refers simply to the shape of the diamond, such as round, heart, oval, marquise etc. While this is technically correct, the Cut actually refers to a diamond’s ability to interact with light. Let us explain.
A diamond’s proportions affects the way it reacts to light, meaning if a diamond has a perfect cut, it will allow light to enter and exit in a way that delivers that unique sparkle. GIA must calculate and categorize a diamond’s proportions in order to determine its ability to deliver that gorgeous shine. We call this cut, and a diamond’s cut grade can range anywhere from Excellent to Poor. So what makes a diamond excellent?
The deciding factor usually lies within the structure of the diamond itself.
The most important material to study when deciding on the right diamond cut for you, is learning all about diamond anatomy. A diamond is made up of 6 major parts: The Table, Crown, Girdle, Pavilion, Culet and its Depth. To give you a better idea of why these factors are so important, we will give you an example.The pavilion, for instance, is the distance from the bottom half of the diamond to the very tip (the culet). A pavilion depth that’s too short or too long may result in light escaping from the sides and therefore that particular diamond will not receive a perfect cut grade. A perfect diamond will direct more light through the crown (the top half of the diamond) rather than the bottom half.
A diamond’s craftsmanship is also to be taken into consideration when designating cut grade. Characteristics such as diamond weight, durability (based on thickness), symmetry and of course polish, are all factors that must be thoroughly tested. These are measured by determining Brightness, Fire and Scintillation which refers to how much light is reflected by a diamond, the scattering of that light into all seven colors of the rainbow and the amount of sparkle, or shine, it produces; in corresponding order. A diamond’s ability to perform all three, proves that it is truly excellent.
We hope that this information makes the diamond selection process a lot let stressful for you, however, if you still can’t seem to put your finger on it, remember, there are still THREE more C’s to take into account! Join us throughout the next couple of blogs to learn all about Color, Clarity and Carat Weight and make sure you get that happily ever after you’ve been searching for.
The Color of Your Diamond and What It Means
/0 Comments/in Diamond Knowledge, News /bySo you know the exact cut, clarity and carat weight of the diamond of your dreams, but now it’s time to decide on one final detail: The color! It is important that you are aware that the hue you decide on can strongly determine the value of your diamond and its overall attainability. While it’s important to be 100% satisfied with the diamond of your choice, it is also important to understand how rare some diamonds can be. While some people prefer to stick with a classic clear diamond, others prefer to show off their personality and choose a fancy colored diamond. Today, we will explore the vast differences between the two, in order to help you make an educated decision about the type of jewel you choose to rock on your most important finger.
When GIA rates a precious stone they use a scale that ranges from D-Z to depict its color grade. It is important to note that the most valuable diamonds actually possess no color at all! It is extremely difficult to find a completely clear stone in nature, however, the closer it gets to being completely see-through, the more value it obtains. So when we speak about diamonds in regards to color we are actually speaking of the lack of color it possesses. GIA has what they call a set of “Master Stones” which gets compared to new stones when deciding what category to place them in. Diamond inspections are conducted by GIA diamond specialists and are extremely difficult to determine with an untrained eye. If a stone starts to stray away from that perfect crystal-clear color grade and starts to attain more of a yellowish/brown hue the stone is then given a rating that is closer to Z.
So what’s the deal with diamonds of different colors? Like red, green, or even purple? These diamonds are called fancy colored diamonds and have a totally different scale of color grading that ranges from faint, light, fancy intense, fancy vivid, fancy deep etc. However, we will discuss the method of categorizing fancy colored diamonds in a totally separate blog as they tend to have a mind of their own. But for now, some important details to keep in mind are that red diamonds are the rarest of all diamonds, followed closely by blue and then, of course, pink. So unless you’re looking to spend more on your diamond then your actual wedding and honeymoon put together, it’s important to know which diamond fits into your overall budget.
Year after year, diamonds of all color spectrums are chosen by brides-to-be, to be worn for the rest of their lives; in sickness and in health.The most popular of them all being the clear-colored diamond for its beautiful simplicity. So don’t get too caught up trying to impress your friends and family with an extravagant choice. In a way, the diamond chooses you, and trust us, when you see it, you’ll know.
Cut Up On Diamonds: Why Diamond Cut is So Important
/0 Comments/in Diamond Knowledge, News /byGetting engaged is perhaps one of the most remarkable, yet also one of the most nerve racking moments of any person’s life. The pressure can be enormous and with so many factors that need to come together before uttering the words “Will you marry me?”, choosing an engagement ring can be tricky. But have no fear, because getting it right is easy, as long as you know all about the four C’s (Clarity, Cut, Color and Carat weight)! Today’s blog will focus on one of the most character-defining of the four C’s: the Cut.
When deciding on the perfect cut for your diamond, the biggest misconception is thinking that cut refers simply to the shape of the diamond, such as round, heart, oval, marquise etc. While this is technically correct, the Cut actually refers to a diamond’s ability to interact with light. Let us explain.
A diamond’s proportions affects the way it reacts to light, meaning if a diamond has a perfect cut, it will allow light to enter and exit in a way that delivers that unique sparkle. GIA must calculate and categorize a diamond’s proportions in order to determine its ability to deliver that gorgeous shine. We call this cut, and a diamond’s cut grade can range anywhere from Excellent to Poor. So what makes a diamond excellent?
The deciding factor usually lies within the structure of the diamond itself.
The most important material to study when deciding on the right diamond cut for you, is learning all about diamond anatomy. A diamond is made up of 6 major parts: The Table, Crown, Girdle, Pavilion, Culet and its Depth. To give you a better idea of why these factors are so important, we will give you an example.The pavilion, for instance, is the distance from the bottom half of the diamond to the very tip (the culet). A pavilion depth that’s too short or too long may result in light escaping from the sides and therefore that particular diamond will not receive a perfect cut grade. A perfect diamond will direct more light through the crown (the top half of the diamond) rather than the bottom half.
A diamond’s craftsmanship is also to be taken into consideration when designating cut grade. Characteristics such as diamond weight, durability (based on thickness), symmetry and of course polish, are all factors that must be thoroughly tested. These are measured by determining Brightness, Fire and Scintillation which refers to how much light is reflected by a diamond, the scattering of that light into all seven colors of the rainbow and the amount of sparkle, or shine, it produces; in corresponding order. A diamond’s ability to perform all three, proves that it is truly excellent.
We hope that this information makes the diamond selection process a lot let stressful for you, however, if you still can’t seem to put your finger on it, remember, there are still THREE more C’s to take into account! Join us throughout the next couple of blogs to learn all about Color, Clarity and Carat Weight and make sure you get that happily ever after you’ve been searching for.
The 4 C’s of Love
/0 Comments/in Diamond Knowledge, News /byThe 4 C’s of Love
Where does forever begin? Is it the moment you both say ‘I do’ or is it the moment you first lock eyes?
No matter what you consider to be the beginning of your love story, the truth is there’s nothing more special than the moment you both make it official. Your engagement story is one your friends and family will beg you to tell over and over again for years to come. So how do you make sure you get it just right?
The engagement ring, is a great place to start!
The 4 C’s are GIA’s most trusted system of grading which ensures that you and your beloved encapsulate an exemplary symbol of each other’s love by picking out the perfect diamond. So what are the 4 C’s?
When picking out diamonds, the globally accepted standard for categorizing them are Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight. Although each category is completely different, they are each extremely important when it comes to knowing what you are purchasing and how much it is actually worth.
Let us briefly go over each category in order to better understand why each one is so essential.
Color refers to the absence of color itself. Meaning, the purer the diamond the more visibility it will obtain. Just like your drinking water, you want the diamond of your choosing to be as translucent as possible in order to attain that lovely sparkle! When discussing Clarity, we are referring to the occurrence of small abnormalities that can occur in the anatomical structure of the diamond. These irregular formations occur when small crystals are trapped within the diamond during its natural development. While no diamond is 100% pure, the more clarity it possesses, the more valuable it is. Perhaps the most intricate out of all these categories is Cut. While it may seem that this category refers purely to the shape of the diamond, cut actually refers to its ability to transmit and reflect light. A diamond’s ability to do so relies heavily on its physical attributes such as: crown height, table size, girdle thickness etc. Lastly, perhaps one of our favorite categories is Carat Weight. This is because even if two diamonds are exactly the same in regard to cut, clarity and color, the carat weight will be the deciding factor in determining which is more valuable. A single carat weighs 200 milligrams and was originally based off the weight of a carob seed, which was used as a counterbalance when weighing diamonds back in the day. This is still the most widely used measurement to date.
It goes without saying that love cannot be measured by color, clarity, cut or even carat weight, yet people have been proposing with these precious stones for thousands of years because diamonds represent a long-term commitment that goes far beyond words or physical affection. Knowing everything about the diamond you get engaged with makes it all the more special and memorable when that momentous evening comes around, giving a deeper meaning to the phrase “Diamonds are forever.”