I’m a jeweler. I’m an expert. I can give you tips on how to find and purchase the perfect diamond for your loved one.

Nowadays, of course, we have the internet. Most people can do research online about diamonds. Various websites will pop up with knowledge about the four C’s: Color, Clarity, Carat, and Cut.

Jewelers often talk about these as if they are common knowledge, but do you know the difference between  VVS1 and I2 Clarity? Do you know how to spot the difference between an inclusion and a blemish? Or what letter signifies the least amount of color in a diamond?

It’s more complicated than most realize. But I can make it easy for you.

Color

In most cases you want to buy a diamond that’s clear or white. If you get a near colorless gem, it won’t have a yellow or pale color. But sometimes that’s easier said than done.

If you go to home depot, you can find white paint pretty easily. But then there’s white paint and white paint and more white paint! There are so many different kinds of white, right? The same is true of a diamond. White is not just white, there are different qualities to the white.

The colors D-E-F-G-H look white to the naked eye. Even I color is still acceptable and looks white but will appear less white next to a whiter diamond. You probably don’t want to fall below that level.

Clarity

Inclusions are imperfections within the diamond, while blemishes are imperfections on the surface. As long as you can’t see inclusions with your naked eye, you have a good diamond. Anything beyond this is irrelevant to most because you need certain tools to see the imperfections.

Most women will be happy with a diamond that appears flawless when looking at it.

Carat Weight

Carat weight is a measurement of how much the diamond weighs based on a “carat” which is 200 milligrams. Each carat is divided into 100 points and these decimals are what jewelers are referring to when they say a diamond is .54 carats (just over half a carat).

Some will prefer a smaller diamond with excellent color and clarity to a larger diamond with inclusions and yellow color. But this is something to discuss with your loved one because each person is different and values different aspects of the diamond.

And something to remember is that a .95 carat won’t look that much smaller than a 1 carat diamond, but the price could be dramatically different, all other factors being equal. Larger diamonds are more rare, so the price typically increases with the size of the diamond.

Cut

The cut or how it’s faceted is what’s really important. The light reflection abilities are strictly a result of human intervention. The diamond isn’t sparkling in nature. Once it has been faceted and cut, however, the light is reflected and the shine and sparkle is magnified. The brilliance of a diamond is a result of human hands.

You can pick up a D color, flawless diamond. But if it’s cut badly, I call it a dead diamond. There’s no life. There is no fire. No brilliance. No loudness. It won’t present the same picture.

It will still be worth a lot because the diamond is still of a high quality, but the cut is what really shows off the quality of the diamond.

Imagine buying a Rolls Royce that wasn’t painted before leaving the factory… You might not have to pay for the paint even though most of the cost of the car is still there. But imagine the presentation of the car while you’re driving around? Huge difference! 

So there you have it, simple! Get a diamond that is: D-I color and FL-SI1 clarity, with whatever size you prefer and, most especially, a high-quality cut in the shape that fits your style best.

Dedicated to being your jeweler,