.: DISCOUNT DIAMONDS :.
Buying discount diamonds doesn’t mean compromising on quality as discount diamonds comes in various price ranges. Some diamond jewelry stores may hype their quality as AAAA quality diamonds to jack up prices, where in fact, you may be getting S or I1-I3 quality diamonds. First of all it is best to understand the quality of diamonds. Most of us perhaps already know that when it comes to pearls, they are graded from A to AAA; but diamonds are valued differently. Expert appraisers in the field of gemology have developed methods of grading diamonds and other gemstones based on the characteristics most important to their value as a gem. Diamonds are commonly judged by the “four Cs”: carat, clarity, color, and cut. 1. CUT:Cut is all about precision and symmetry. The cut gives a diamond its true brilliance, releasing the sparkle within in it.
2. CARAT: Weight of any diamond is measured in carats. One carat is equivalent to 0.2g or equal to 1/5 the of 1 gram, or 0.007 of an ounce and there are 100 points per carat. 3. COLOR: Diamonds come in many shades and sizes, ranging from colorless, white, yellow and brown to more intense colors such as orange, pink, green and black 4. CLARITY: The number of flaws or inclusions or spots within a stone and their position determine the diamonds clarity. SHAPE: Traditional diamond cuts are round brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart and emerald. But some of the new cuts are Asher square cut diamond and the Royal Radiant Cut. Diamond frequently has inclusions, or small flaws, air bubbles, scratches, or other minerals inside the diamond. The less inclusions a diamond has, the more valuable it is, and the more beautiful it is. Here is the general scale for grading diamond's clarity is: F Flawless: means no internal or external inclusions. IF Internally Flawless: No internal inclusions but slight external inclusions. VVS1-VVS2: Very Very Slight inclusions - minute inclusions that are nearly difficult to detect under 10x magnification, even by an experienced appraiser/grader. VS1-VS2: Very Slight inclusions - minute inclusions that are invisible to the naked eye and seen only with difficulty under 10x magnification. SI 1-SI 2: Slightly Included - invisible to the naked eye, yet easily seen by an experienced appraiser/grader under 10x magnification. I1-I3 Included: inclusions are visible to the naked eye and affect brilliance. Stones that are VVS2 to F are very rare and thus very expensive. Most couples will opt for something between SI 2 and VS1, and will never know the difference. It is common practice to ask that an independent international laboratory such as GIA, EGL, DCLA, HRD, IGI, and AGS certify the diamond. When you buy a diamond, it should be accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. This should list the four C's and state the approximate retail value of the stone. Be sure you get a certificate and make your own comparisons between what it says and the diamond itself.