While engagement ring shopping can be tough, we at Medawar Jewelers think there are a few tried and true steps potential shoppers can take to alleviate some of that shopping stress. One of the first and most important things, research!
Doing your shopper due diligence and understanding what kind of investment you are making, will make it that much easier to shop. To help our greater Michigan customers get some of those “basics of diamond shopping†under their belts, we’ve prepared a short article on the Four C’s of Diamond Shopping.
CUT
First on the list, the cut, is usually heard when referring to the shape of a center stone, but when it comes to diamond shopping it is referencing the quality of craftsmanship in cutting the facets of a diamond. The proportions, symmetry, and polish all contribute to the diamond cut quality. In general, they are graded on a scale from “Poor†to “Excellent,†with “Excellent†being the highest achievable rating.
COLOR
Next, consider the color of a diamond. While there are more than a few choices in colorful diamonds such as pinks, blues, and even some yellows, signs of other colors on the illustrious white diamond is not considered a good thing. White diamonds are most rare and most coveted when they are a pristine white. Hints of yellow typically lower the value of a white diamond and consequently also impact the pricing. Reputable retailers get their diamonds certified by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) on a “D (colorless)†to “Z (light color)†scale.
CLARITY
Similarly, imperfections found in a diamond are also graded. Imperfections within the diamond are called inclusions, while the scuffs on the surface are referred to as blemishes. While to the naked eye some of these imperfections may not be detectable, they too affect the pricing of a diamond. Depending on where the visual defects are, the clarity and ultimately the diamond’s brilliance and sparkle are affected. According to the GIA grading system, diamonds are graded on clarity from a “Included†to “’Flawless†scale, with “Flawless†being the most perfect and “I3†(Included level 3) having visible inclusions that affect brilliance.
CARAT
Last, diamond shoppers must consider carat weight. Most guests tend to think of carat weight as size, but that is not necessarily the case. Carat weight refers to the actual weight of the diamond and weight has a large impact on the diamond price. The heavier the stone, the pricier it tends to get.
Keep in mind that price is dependent on all four characteristics, cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. It is possible to find two stones of equal weight with different prices due to color, clarity, or cut. We encourage shoppers to think about what they value most in a diamond and go from there.
Also, we recommend you do all your loose diamond shopping at a reputable retailer, this way you can be sure you are buying quality diamonds. When diamond shopping, it’s best to look for official GIA grading points, or to ask one the specialists at any one of our five locations throughout Michigan to assist you! Additionally, at Medawar Jewelers, we make a conscious effort to maintain ethically sound galleries, all the loose diamonds found in our showrooms are conflict free diamonds, meaning they were fairly mined. With one of the largest assortments of high-quality loose diamonds, we at Medawar Jewelers also offer custom jewelry design for those couples looking for original jewelry items.
Shop With Us!
Are you ready to browse our extensive collection of loose diamonds? Shop from our online catalog of diamonds, here, visit our “Contact Us†page to send us an email, call us at 855.850.8015 to speak to one of our jewelry specialists, or better yet, visit us at one of our five palatial showrooms in West Lansing, Okemos, Jackson, Portage, and Brighton, Michigan to find your ideal diamond. We look forward to seeing you!
