Diamond Rings – Advice From An Expert

The cut of a diamond is the most important factor to consider when determining which diamond ring to buy. Essentially, the only way to determine which of two identically priced diamonds is the best bargain is to know the rating of each stone’s cut. The ability of a diamond to reflect and refract light, making it sparkle, is determined by the precision of every cut in the diamond. Failure to reflect light back to the surface of a diamond is caused but cuts which are too shallow or too deep, thus allowing light to escape the opposite side or the bottom.  These are marks of a poorly cut diamond. Allowing light to bounce off all sides without escaping is a end result of a diamond being well-cut and displaying the correct number of facets and angles in the correct proportions.

The use of the term “good color” usually conjures up visions of rich bright colors however, with diamond rings, this is not the case. The most desirable diamond rings are actually referred to as being colorless, but these are both very rare and very expensive. At the other end of the scale are yellow diamond rings, which are much more common and affordable. Clarity is the term to describe a diamond’s interior features, and in order to be able to conduct an inspection of the stone, you will need a jeweler’s microscope. The tiny ripples, specks, and indentations on the inside of a diamond are imperfections that are called inclusions. High quality cut and color can offset slight imperfections making it appear just as lovely as a flawless diamond although the diamond with the least number of imperfections has the highest value.

Diamond weight is calculated in points and carats, with 100 points making up a carat. When talking about pricing, there is a big difference between one carat total weight versus the weight of one stone, and a one carat diamond is much more valuable than a grouping of several smaller diamonds which, when combined, add up to one carat in total weight. Knowing the “per carat cost” of a diamond will give you the true diamond price and a high carat weight diamond may appear impressive. The clarity, cut, and color of a diamond will have to be analyzed in order to determine a diamond’s actual value, with a large carat weight being of secondary concern.