Diamond jewelry from https://harrychadent.com/collections/pendants is a symbol of commitment and a beautiful accessory. Professional diamanters evaluate a diamond’s more than 12 attributes.
Carat
The carat unit is used to measure diamonds, pearls, and gemstones. The current definition of one carat equals 200 milligrams and is divided into 100 “points.” Gemologists, appraisers, jewelers and consumers use the term “carat” to describe a diamond’s weight.
The origin of the word carat dates back to ancient times, when early gem traders would use carob seeds on their balance scales as counterweights. These seeds were used to weigh precious stones because of their uniformity and consistency. The modern carat weight system was adopted in 1907 at the Fourth General Conference on Weights and Measures.
Carat is a measurement of a diamond or gemstone’s weight and is not to be confused with its size. A diamond of the same carat can appear visually smaller or larger depending on its cut and shape. The carat weight is also a factor when it comes to pricing, since larger diamonds tend to be more expensive.
When purchasing diamond jewelry, it is important to balance the carat weight with the other three C’s – color, clarity, and cut. It’s tempting to pick the largest diamond that fits your budget, but a poor quality cut can make the diamond look dull and lifeless. Oliak recommends a larger diamond in a round- or princess-cut shape that looks good on the naked eye. This allows the diamond’s larger face to be evenly distributed across its surface, making it appear bigger than a squarer-cut diamond of the same weight. This is what jewelers call the “eye appeal” of a diamond. The result is an elegant and unique diamond that suits your budget and style.
Color
The color of a stone is determined by its saturation and hue. A diamond with a higher color grade is considered more desirable than one with a lower grade as it’s clearer and can make a stronger visual impact. This is particularly important for engagement rings and other pieces of jewelry that are worn more frequently and might be exposed to environmental elements that can affect the stone’s color over time.
The Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) standard is used to measure color. The scale goes from D to Z, with D and F being the most desired because they allow maximum light through. The color of a diamond also plays into its appearance when set in certain styles of settings. Some styles of settings, such as fancy shapes like pear or marquise cuts, can show more of the diamond’s color and inclusions than round or princess cut diamonds.
The quality of a diamond’s clarity and color can differ significantly based on the shape of the stone, its setting and the lighting it’s shown in. It’s important to compare diamonds under the same lighting conditions and with the same expert analysis.
When it comes to clarity, choosing the right diamond shape is important. This ensures that all 57 faces are properly positioned for maximum sparkle, and that the diamond has no obvious flaws. In addition, the proper cutting and symmetry of a diamond can mask minor inclusions, making them less noticeable. A well-cut diamond will also reflect and refract light in a way that’s pleasing to the eye, hiding inclusions.
Clarity
As one of the Cs, clarity is an important factor in a diamond’s value. Clarity is also graded by the number and size of inclusions in a diamond. Inclusions can be natural, but they can also interfere with the passage light through a stone, reducing its brilliance. The diamond industry has developed a grading system for clarity that includes 11 levels from Flawless through Included 3. The highest level of clarity is referred to as FL or internally flawless, meaning a diamond has no internal inclusions at all and only blemishes on its surface. Flawless diamonds, which are rare and often displayed on pillows in museums, command high prices. The next tier of diamonds is VS. This refers only to inclusions that can be seen under 10x magnification. VS diamonds are less inclusions than VVS, meaning they have fewer flaws.
In addition to the clarity level, the type of diamond and its position within the stone also affect the clarity. Blemishes are scratches and nicks visible on a diamond’s surface. However, they do not affect a diamond’s clarity grade the same way as inclusions. Some people avoid emerald or Asscher cuts because they do not mask inclusions like round brilliants. The size and shape also affect the clarity of a stone, as the long, mirrored shapes of Asscher and Emerald diamonds make inclusions much more visible. Clarity is less important than color and carat weight, but some people would rather spend more money on a diamond that is cleaner.
Cut
The cut is the most important aspect of diamond jewelry. The internal proportions of the diamond and its shape determine how light is reflected and diffused. This can have a significant impact on the diamond’s brilliance and shine. Diamonds come in a variety of shapes including round and oval, princess, pear or pear-shaped. They can also be cut into fancier shapes like emerald, heart, marquise and Asscher. Most online diamond retailers allow shoppers to search for diamonds by their shape.
The diamond’s facets are carefully aligned and proportioned to enhance its brightness and brilliance. The quality of a diamond’s cut is measured using two gemological parameters: polish and symmetry. The polish of a facet surface describes how smooth it is, while symmetry measures the precision with which the diamond’s facets align and intersect. Those with poor polish may appear dull and lackluster while those with misaligned facets can interfere with the movement of light through the stone, resulting in reduced sparkle and brilliance.
While many people are familiar with the idea of the diamond’s clarity, color and cut, few are aware that the shape of a diamond is also a significant factor in its value. For example, a round ideal cut diamond is typically worth more than a square modified brilliant.
In recent years we’ve seen an increase in the popularity of diamonds that have unique shapes, such as marquise, pear, and oval. These softer, feminine designs tend to lengthen the finger and are very popular with women. Lev has noticed an increased interest in diamonds of unusual colors, such as fancy brown and fancy yellow. These stones are often combined with a unique shape to enhance the color.
Setting
The setting in which a diamond is placed can have a profound effect on its appearance, durability, and how it interacts light. When choosing a setting, it is important to consider the style of jewelry you want to purchase as well as your budget.
A setting can enhance the beauty of a stone, making it look larger and more brilliant. For example, the halo settings use smaller stones to surround a center stone. This creates a dazzling appearance and gives the illusion of larger size. A bezel setting is another popular choice, as it offers a sleek design and provides excellent security for the diamond.
Other settings, like pave and tension settings, can give your ring a unique aesthetic. These types of settings are less durable than others, and resizing is not always possible with certain designs.
A shared prong set is a variation to the traditional prong style in which prongs are placed all around the crowns of several diamonds. This setting is suitable for all faceted gemstone shapes and reduces the amount visible of metal on the ring. A pave setting is another option, where small diamonds are placed closely together to create the appearance of a surface paved with jewels. This type of setting can be used with all faceted gem shapes, just like the shared prong setting. Finally, a bar setting is a variation of the channel setting in which diamonds are nested in a groove between strips of precious metal. The open sides of this setting allow for more light to enter the stone, enhancing its brilliance. This setting is durable and suitable for any faceted gem, but the diamond must have a level of hardness 9 or higher.
