There's More To Buying A Diamond Than The Price
Author: Sintilia Miecevole

Of course the price will be one of the factors that will
influence your decision of whether to buy a diamond or not, but
it is not the only one. Not knowing anything about gems may make
you buy one of an inferior quality. This is the reason why
knowing the fundamental points needed when purchasing a diamond
can help. These are the 4 Cs: Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat
Weight.

Once you have learned the 4 Cs it will be easier for you to
choose the right diamond. Here we have the 4 Cs explained in
detail:

1. Color - or better, the lack of color in your gem. What you
really have to look for is the whitest stone of all. A
yellowish or grayish tone of diamond would be a diamond of
inferior quality. You have grades of diamond going from A to Z.
If the diamond is, say, a grade D, it means it is the whitest
and one of the bests; if it is a grade Z, it will be very
yellowish or brownish, and not so good. The way the majority of
Gemologists verify the color quality is by comparing the diamond
you have with one that has an already known grade.

2. Cut - not anyone can cut a diamond, the Gemologist that cuts
it is giving a grade on this C! Hopefully, the one who does the
cut for you will get an A, though. You will notice that if the
cut is successful, the diamond will be more sparkling and
shiny. A well-cut stone will release light that can form
beautiful patterns. The wonderfulness and sloppiness of your
diamond will depend on the degrees of the angles and the
percentages of the dimensions. But take into account that oval
or marquise diamonds have different cut standards because of
their different shapes.

3. Clarity - inclusions and imperfections will determine the
clarity of your diamond. The clarity of your gem can go from
flawless to 13. By inclusions I mean a crack in the diamond, or
any other piece of crystal trapped within the gem, or anything
anomalous found under 10X magnification.

4. Carat Weight - it is measured by the diamond scale. It is
like weighting the diamond in points: 100 points would be a
full carat; 50 points would be a half carat diamond; and 25
points would be a quarter carat diamond.

Now that you know the 4 Cs, it would be easier for you to
choose the right gem. However, do not doubt asking a gemologist
whatever you want to know. The explanations of a specialist will
lead you to a better understanding of the 4 Cs and to a better
decision when buying a diamond.


About The Author: Sintilia Miecevole, Proprietor, has a wealth
of knowledge having worked in the diamond industry for several
years. Her site, http://www.adiamondsite.com, is a huge
resource for everything from buying and selling diamonds to
cut, color, clarity, carat weight and pricing. Be sure to visit
http://www.adiamondsite.com to check out diamonds.