Before purchasing diamond jewellery, it is important that you have some understanding about the stone that you're taking home. To help you in your diamond endeavours, our team of Adelaide diamond specialists have come together to give you a valuable lesson in these gorgeous stones.
Welcome, to Diamonds 101!
The first thing you need to know about diamonds is the importance of colour. The GIA Colour Grading Scale is the most widely accepted grading system, though it’s not the only one. Ranging from D to Z, D colour represents a pure and colourless diamond.
As you progress through the scale towards Z, the diamond becomes less and less pure, the colour turning more yellow due to its chemical components. D - F grade diamonds are classed as colourless, G - J near colourless, K - M faint, and so on. While the difference between a D and a G may be very small to the untrained eye, it has a huge effect on the price of the piece.
Determining the clarity of a diamond involves a great many things, with the process including the number, size, nature, and position of imperfections. These imperfections are known as ‘inclusions’, and they have a significant effect on the overall look and price of the diamond. Naturally, the closer a diamond is to perfect, the higher the price.
Most inclusions are almost invisible to the naked eye, which is why expert assessment is of paramount importance.
This cut of a diamond is renowned as the most technical and difficult to assess. There are seven components outlined by the GIA Cut Grading system, the first three (brilliance, fire, and scintillation) relate to the overall face-up appearance of the diamond. The other four (weight ratio, durability, polish, and symmetry), relate to the diamond’s craftsmanship and design.
More often than not, the price of the diamond will increase with the carat size. Carats are a measure of weight equal to 200 milligrammes, however, the overall price will be a result of the combination of the clarity, cut, colour and carat weight of the stone.
With this information, you will be able to make a more informed decision when it comes to purchasing your ideal engagement ring! If you would like any assistance or have any questions about our diamonds, speak to our concierge, or learn more with our free diamond e-book, available to download here!