Diamond Buying Tips

A diamond is purely made of carbon, which is one of the Earth's most common elements. The diamond is the hardest known substance in the world and is uniquely resistant to damage by heat or scratching, and can be cut or polished only by another diamond.

Whether you buy diamonds or diamond jewelry for yourself or for your loved ones often your decision to buy a diamond is based on some emotion. Buying a diamond or diamond jewelry is an expensive purchase and it is advisable that you acquire some knowledge about diamonds and their characteristics. You can get detailed information on each and every aspect of diamond knowledge in our diamond guide.

Diamond Buying Tips

The diamond buying tips mentioned below will help you find the diamond you are looking for.

When you buy a sparkling diamond, you must consider the 4Cs of diamonds – Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight, as a basis for your decision. The 4Cs will help you to choose the best diamonds on the same criteria that jewelers use to select them.

Diamond Cut

A diamond’s cut is the most important attribute for enhancing a diamond’s beauty because a well cut diamond reflects light to maximize the stone's brilliance.

When we talk about diamond cut by depth, the ideal cut is considered the best cut, as it reflects most or all of the light that enters the diamond back to the eyes. Diamond cut by shape describes the outline of the stone and pattern of the facet arrangement. You can find a diamond in various shapes like Round, Princess, Heart, Oval, Pear etc. Polish and symmetry are also important for a well cut diamond. The diamond polish displays the smoothness of the diamond's facets, whereas the symmetry refers to alignment of the facets.

Buying Tips for Diamond Cut

You should always look for the ideal cut diamond with the desired shape. You should also ensure that the diamond is properly polished and has perfect symmetry.

Diamond shape is a matter of personal choice. A brilliant round shaped diamond is one of the most desirable shapes and offers maximum brilliance.

Diamond Color

• Diamond color is also a vital factor to look for as diamonds are found in almost all the colors. Most diamonds appear white to the naked eye, but they all include trace amounts of yellow or brown color. Slight difference in diamond color can make a substantial difference in value. A truly colorless diamond is extremely rare and considered the most valuable. It allows the most light to pass through the stone and create the most brilliance.

The diamond color scale goes from D to Z, with D being the most white and Z being the most yellow.

Diamonds are also found in various intense colors like pink, greens, brown, red, orange, blue etc. These intensely colored diamonds, known as fancy colored, are very rare, attractive and desirable. A deeply colored diamond can cost more than its colorless counterpart.

In fancy colored diamonds, the Z+ grade is used for color grading.

Fluorescence, to some extent, is common in the majority of diamonds but it remains unnoticed by human eyes in ordinary light. Fluorescence is a form of illumination that is created when a diamond is exposed to low or high wave ultraviolet radiation.

Buying Tips for Diamond Color

The best way to see the true color of a diamond is by looking at it against a white surface.

Even though stones in the D-F color grades are the most valuable, you can still find great value and save substantial money with diamonds in grades G-J and K-M, since no color is visible to the untrained eye. Even stones in the N-R range have a very light hint of yellow, which may be invisible to the untrained eye, and can appear colorless in the right jewelry setting.

Usually yellow metal (gold) hides traces of color in a colorless diamond, while white metal (white gold, platinum, silver) enhances it.

While buying a fancy colored diamond, you should look at basic hue and intensity of color.

Faint or medium fluorescence will rarely affect a diamond's appearance.

Diamond Clarity

Clarity is a term used to describe the absence or presence of flaws inside or on the surface of a diamond.

When flaws occur internally, they are called inclusions. The most common types of inclusions include crystals, needles, knots, chips, cavities, cleavage, feathers etc. When these flaws occur on the surface, they are known as blemishes. The most common types of blemishes include polish lines, naturals, scratches, nicks, pits, extra facets, etc.

A diamond's clarity is based on the number, size, nature and location of imperfections on the finished stone. Clarity of a diamond affects the beauty and value of the diamond.

A diamond with higher clarity is more valuable in comparison to a diamond that contains numerous inclusions because it is less brilliant, as the inclusions interfere with light passing through it.

Buying Tips for Diamond Clarity

When buying a diamond, you can compromise a bit on the clarity aspect as most diamonds contain imperfections which are not visible to the naked eye. Choose a diamond with its imperfections hidden deep in the stone or hidden by prongs or bezels.

You can use a jeweler’s 10X magnifying glass or microscope to examine diamond’s imperfections.

F (flawless) and IF (internally flawless) are rare and beautiful diamonds with an exceptionally high price. Diamonds, with a clarity grade of VVS1-VVS2, are excellent quality diamonds. Diamonds with a clarity grade of VS1-VS2 and SI1-SI2, are also great choices, as imperfections in these grades are not visible to the naked eye and these will be less expensive.

Diamond Carat Weight

The term "Carat" refers to the weight of a diamond. 1 carat equals 0.2 grams or 1/142 of an ounce.

A carat may also be measured in points, and 1 carat is 100 points. Therefore, ¼ carat diamond is 25 points and ½ carat diamond is 50 points and so on.

The price of a diamond rises exponentially with its size. So, a 2 carat diamond of a given quality is always worth much more than two 1 carat diamonds of equal quality.

Buying Tips for Diamond Carat Weight

Your budget will generally dictate the size/carat weight of the diamond you can buy.

You should consider buying an average sized diamond with good cut, color and clarity rather than buying a larger diamond with a lesser quality cut, color and clarity.

The term ‘Carat’ is different from the term ‘Karat’ which is used to describe gold's fineness or purity.

Diamond Certificate

A Diamond Certificate or Diamond Grading Report is a statement issued by an independent Gemological Laboratory, At the time of evaluation, the diamond in question has been examined, measured, and scrutinized by experienced diamond graders, using various gemological instruments, and determined to contain the characteristics as stated in the Certificate or Report.

There are many reputed laboratories available for diamond certification, which are known for their consistency and unbiased diamond grading system, for example, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL).

Buying Tips for Diamond Certificate

When you buy a diamond, you should always ask for a diamond certificate. It may cost you a little more money but it will provide you much-needed peace of mind knowing that you are getting your money's worth.

A diamond certificate gives you the exact details of the stone and on the basis of this information you will be able to do some comparison-shopping before doing the actual purchase.

A diamond certificate gives you the exact details/physical properties of the stone. Based on this information you will be able to do some comparison-shopping before doing the actual purchase.

A diamond certificate allows you to buy based on a stone’s measurable characteristics.

If you re-sell your diamond along with its certificate, you will get a better price for the diamond.

To get insurance for your diamond, you also need to produce a diamond certificate.

General Buying Tips

You should set your budget for buying a diamond and then explore your options. This way, you'll find a wide range of diamonds with different carat weights and qualities in your price range.

Buy a diamond using the basic criteria of the 4Cs and suitable to your budget.

You should give priority to diamond cut, color and carat weight over diamond clarity. Imperfections may be so small that they have no measurable effect on the diamond's brilliance. Brilliance is almost entirely the result of the cut and proportions of the diamond.

When you are buying a diamond for your loved one, always keep his/her personality and preferences in mind.

You should ask your jeweler to give you information about the origin of the diamonds he is selling, so you don't end up buying a conflict diamond.

You should also ask your jeweler if the diamond you are considering buying is treated to enhance color or cover flaws. A treated diamond should cost less than a natural diamond.

Always buy a diamond from a reputed and known jeweler. If you don’t know any good jewelers, then you should ask your family members or friends for their recommendations or do your research.

Beware of jewelry store lighting which may be quartz or halogen bulbs. These can be deceiving as they blast high-intensity streams of light into goods to enhance their looks.

When buying a diamond, you should not be in a hurry or under pressure. You should buy it at your convenience and at your own pace.

These tips should enable you to buy a diamond with more confidence and always remember that 'Diamonds are forever'. They won't depreciate or wear out like a car or a computer in few years. So enjoy buying the world’s most exceptional item by keeping the above mentioned buying tips in mind.

History of Diamond

About Diamonds

Diamonds have been a source of fascination for centuries. The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word "Adamas", meaning "Unconquerable". Diamond is a transparent gem made of carbon, which is one of the Earth's most common elements.

The diamond is the hardest known substance in the world. Billions of years ago, in a deep layer of the earth, a unique combination of chemicals, pressure and changes in temperature created diamonds out of pure carbon.

The Diamond is uniquely resistant to damage by heat or scratching and can be cut or polished only by another diamond. The diamond is thousands of times harder than corundum, the next hardest substance from which rubies and sapphires are formed. Even after many years of constant wear, diamonds will preserve their sharp edges and corners when most other stones will have become worn and chipped. However, many people expect a diamond to be unbreakable. This is not true. A diamond's crystal structure has "hard" and "soft" directions. A blow of sufficient force, in an exact direction, can crack, chip, split or even shatter a diamond.

Early History

The first recorded history of the diamond dates back some 3,000 years to India, where it is likely that diamonds were first valued for their ability to reflect light. In those early days, diamonds were used in two ways, first, for decorative purposes, and secondly as a talisman to ward off evil or provide protection in battle.

The Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages more attention was paid to the worth of diamonds, rather than the mystical powers surrounding them. Due to the improved public awareness of the value of diamonds, mine owners perpetuated myths that diamonds were poisonous. This was to prevent the mineworkers from swallowing the diamonds to smuggle them out of the mines.

The popularity of diamonds surged during the middle ages, with the discovery of many large and famous stones in India, such as the Koh-I-Noor and the Blue Hope. When the Indian diamond supply dwindled, smaller finds occurred in Borneo and Brazil, but these were not sufficient to meet the ever-increasing demand for diamonds. The mid-nineteenth century discovery of diamonds near the Orange River in South Africa sparked the world's biggest diamond rush and helped to satiate the world's increasing appetite for diamonds.

Recent Times

On October 2, 1979, geologists found the Argyle pipe near Lake Argyle in Australia: the richest diamond deposit in the world. Since then, Argyle has become the world's largest volume producer of diamonds, and alone is responsible for producing over a third of the world's diamonds every year.

Currently, most diamonds are mined in the following countries: South Africa, Zaire, Russia, Canada, Australia, Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Brazil, Ghana, and China. The major cutting centers of the diamond world are in Antwerp, Bombay, Tel Aviv, and New York.

Diamond – The Symbol of Love

Diamond has become ‘The Symbol of Love’ throughout the world. The tradition of giving diamonds as tokens of love and commitment began at the end of the 15th century when Austrian Archduke Maximilian gave a diamond ring to his fiancé. They chose to place the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand because legend held that this finger provided a direct link between tokens of love and the heart.

The diamond's strength and pure transparent beauty have always represented the purest emotions of human heart -- commitment and deep lasting love.

Journey of a Diamond

Everyone knows that diamonds are among the most precious items on earth, but not everyone realizes that the journey of this stone is very long and difficult. Lots of efforts are required to develop its beauty from a rough stone to a beautiful faceted gem.

Here is a brief recount of a diamond's incredible trip from Earth to the retail market.

A diamond's story begins deep in the earth - 100 to 200 miles below the surface. Approximately 3 billion years ago, these stones were formed because of massive heat and pressure placed on carbon crystals.

Basically, diamonds have two main uses: in Jewelry (due to their rarity and beautiful appearance) and in Industrial Applications (due to their unique molecular properties). In terms of quantity, about 30% of diamonds are of gem quality and are distributed to experts for cutting, polishing and jewelry production. The remaining 70% of diamonds are sold to industries for cutting, drilling, grinding and polishing in industrial applications.

The journey of a diamond from the Earth to Retail contains several stages which are explained below:

Diamond Process Flowchart

Exploration

Due to powerful volcanic activities, 'pipes' are formed which are nothing but openings in the earth and through these pipes, some diamonds and other minerals such as kimberlite etc. are forced up to the surface. Most of the diamonds which are forced up through the earth settled back into the kimberlite rocks in these pipes.

In this process, diamond prospectors explore the possibility of diamond existence deep below the Earth and search for kimberlite rocks by testing the ground for changes in magnetic fields.

Although diamonds are found in numerous exotic locations around the world, Australia, Botswana, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Russia and South Africa account for some 80% of the world's diamond supply.

Mining

Once kimberlite or diamonds are discovered after the process of exploration then mining operations are used to extract these minerals.

In Mining operations, the following methods are mainly used to extract diamonds:

Open Pit Mining - This is a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit. In other words, an open pit mine refers to an excavation or cut made at the surface of the ground for extracting ore. Open pit mines are used when deposits of minerals are found near the surface or along kimberlite pipes.

Underground Mining - This refers to various techniques used to mine gems, minerals, and ore bodies by tunneling underground and creating underground "rooms" supported by timber pillars of standing rock.

Marine Mining - This is a method of excavating diamonds from the seabed. Today, due to enhancements in technology, marine mining has also become commercially viable.

Artisanal Mining - This is a non-industrial method of mining where individuals, families and communities are involved in mining by using the most basic equipment, such as sieves and pans.

After extraction, the ore containing the rough diamonds goes through many stages of blasting, crushing and processing, including advanced x-ray techniques, to release the diamonds. It is estimated that it takes more than 250 tons of ore to produce just one carat of rough diamond. Over 120 million carats of rough diamonds are mined each year, out of which only about a quarter will be considered gem quality.

Sorting

Once the rough diamonds have been mined and processed, the next step is to sort, classify and value them. In the process of sorting, the rough diamonds are grouped, according to their size, shape, quality and color, in to thousands of categories.

Cutting & Polishing

The next step for the rough diamonds are cutting and polishing. This is a great skill, with meticulous techniques that have been practiced for ages. Gem quality diamonds are usually distributed to one of the main diamond cutting and trading centers in Antwerp, Mumbai, Tel Aviv, New York, Johannesburg, China or Thailand.

Although some of the polishing process is computerized, most of the work is still performed by hand. First, the cutter uses cleaving, sawing or laser cutting to separate the original rough into smaller, more workable pieces. Then, the girdler uses a process called bruting to grind away the edges of the stone and provides its outline shape. Faceting follows, usually in two steps. The first 18 facets (table, culet, bezel and pavilion of a stone) are cut and polished by the blocker. The brillianteer cuts and polishes the final 40 facets, including the star, upper girdle and lower girdle. Finally, the cut gem is boiled in acids to remove dust and oil.

Jewelry Manufacturing

Once polished, most diamonds are sold and traded in the 24 registered diamond bourses around the world. At this point, the polished diamonds are ready to be set into finished pieces of jewelry, which is the manufacturer's job. USA, India, China, Italy, Spain, Thailand and Turkey have established solid reputations in jewelry manufacturing.

Retailing

Finally, diamond jewelry is either sold to a wholesaler, who works as a middleman to sell the goods to the retailer or sold directly to the retailer. Lastly, retailers sell the diamond jewelry to the consumers.

The value of diamond jewelry sold each year exceeds US$60 billion, which includes the cost of the diamonds, precious metals and other gems. USA represents the largest market share (55%), followed by Japan (15%), Europe (10%), Asia Pacific (5%), Asia Arabic (5%) and other countries (10%). According to independent research, diamond jewelry is the most highly sought-after category of luxury goods, both by women and men for themselves or for gifts. The diamond industry employs approximately ten million people around the world, both directly and indirectly, across a wide spectrum of roles from mining to retailing.