How to buy diamonds - what characteristics are important to the quality and the influence on the price:
Avoid buying bad quality, fake and simulant diamonds - read about: dirty tips and tricks Official appraisal, valuation
1. 4C's in fact 8C's The essential most important knowledge about diamonds
The 1th criterion is the Brightness: The ideal cut, Triple Excellent, Hearts & Arrows is by far the most important matter
buying diamonds! You see it. Your Diamond has the best Brightness or not
On the Diamond Certificate you must find following grading: Cut grade:
Proportions: Hearts & Arrows, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, Unusual or Fancy cut
Polish: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor
Symmetry: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, Unusual
Brightness is obtained by the art of Cutting and Polishing View ideal proportions all shapes Ideal cut: H&A
2. Carat weight grading chart The 2nth criterion is the weight of the diamond. Carat weight converted in milligrams and grams.You can see it.
Your Diamond is big or small ! (Weight is expressed in Carat) View diamond Carat weight
3 Diamond sizes The size of diamonds Dimensions expressed in millimeter and centimeter. The size is determined by shape and cut
4. Color grading chart The 3th criterion is the Color: You can see it.
Your Diamond is White. (D, E, F, G, H, I are White Color indications) D, E, F - Blue White registered color explained
5. Clarity grading chart The 4th criterion is the Clarity: That's what you see by naked eye (Eye Clean)
and by loupe (Loupe Clean).If you can't see any inclusion it's the best Clarity. (VS1 to SI 3 and some I1+)
Everything situated above is not important because you can't see it.
Better Clarity is invisible, is much more expensive and you can see the difference only by microscope.
6. Fluorescence The 5th criterion is the Fluorescence, read more about
We describe the four most important quality requirements, 4C's in fact 8C's for diamonds: Cut, Carat, Color, Clarity and more
1. View Cut grading chart - Cut is most important to diamond valuation - View images
Cut and shape are frequently confused.
Shape is the model
The loss in carat weight between a rough and cut / polished diamonds is about 60 to 66 %
Example: a rough diamond of 2.00 Carats gives a cut and polished diamond with ideal cut of about 0.66 carat
The cut is determinate by 2 separate descriptions :
The proportions and the finishing grade.
These are the most important elements for the brightness of the diamond. Read more about
There are 2 separate definitions: The diamond carat size and the carat weight of diamonds Each diamond has an individual weight, depending on the cut and the shape. The diamond weight is expressed in Carats. One Carat has a weight of 200 milligram - 200 milligrams = 0.2 grams.
The Color of diamonds. Diamonds exist in all colors of the rainbow. The diamond grading laboratories have standardized the color grading.
The most desired are colorless diamonds: Read more about and view the color grading chart
Blue, Black, Pink, Champaign, Canary Yellow, Cognac and Green exist in natural color or enhanced by treatments
The color is graded by standard artificial light which is the equivalent of the Northern daylight.
Masterstones are used to compare color grading. Visualize colored diamonds grading in all rainbow colors
Defining the existence of visual inclusions, impurities of external and internal characteristics of a diamond. visualize clarity grading chart
6. Fluorescence influencing color explained The mysterious "Blue White" registered Color explained
HPHT processed or hp-ht treatment of diamonds: genuine value?
Buying diamonds you must look at first to what is the most visible, that's what is the most important:
1. Ideal Cut, Triple Excellent, Hearts & Arrows = Brightness
2. Carat - weight and the size expressed in Carats
3. Size - expressed in dimensions
4. Color
5. Clarity
6. Fluorescence
Shape :
Some common diamond shapes are: Brilliant, Princess, Oval, Heart, Pear / Teardrop, Emerald, Marquise, Flanders, Trilliant - Trillion, Radiant, Tapers and Baguette. You can find several other Fancy shapes like Horse, Butterfly and more.
There are many diamond shapes. The most popular are:
It is the standard for all other diamond shapes. More than 75% of diamonds sold today are round brilliant diamonds. The round brilliant diamond displays most fire and scintillation of all cuts.
Princess cut + shape: square cut diamond with 90 degree angles on each corner, visualize facets. The Princess Cut diamond is a young cut, designed for getting maximum brilliance from a square cut.
Pear cut + shape: also named Teardrop diamonds: pear shape is a combination of oval and marquise cuts. visualize facets
Emerald cut + shape: They can be rectangular or square shaped. They have beveled corners and step cut facets.Select a good clarity and color. because of the open shape. Emerald diamonds are cheaper than brilliant diamonds. The weight is less, you can spend more on quality. The Emerald cut is a very stunning noble cut. visualize facets
Heart cut + shape: the best shaped heart diamonds are cut with even lobes and a well-defined outline Heart shape diamonds are hard to find and are considered most sentimental of all diamond shapes. visualize facets
Trillion - Trilliant cut + shape:also named Trilliant diamonds: triangular shaped diamond. This triangular cut is one of Antwerp special cut diamonds. A one carat trillion or trilliant diamond looks as large as a 1.50 carat round brilliant diamond! A trillion or trilliant Diamond is a dazzling and versatile diamond shape whose uses are unlimited .It can be used in earrings, solitaires, wedding bands, necklaces, bracelets and pendants. visualize facets
Square cut diamonds: rectangular shape. Visualize facets
Cushion cut + shape: Deep cut with large facets. Very good shape for color diamonds because of the depth. visualize facets
Asscher cut + shape: Is a common square emerald cut diamond with concentric squares. In diamond grading reports it will be described as such. The Asscher cut diamond was created by the Asscher brothers of Amsterdam, Holland (Netherlands) in 1902. Square cut diamond such as emerald… but with less facets = less fire and brilliance. Other inconvenient: flaws and inclusions are easy to see. visualize facets
Flanders cut + shape: square cut diamonds with 65 facets, recently developed cut in Antwerp
Baguette cut + shape: step cut in the shape of a small rectangular stone. It has a table and 8 facets at the top and 8 facets at the pavilion.
Taper cut + shape: single step cut which has 9 facets. A taper has a table and 8 facets at the top and 6 facets at the pavilion, two of them at a taper form of an arrow.
Avoid buying bad quality, - Tips and Tricks, (dirty) - Learn how to detect fake and simulant diamonds
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Poor cuts (even the D IF 'graded'/indicated ones), also called off-makes, are relatively cheap! You may find these offered at eBay and tourist trap shops. A poor cut diamond has up to 50% less brilliance than a Very Good cut diamond. Poorly cut diamonds will refract only white light, or appear dull and lifeless and often have dark or washed-out areas that allow to see through the bottom of the stone.
Poor cuts (even the D IF 'graded'/indicated ones), also called off-makes, are relatively cheap! You may find these offered at eBay and tourist trap shops. A poor cut diamond has up to 50% less brilliance than a Very Good cut diamond. Poorly cut diamonds will refract only white light, or appear dull and lifeless and often have dark or washed-out areas that allow to see through the bottom of the stone. Watch out: ... Purchasing a diamond online is like buying a second hand car without a test-drive ...
•The lighting at tourist shops (and many jewelers) is specialized to enhance the brilliance and whiteness of a diamond.
The lighting at tourist shops (and many jewelers) is specialized to enhance the brilliance and whiteness of a diamond. Watch out: a diamond appears much whiter than it really is in such a lighting condition.
•Tourist and (online) diamond shops frequently use fake certificates to sell a diamond to you.
Tourist and (online) diamond shops frequently use fake certificates to sell a diamond to you.•Watch out: switching a certificate for one with a better grade also occurs!
Watch out: switching a certificate for one with a better grade also occurs!•Too thin girdle diamonds: Yes, a diamond can break or be chipped. You better avoid these very thin girdle diamonds (despite the fact that they are cheaper) frequently offered online.
Too thin girdle diamonds: Yes, a diamond can break or be chipped. You better avoid these very thin girdle diamonds (despite the fact that they are cheaper) frequently offered online.•Doublets: Doublet is a composite of a diamond and a simulant. The top (1/3) is true diamond, the bottom 2/3 worthless zircon or another simulant. The tourist trap jewelry shop may demonstrate to you with a diamond tester (the top and only genuine part) that it is true diamond. Watch out: you'll end up always paying the diamond price for the simulant bottom part!
Doublets: Doublet is a composite of a diamond and a simulant. The top (1/3) is true diamond, the bottom 2/3 worthless zircon or another simulant. The tourist trap jewelry shop may demonstrate to you with a diamond tester (the top and only genuine part) that it is true diamond. Watch out: you'll end up always paying the diamond price for the simulant bottom part!•Other diamond tricks, like treated diamonds nowadays quite popular in online auctions!
Other diamond tricks, like treated diamonds nowadays quite popular in online auctions! Good to know yet very difficult to notice: high-pressure high-temperature treated diamonds (brittle),
• laser drilled diamonds
• coated diamonds
• simulants
• paying handling costs for returning a diamond purchased online and/or
• paying for damaging the original (sealed) packaging,
• glued diamonds,
• fracture filled diamonds,
• irradiated fancy colored diamonds.
• Diamond watches online offers trick: Look for small sentence like "All custom diamond and gold work is done by ..., and not by the watch manufacturer. This means the diamonds are NOT set by the watch manufacturer and you have NO manufacturer's warranty.
• Ask for a real buyback guarantee!
Learn about Jewelry, settings, materials, precious metals and more Learn about Jewelry care + cleaners
Learn about Diamond wholesale prices + appraisals
Understanding HPHT Diamonds. Read more about
How releable are diamond testers? Find out
Want a professional Diamond Course:
Antwerp Diamond Courses & Antwerp Gemology Courses
Diamond High Council - HRD professional Diamond Courses
HRD-Institute of Gemology is the educational department of the Antwerp Diamond High Council.
It offers a range of highly qualified training programs in diamond grading and gemology:
1. Diamond Grading Course
Diamond Grading - Basic
Diamond Grading - Advanced
Diamond Grading - Extended
Diamond Loupe Week
2. Diamond Sorting Courses
Sorting of polished diamonds – small goods
Sorting of rough diamonds - basic
3. Gemology Program
Gemology
Gem Practice Advanced
4. Workshops
Information about these courses:
All further information on the complete courses offer can be obtained from:
Antwerp Diamond High Council
HRD-Institute of Gemology
Hoveniersstraat 22
B-2018 Antwerp Belgium Europe
Tel. + 32 3 222 07 01
Fax + 32
http://www.hrd.be
ISG training programs please visit the ISG website at www.SchoolofGemology.com
The International School of Gemology is a Certified Continuing Education Provider for the Texas Department of Insurance. Mail to: [email protected]
Email if you have any questions remaining. We will try to answer them to the best of our knowledge.
Appraisal Valuation... One minute diamond course for free...
Four C's Diamond Quality Grading Chart - Diamond Characteristics & Specifications, valuation.
View the 997,920 quality variations of diamonds in a chart
Highest to lowest actual quality specifications by importance: cut, carat, color, clarity - tips & tricks (dirty) - appraisal, valuation
Educational tools + ratio to find the perfect diamond by quality specification defined by importance
1. Cut: Ideal -Triple Excellent - Hearts & Arrows 2. Carat Weight 3. Carat Size 4. Color Blue - White Color 5. Clarity 6. Fluorescence
Understand determining qualities, produced by international diamond grading certificates before purchasing.
Diamond grading is an opinion covering some aspects of diamond qualities, named the 4C’s, but that is not all you must know, understand all
Each diamond is individual and each individual diamond is different! Perception of quality, tips and tricks - avoid the scams!
Antwerp World Diamond Center, World's largest Diamond Trade Center with a yearly turnover of more than 56 billion US $
Email Tel: +32 3 233 29 90
Antwerp World Diamond Centre, Diamond Exchange, Hoveniersstraat 2, Antwerp / Belgium / Europe
This page was last updated on: August 9, 2018
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