Ruby Diamonds

A diamond has long been revered as the ultimate symbol of lasting love because of it's purity and ageless beauty.

As a purchaser of diamonds for engagement rings, whether past, present or future, one may wonder why there is such variation in price from store to store. What characteristics constitute a $5,000 diamond versus one that costs only $500?

The physical weight of a diamond is referred to as its "carat". The value of a diamond is directly proportional to its size. The larger the diamond, the more valuable it is, because larger diamonds are less common. Greater size makes the diamond more spectacular, and therefore increases the purchase price.

Carat size may push the price up, but only slightly if there is no clarity. Several facets determine clarity on both an internal and external basis. Internal aspects, dubbed inclusions, and external aspects, dubbed blemishes, all contribute to the overall clarity score.

The number of inclusions as well as their size and tint all factor into the overall clarity score, as do the number and size of surface blemishes. A flawless diamond is at the top end of the clarity scale, referred to as 'pure'. An inexpensive diamond may carry with it the classification of 'heavily included'.

The appearance or absence of these imperfections is a result of how the diamond was formed underground over thousands of years. Since diamonds are often thought of as the symbol of perfection in our society, the more perfect they actually are under the scrutiny of a microscope, the more expensive they become.

Color is the next factor that determines a diamond's overall value. If possible, a diamond should be as clear as water, but this is not always the case. Colors from other gases and minerals around during the time of the diamond's formation may have altered its clean appearance and left the gem tinted.

There is a scale of coloration that ranges from "D," where no color is present, to "Z," where color is easily visible. There is a spectrum known as "beyond Z," where the colors are rich and vibrant within the diamond and are referred to as fancy colors.

The cost of a diamond is also determined by one final factor, the cut. The cut of a diamond gives it the ability to glitter by reflecting the light back out in very precise ways.

A diamond that sparkles and glitters can be said to have 'fire'. The actual rating system uses common words like good, average, and irregular. The bottom line though is if you want your diamond to sparkle even in dim light, then you need to make sure the cut is impeccable, and that will cost you more money.

Diamonds are rare, but they are not equally special. Understanding the four important C's of carat, clarity, color and cut that constitute the value of a diamond will guide you toward making a far better purchase selection.

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Diamonds are revered for their extreme beauty and everlasting durability.

As an admirer of diamonds for engagement rings, whether past, present or future, one may wonder why there is such variation in price from store to store. What characteristics constitute a $5,000 diamond versus one that costs only $500?

Diamonds are graded based on 4 criteria. The first of these is referred to as the carat, which is a measurement of the weight. The more carats the more expensive a diamond becomes. Size is not the only factor that matters however, remember: it is what is on the inside that counts.

Carat size may push the price up, but only slightly if there is no clarity. Several facets determine clarity on both an internal and external basis. Internal aspects, dubbed inclusions, and external aspects, dubbed blemishes, all contribute to the overall clarity score.

The quantity, type, location, measurement, and tint of its inclusions, or internal facets, as well as its blemishes, or features on the surface, all factor into the clarity. The clarity ranges from the rank of 'pure,' meaning no flaws, to 'heavily included,' meaning that it is seriously damaged.

The appearance or absence of these imperfections is a result of how the diamond was formed underground over thousands of years. Since diamonds are often thought of as the symbol of perfection in our society, the more perfect they actually are under the scrutiny of a microscope, the more expensive they become.

Color is the next element that affects price. Although clarity is important, there are special cases where under certain conditions underground a diamond may have taken on a certain coloration that actually increases its value.

The color of a diamond ranges from "D," which is a complete lack of color, to "Z," which is depicts a very noticable coloration. Diamonds are priced highly if they are deeply colored or are exceptionally clear. Hazy, off-colored diamonds are not considered a favorable item, so they are priced lower.

The cost of a diamond is also determined by one final factor, the cut. The cut of a diamond gives it the ability to glitter by reflecting the light back out in very precise ways.

To view a diamond from the point of view of the cut is to investigate whether or not it has any 'fire'. Like the other criteria for grading, the cut has it's own grading scale that goes from excellent to irregular. If the diamond doesn't knock your socks off then it likely has not been cut very well.

Diamonds are rare, but they are not equally special. Understanding the four important C's of carat, clarity, color and cut that represent the value of a diamond will lead you towards making a better buying decision.

A diamond has long been revered as the ultimate symbol of lasting love because of it's purity and ageless beauty.

Whether you have experienced buying diamonds for engagement rings before or not, you may be unsure as to why one is worth $3000 while another one is only worth $300. What goes into determining the price of a diamond?

The physical weight of a diamond is referred to as its "carat". The value of a diamond is directly proportional to its size. The larger the diamond, the more valuable it is, because larger diamonds are less common. Greater size makes the diamond more spectacular, and therefore increases the purchase price.

After carat weight is obtained, the next aspect that can cause price deviation is the clarity. You can determine the clarity of a particular diamond by a number of features. The term inclusions refers to imperfections inside the diamond, while blemishes refer to imperfections on the surface.

The quantity, type, location, measurement, and tint of its inclusions, or internal facets, as well as its blemishes, or features on the surface, all factor into the clarity. The clarity ranges from the rank of 'pure,' meaning no flaws, to 'heavily included,' meaning that it is seriously damaged.

These differences are due to the cooling process of the diamonds against other materials. Lack of clarity is a lack of perfection. A diamond is forever, and no one wants to be stuck with an imperfect one forever; therefore, this impacts the price.

Color is the next factor that determines a diamond's overall value. If possible, a diamond should be as clear as water, but this is not always the case. Colors from other gases and minerals around during the time of the diamond's formation may have altered its clean appearance and left the gem tinted.

Diamonds range in color from a designation of "D" to "Z", with "D" being no color at all, and "Z" being a diamond with a color that is deep enough to be very noticeable to the human eye.

Cut is the final factor in diamond grading. This is an often forgotten element of diamonds, but it is extremely important, as it gives this remarkable stone its ability to come alive.

A diamond that sparkles and glitters can be said to have 'fire'. The actual rating system uses common words like good, average, and irregular. The bottom line though is if you want your diamond to sparkle even in dim light, then you need to make sure the cut is impeccable, and that will cost you more money.

So there you have it, the 4 C's of choosing a diamond: carat, clarity, color and cut. Understanding these basic concepts before you enter a diamond store will go a long way towards making an outstanding buying decision.