Diamonds are a miracle of mother nature, formed over the course of billions of years, under extreme pressure and temperature conditions. Like anything formed in nature, no two diamonds are alike, so the Gemological Institute of America created a scale to grade each individual stone as subjectively as possible. This scale is referred to as “The 4 C’s” – a term you will likely hear frequently over the course of your shopping and research. What are the 4 C’s? Let’s break it down.
Diamond Color
Diamond color is graded on an alphabetical scale from D to Z. D represents a total lack of color, and Z is faint yellow. Each increment is subtle, and barely distinguishable to the untrained eye, however we strongly encourage our customers to compare a variety of colors to see what suits their taste and budget. The whitest of diamonds are the most rare, and thus, the most valuable. Diamonds that fall outside of the D to Z range are considered “fancy color”, and are commonly yellow or brown, but can exhibit other unusual colors, such as pink or blue.
Diamond Clarity
Like anything formed naturally, diamonds can exhibit internal blemishes, typically referred to as “inclusions”. Inclusions vary in size, color and placement within the diamond, so GIA created a 11 point scale to rate the visibility of these natural inclusions. Diamonds are always graded using 10x magnification because many inclusions are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Placement of the inclusion within the stone can determine how much it impacts the brilliance, which is why we always show our customers examples of different clarity grades of diamonds. We are extremely selective when choosing diamonds to sell in our store, so we compare several stones of the same clarity rating to be sure we select the best.
Diamond Cut
To many, diamond cut is considered the most important of the C’s. Cut refers to the proportions utilized when cutting the stone. An ideal cut diamond will have the proper proportions to maximize brightness, fire and scintillation. A poorly cut diamond may appear to be a lower color grade than it actually is, could have a dark spot in it, or may appear lifeless when compared to a well cut stone. A diamond that is not cut to the proper proportions could also appear smaller than its carat weight might suggest. We are sticklers for cut, and because our family cuts diamonds, we get first pick of freshly cut stones and select only the best cut for our customers.
Carat Weight
One carat is a unit of weight equivalent to 200 milligrams. In diamond speak, one carat is divided into 100 points. For example, if you hear a diamond referred to as “50 points”, that stone would weigh half of one carat. All other factors being equal, the more a diamond weighs, the more rare it is, and the more valuable it will be.
Not all diamonds are certified, and not all of the diamonds we sell are certified. The two laboratories we utilize are the Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, and European Gemological Laboratory, or EGL.
How do I buy a loose diamond from you?
Send us an email outlining what it is that you are looking for in a diamond. If you’re not sure, just say so, and we’ll guide you. Once we know exactly what it is that you want, we will have our liaison in Israel compare dozens of diamonds to find the best stone or stones for your needs. We will send you pricing, photos, and all of the pertinent information, and once you approve the stone, we will collect a 50% deposit. Upon receipt of the deposit, we will have the diamond securely shipped from Israel to our door. If the diamond is to be set into a piece of jewelry, we will proceed with setting the stone before collecting the balance due and shipping the piece to you. You will be working one-on-one with one of us the entire time, and we will be here to answer any and all questions you may have. It is our goal to make the process as simple and comfortable for our customers as possible. While we do not accept returns or give refunds on diamonds, we guarantee your 100% satisfaction. We take pride in the diamonds we import, and our customers take pride in wearing them.
Why are diamonds the most popular choice for jewelry and engagement rings?
History and tradition aside, the easy answer is that diamonds are durable. There is truth to the DeBeers slogan, “Diamonds are Forever”. The durability of diamonds is unparallelled, and compared to many simulants or other gemstones, the ability of diamonds to remain sparkly and brilliant over decades of daily wear is clear.