The most important factor when buying diamond jewellery is to look at the way the diamond is cut, its proportion and symmetry, says Pierre Joubert of The Diamond Club these factors determine how a diamond handles light, if its cut badly it will not have the brilliance. It really is the human factor - the work that goes into the diamond - that makes all the difference. Never compromise on the quality and cut of the diamond.
Buy your diamond jewellery from a reliable source or an established retailer. It is common practice to ask that the diamond be certified by an independent international laboratory such as GIA, EGL, DCLA, HRD, IGI, AGS.
Be extremely cautious when buying coloured diamonds, as it is very difficult to tell if the gem is natural or treated. Coloured diamonds that have been are heated to enhance their hue and could be a budget substitute if the natural one falls outside your budget. They are used more as a fashion item, in this year and out the next. When buying coloured diamonds, as with any diamond, insist on a laboratory certificate.
According to Pierre platinum or white gold surrounding not only enhances the colour of the jewel, but also makes it appear bigger. Yellow or red gold makes the diamond look slightly smaller.
Whether or not to insure diamond jewellery is a personal choice, However if you opt for the former ensure your jewels are covered under all risks.
PRONG VS TUBE TESTING
When deciding between a prong or a tube setting, consider these pros and cons. The classical prong setting allows dirt to collect under the claws more easily, which dulls the diamond, while the tube setting tends to last longer and are less likely to collect dirt. In the end it depends on your personal preference.
THE 4C'S AND THE S
Diamonds are valued according to the 4C`s and the S
CUT:
This is determined by the rough stone, the diamond in its natural form. The precision and symmetry of the cut gives a diamond its brilliance, releasing the sparkle within in it, if the cut is well proportioned, then a diamond reflects light internally from facet to facet and disperses it through the crow, or top, of the diamond. I f the stone has been cut too shallow or too deep light escapes from the side facets or the bottom dulling the brilliance.
COLOUR
Diamonds come in many shades, ranging from colourless, white, yellow and brown to more intense colours such as orange, pink, green and black. Of white diamonds the most valuable is the colourless gem, which is called a D colour. The total range is from D to Z which is yellow. In coloured diamonds the higher the intensity of colour and brilliance, the more valuable the stone. For budget purposes look for stones that are slightly tinted as this allows you to purchase a bigger size that creates more of an impact.
CARAT
This measures the weight of the diamond. One carat is equivalent to 0.2g and there are 100 points per carat. If budget conscious consider purchasing diamonds just under half a carat or just under a full carat because the price jumps drastically when it reaches a true half or full carat.
CLARITY
The number of flaws or inclusions within a stone and their position determine the diamonds clarity. These inclusions come from come in the form of carbon spots or fractures, some of which are not visible to the naked eye. Inclusions affect the brilliance of a diamond. The fewer the inclusions, the better the refraction of light through the diamond, and the higher the value. The clarity is also judged by the position of the inclusions, the less obvious an inclusion the higher the value
SHAPE
The more traditional diamond cuts include round brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart and emerald. Two new diamond cuts have been introduced the Asher square cut diamond and the Royal Radiant Cut is emerald shaped from the top with the light bursts from inside the stone.
CARE AND HANDLING
Diamonds get dirty easily, but are simple to clean; diamonds attract grease, so use any degreasing agent, like dish washing liquid. A little warm water and a tooth brush to get the sparkle back, says Pierre Joubert. Air dry on a paper towel and then polish with a soft cloth.
If your diamond is grimy and the setting looks dark around the edges, take the piece to a jeweller for a professional cleaning.
Diamonds can get scratched, so don't put them down on tile or marble. Store them individually in soft, cloth bags
COLOUR GUIDE
WHITE: White diamonds are actually colourless and clear. By far the mot popular gemstones, they come from mines all over the world, in many different shapes, sizes and levels of quality.
BROWN: The least pricey, brown diamonds come in champagne cognac and cocoa. Bright yellow gold, blackened silver and black rhodium platinum are the most common settings for them.
BLACK: Jewellery designers started using black diamonds widely only a few years ago. For contrast, they are usually combined with other gems usually white diamonds and set in platinum or white gold.
YELLOW: Yellow or canary, these are the most popular and expensive coloured diamonds and range from pale to bright. They are often set in yellow gold to intensify their colour.
PINK: Before the 1984 discovery of an Australian source, pink diamonds were extremely rare now very popular, and still expensive, they range from pale seashell to raspberry and are usually set in pink gold.
GREEN: Gems for the collector, green diamonds are very rare and very expensive. The colours range from brass-green to green-yellow. Green diamonds are mounted in platinum, gold and blackened silver.
Buy your diamond jewellery from a reliable source or an established retailer. It is common practice to ask that the diamond be certified by an independent international laboratory such as GIA, EGL, DCLA, HRD, IGI, AGS.
Be extremely cautious when buying coloured diamonds, as it is very difficult to tell if the gem is natural or treated. Coloured diamonds that have been are heated to enhance their hue and could be a budget substitute if the natural one falls outside your budget. They are used more as a fashion item, in this year and out the next. When buying coloured diamonds, as with any diamond, insist on a laboratory certificate.
According to Pierre platinum or white gold surrounding not only enhances the colour of the jewel, but also makes it appear bigger. Yellow or red gold makes the diamond look slightly smaller.
Whether or not to insure diamond jewellery is a personal choice, However if you opt for the former ensure your jewels are covered under all risks.
PRONG VS TUBE TESTING
When deciding between a prong or a tube setting, consider these pros and cons. The classical prong setting allows dirt to collect under the claws more easily, which dulls the diamond, while the tube setting tends to last longer and are less likely to collect dirt. In the end it depends on your personal preference.
THE 4C'S AND THE S
Diamonds are valued according to the 4C`s and the S
CUT:
This is determined by the rough stone, the diamond in its natural form. The precision and symmetry of the cut gives a diamond its brilliance, releasing the sparkle within in it, if the cut is well proportioned, then a diamond reflects light internally from facet to facet and disperses it through the crow, or top, of the diamond. I f the stone has been cut too shallow or too deep light escapes from the side facets or the bottom dulling the brilliance.
COLOUR
Diamonds come in many shades, ranging from colourless, white, yellow and brown to more intense colours such as orange, pink, green and black. Of white diamonds the most valuable is the colourless gem, which is called a D colour. The total range is from D to Z which is yellow. In coloured diamonds the higher the intensity of colour and brilliance, the more valuable the stone. For budget purposes look for stones that are slightly tinted as this allows you to purchase a bigger size that creates more of an impact.
CARAT
This measures the weight of the diamond. One carat is equivalent to 0.2g and there are 100 points per carat. If budget conscious consider purchasing diamonds just under half a carat or just under a full carat because the price jumps drastically when it reaches a true half or full carat.
CLARITY
The number of flaws or inclusions within a stone and their position determine the diamonds clarity. These inclusions come from come in the form of carbon spots or fractures, some of which are not visible to the naked eye. Inclusions affect the brilliance of a diamond. The fewer the inclusions, the better the refraction of light through the diamond, and the higher the value. The clarity is also judged by the position of the inclusions, the less obvious an inclusion the higher the value
SHAPE
The more traditional diamond cuts include round brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart and emerald. Two new diamond cuts have been introduced the Asher square cut diamond and the Royal Radiant Cut is emerald shaped from the top with the light bursts from inside the stone.
CARE AND HANDLING
Diamonds get dirty easily, but are simple to clean; diamonds attract grease, so use any degreasing agent, like dish washing liquid. A little warm water and a tooth brush to get the sparkle back, says Pierre Joubert. Air dry on a paper towel and then polish with a soft cloth.
If your diamond is grimy and the setting looks dark around the edges, take the piece to a jeweller for a professional cleaning.
Diamonds can get scratched, so don't put them down on tile or marble. Store them individually in soft, cloth bags
COLOUR GUIDE
WHITE: White diamonds are actually colourless and clear. By far the mot popular gemstones, they come from mines all over the world, in many different shapes, sizes and levels of quality.
BROWN: The least pricey, brown diamonds come in champagne cognac and cocoa. Bright yellow gold, blackened silver and black rhodium platinum are the most common settings for them.
BLACK: Jewellery designers started using black diamonds widely only a few years ago. For contrast, they are usually combined with other gems usually white diamonds and set in platinum or white gold.
YELLOW: Yellow or canary, these are the most popular and expensive coloured diamonds and range from pale to bright. They are often set in yellow gold to intensify their colour.
PINK: Before the 1984 discovery of an Australian source, pink diamonds were extremely rare now very popular, and still expensive, they range from pale seashell to raspberry and are usually set in pink gold.
GREEN: Gems for the collector, green diamonds are very rare and very expensive. The colours range from brass-green to green-yellow. Green diamonds are mounted in platinum, gold and blackened silver.
