subject: What To Look For When You Buy Loose Diamonds [print this page] If youre new to the world of diamonds, you probably dont know where to start when it comes to time to buy loose diamonds. You may have heard a lot of words thrown around, such as carat, cut, clarity, and a bunch of others that likely fly right over your head. But never fear; let this guide take you through the basics of loose diamonds, which you should know and research before investing in loose diamonds for sale.
A recent trend to occur in diamond buying and trading is online vending. Because diamond investors are generally used to buying diamonds in person and inspecting them of flaws before purchase, some diamond investors may be a little wary of buying diamonds directly from the Internet.
On the contrary, purchasing loose diamonds from the Internet can be much easier and safer than purchasing in person, as long as you know what youre looking for.
The value of a diamond is determined by four basic factors, all of which are graded and certified by official institutions that specialize in the field. The Gemological Institute of America, the American Gem Society and the European Gemological Laboratory are all renowned diamond certification boards.
The first factor is what the diamond industry calls cut. Cut is deemed one of the most important factors in determining a diamonds worth, as a well-cut diamond most contributes to its aesthetic brilliance. Be careful not to confuse cut with shape, as cut refers to how the diamonds inner facets are crafted and manufactured. The better the cut, the better a diamond will be able to reflect light and sparkle.
Shape, on the other hand, refers to the overall form of the diamond, such as square, heart-shaped, oval, round, among others.
The carat, or the diamonds weight, is the second factor. Two hundred milligrams, or 0.2 grams, equates to one carat. Large diamonds are far rarer than diamonds are of a smaller carat, thus the price increases with weight.
Color stands as the third factor, which measures a diamonds whiteness or purity. Colorless diamonds refract the most light and induce the most sparkle, and are thus considered the most valuable. A high color grade will typically go to the diamond with the least color. The recent trend of fancy colored diamonds, however, such as the pink and yellow diamonds, are also nonetheless of great value.
Clarity, the fourth factor, is the measure by which to determine whether a diamond is free of blemishes or external marks. Any internal omissions, or flaws within the diamond, are known in the diamond industry as inclusions. In grading for clarity, the lowest rating a diamond can receive is I3, meaning imperfect eye-visible inclusions. FL, for flawless, is the highest rating a diamond can receive.
One of the big recent trends is synthetic diamonds. This alternative is much more affordable than real, natural diamonds. Synthetic and bonded diamonds, often confused with zircons, are generally sold from bonded jewel cutters, and are also less durable than natural diamonds. For this reason, most synthetic or bonded diamonds come with an insurance breakage policy, which should be read carefully before purchase.
Once you realize what factors creates value in a diamond, youll be able to walk into a loose diamond vendor more prepared to make a wise purchase decision.
by: Carolyn Johnson
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