Know Your Diamonds

Who would not want to have a diamond necklace? Even a woman who is not fond of jewelry would want to have one for its value. A diamond is a very good investment.

Whether one buys a diamond necklace to have a brilliant neck accessory or as an investment , it is a must to understand what makes a diamond valuable. Actually, it is not that difficult because standards for grading diamonds have been established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This grading system, the widely published four C’s for Cut, Carat, Color and Clarity, is best applied when the diamond is loose. Here are brief explanations of these four C’s:

Cut

Depending on the size and shape of the rough stone, the diamond is cut into various shapes, the eight most popular of which are the oval, emerald, heart, round, marquise, pea, princess, and radiant. The buyer has more to choose from for a diamond necklace.

The cut is the crucial quality that gives diamond its brilliance and therefore, has much weight in the gem’s value. Only a master diamond cutter could produce the right angles in a well-proportioned cut that allows as much as possible light to enter and be dispersed back to the top, creating the brilliance diamonds are known for.

Carat

This refers to the weight and is the easiest quality to determine. One carat is 0.2 grams. In terms of points, one carat is 100 points. So, a 50 point diamond weighs one-half carat. Two diamonds of the same carat can have different values depending on the cut, color and clarity.

Color

To determine color there is a grading scale from “D” or colorless through “Z” for ‘Light Yellow”. The colorless diamond is the most expensive because of its rarity.

Clarity

The diamond’s clarity is affected by the tiny inclusions that are difficult to see with naked eyes and has to be inspected at 10X magnification. The imperfections are so small but they interfere with the light dispersion, reducing the brilliance of the diamond. In choosing a diamond, those with fewer and smaller inclusion are priced higher. Inclusions near the bottom and side (where they could be hidden after setting) are preferred.

Clarity is graded as internally flawless (IF), very, very small inclusions (VVS1-VVS2), very small inclusions (VS1-VS2), small inclusions (SI1-SI2), and imperfect (I1-I2-I3).

To maintain the brilliance of diamonds, it is important to know its proper cleaning and storage. The following are suggested:

• Store diamonds, the hardest element, such that there is no bumping against other pieces or parts of jewelry. In a diamond necklace, the diamond could easily scratch the metal parts, like gold.
• Clean regularly with soap and water and polish dry with a soft cloth. Dirt could make diamonds lose their sparkle.
• Check the metal setting regularly and make sure the stones sit tight. Loose setting could cause stones to fall out.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

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