Buying a Diamond
EVERY diamond is different – that’s what makes them so special! But with all these choices out there, it can be confusing to know which is the right one for you.
Most jewellers will tell you about the 4 Cs – Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat weight. This is a starting point to help narrow down your choices and we briefly explain them below. There are several other factors that can affect the brilliance and value of a diamond – this is why you often find diamonds with very similar characteristics in terms of the 4 Cs but which still have a big difference in price.
Ultimately, it is important you buy a diamond from an industry professional you trust.
Below is a simplified price indicator, based on the shape, colour, clarity and weight of a diamond. It gives an approximate price range where most diamonds within those criteria would fall. As mentioned, every diamond is different so it is possible to find, for example, two round diamonds of 1.00cteach with a G VS2 grading at different prices. Please contact us for specific options.
It is important to note that assessing a diamond is not an objective process, the colour and clarity grades are ranges that professional jewellers have been trained to judge and is a skill that is passed down generations. There are even different preferences for cut parameters and professionals, to date, still debate about what is the “best.” The individuality of the process is in fact what makes diamonds so unique and exciting!
With so many options available, it’s best to narrow down as many parameters as possible so that you will have a smaller selection to study and then make the final choice.
Some questions we ask our prospective clients:
- What diamond shape are you interested in?
- Do you know which colour, what clarity and weight of diamond you like?
- Do you want to buy with a certificate? Do you have any preference on laboratories?
- What fluorescence level is acceptable to you? Fluorescence is a characteristic of a diamond that can make it look dull.
- Do you have an approximate budget in mind? This always helps us to know where to begin so we can find the best options for you
You don’t need to have all the answers initially. At Niya K, we start from what you know and work from there. All our customers are different and we will tailor our process to suit your needs - some prefer size over colour, clarity over cut, fancy shapes over round. Once we know what you like, we filter through thousands of diamonds that not only match your requirements, but also pass Niya K’s own standards. For example, we would never propose stones that we feel are on the lower end of the grading range, diamonds that are cloudy and dull or diamonds that are unethically sourced. We try our best to explain as much as we can about the diamond so that you are aware of what you are buying. Feel free to contact us with any questions you have. We are happy to meet with you to discuss your next diamond purchase!
The 4 Cs
CUT
Cut refers to both the shape of the diamond and measuring how well the diamond has been cut so that it can reflect the most light, and thus achieve the most brilliance. Well cut diamonds also look bigger than poorly cut ones, even though they may weigh more!
COLOUR
The colour of a diamond is very important as it can affect the sparkle and, more so, the value quite significantly. Colour is measured on a scale starting from D (pure white) to Z but extends further to the fancy colour range. Diamonds at the extreme ends of the scale are the most rare and therefore the most valuable. Generally, diamonds graded I colour or better will look white to the naked eye.
CLARITY
Clarity refers to natural imperfections that are present in all but the rarest diamonds (referred to as flawless). The less inclusions, the better the clarity and professional jewellers can judge and grade the quality of a diamond based on the number, size, position and type of inclusion. Diamonds that are graded SI1 and above will generally have inclusions that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
CARAT WEIGHT
The carat weight is perhaps one of the few characteristics of a diamond that is an exact science! This simply refers to the weight of a diamond, measured in carats (ct). In this regard, bigger is always better, but diamond prices increase exponentially with weight, so it is an important factor to consider.