My Diamond Shop

Diamonds are idolized for their extreme beauty and everlasting durability.

As a purchaser of diamonds for engagement rings, whether past, present or future, one may wonder why there is such variation in price from store to store. What characteristics constitute a $5,000 diamond versus one that costs only $500?

The grading system for diamonds is based upon four different elements. Firstly, size will play a large role in the price. This is referred to as the “carat weight,” and it is determined on a 100 point scale. The larger the carat weight, the higher the value.

Carat size may push the price up, but only slightly if there is no clarity. Several facets determine clarity on both an internal and external basis. Internal aspects, dubbed inclusions, and external aspects, dubbed blemishes, all contribute to the overall clarity score.

The number of inclusions as well as their size and tint all factor into the overall clarity score, as do the number and size of surface blemishes. A flawless diamond is at the top end of the clarity scale, referred to as ‘pure’. An inexpensive diamond may carry with it the classification of ‘heavily included’.

The appearance or absence of these imperfections is a result of how the diamond was formed underground over thousands of years. Since diamonds are often thought of as the symbol of perfection in our society, the more perfect they actually are under the scrutiny of a microscope, the more expensive they become.

Color is the next element that affects price. Although clarity is important, there are special cases where under certain conditions underground a diamond may have taken on a certain coloration that actually increases its value.

There is a scale of coloration that ranges from “D,” where no color is present, to “Z,” where color is easily visible. There is a spectrum known as “beyond Z,” where the colors are rich and vibrant within the diamond and are referred to as fancy colors.

Cut is the final factor in diamond grading. This is an often forgotten element of diamonds, but it is extremely important, as it gives this remarkable stone its ability to come alive.

To view a diamond from the point of view of the cut is to investigate whether or not it has any ‘fire’. Like the other criteria for grading, the cut has it’s own grading scale that goes from excellent to irregular. If the diamond doesn’t knock your socks off then it likely has not been cut very well.

Understand the 4 elements that make a diamond a special and precious gem: carat, clarity, color and cut. Knowing the difference between a dud and a dazzling diamond will be the difference between money spent poorly and money spent with wisdom.