It is hard to go wrong with diamonds when it comes to buying jewellery, but those that are fashion conscious need to be aware of the main factors to consider when shopping for diamonds.
They are much more than simply sparkling stones to fawn over. Diamonds are unique gemstones that are formed over billions of years in complete darkness up to 190km below the ground, with every one being slightly different. Here is all that you need to know when it comes to buying diamonds:
Cut
First, you need to be aware of the different cuts that there are and this will be a man-made attribute. Diamonds can be cut into different shapes and sizes and the best cut will be the one that maximises the amount of light reflected back. There are all kinds of cuts, including: round, princess, emerald, oval, marquise and pear.
Colour
A colour scale is used to grade each stone starting with D (colourless) with increasing colour all the way to Z. Colourless is actually the most valuable, as it provides the crispest, most pure look.
However, coloured diamonds (also known as fancies), are becoming more popular with yellows, pinks and blues all being good options that offer something slightly different.
Carat
People often talk about carat (especially relating to gold), without knowing what it actually means. The term carat refers to the total weight of the diamond and not the size (a common misconception). The larger the carat the more valuable that it will be, but that is not to say that it will have a superior sparkle, as this comes down to the cut and not the weight of the diamond.
Clarity
The final of the 4 C’s is clarity and another hugely important factor to consider when buying diamonds. There is no diamond which is perfectly pure and internal characteristics (known as inclusions), are the result of the diamonds being exposed to extreme heat and pressure.
The fewer inclusions that a diamond has, the purer it is (and more valuable) – many of these inclusions are not perceptible to the naked eye so you may be able to find one for a good price but you should always buy from a respected jeweller like F. Hinds.
These are the 4 C’s that every fashion-conscious person needs to be aware of what it comes to buying diamonds or an engagement ring. Diamonds are incredibly beautiful and can make any outfit pop, but you need to know that every single diamond is different from one another which is part of what makes them so special. The key is to be aware of the 4 C’s, to have a budget in mind and then to take your time and to shop around to find the right one for you.
