Need to Know Facts for Purchasing a Diamond
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.
Florida Genealogy | Georgia Genealogy Records
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