Jewellery In London’s Facts on Diamonds
Diamonds were being mined in India more than 2800 years ago. Diamonds are a lot older than most people know. The majority of diamonds found today are at the very least nine hundred million years old! The oldest diamond on record is believed by experts to be around 3.2 billion years old. Every diamond that is mined is completely unique. If you know what you are looking for you would quickly see that no two diamonds are the same.
There are many things to consider before purchasing a diamond. Here at Jewellery In London we strongly believe that buying a diamond is something that should never be rushed into. The correct research should be done if not for any other reason than to
establish a diamonds true value and learn how they are priced.
The “4 C’s”
When buying a diamond there are many factors to consider. Jewellers throughout the world use an established method in order to determine the value of a diamond. The method is commonly know as the “4 C’s” Knowing the 4 C’s will give you a throurgh understanding of a diamonds true value and contributes to determine this how much you should buy or sell.
The 4 C’s represent Cut, Clarity, Carats and Color
Buying a Diamond based on Cut: The cut of a diamond is a description of how the diamond maker angles the gemstone in such a way as to best reflect light through the diamond, resulting in the diamond’s sparkle. A high quality cut enhances the innate beauty of a diamond and increases its value. A poorly cut diamond isn’t as brilliant or shiny and, therefore, will be less valuable.
How to Buy a Diamond based on Clarity: The clarity of a diamond involves looking at how clear the diamond is when you look through it. Most diamonds have inclusions and flaws and it is rare to find a perfect diamond. Flaws, however, cannot usually be seen without magnification. When purchasing a diamond for clarity, look for the presence of dark spots inside the diamond.
How to Buy a Diamond based on Carats: Carat defines the size of the diamond. Larger diamonds (those of a higher carat) will cost more than a cluster of smaller diamonds, even if the total carats of the diamond cluster are the same. This means that a single one-carat diamond will cost you more than three diamonds set in a ring that add up to one carat. The reason behind this is that larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds. Unfortunately, this is impacted by the fact that, when diamonds are cut, they lose about half their size.
How to Buy a Diamond based on Color: The color of diamond you choose is entirely based upon your personal preference. Diamonds that are colorless, however, are the rarest and therefore cost more than other diamonds. Colorless diamonds are known as white diamonds. Diamonds also come in a variety of different hues, including yellow, green, blue and pink. There are even diamonds known as “black diamonds”.
Certificates and Appraisals
While understanding the 4 C’s in determining how to buy a diamond, you should also learn how to read diamond certificates. These certificates describe in detail the facts about the diamond in its unmounted state. Perhaps you have a specific diamond you want to have professionally appraised by an independent organization. This is probably not best done by the jeweler you are buying the diamond from because they are often biased and may appraise the diamond at a slightly higher value than what it’s actually worth in order to receive more income from the sale of the diamond.