It all starts with a proposal and a RING! Knowing the basics of buying a diamond can help you ( and your boyfriend) make the best choice possible. Here’s what to look for….
1. The 4C’s – clarity, color, cut and carats – these affect its value.
2. Clarity refers to how pure a diamond is on the inside. A diamond may have inclusions on the inside, such as mineral deposits, irregular crystals, flaws or cracks. Clarity is graded on a scale ranging from Flawless(FL-IF) to Very Very Slight Inclusions (VVS1-2) to Very Slight Inclusions (VS1-2) to Slight Inclusions (SI1-2) to Included (I1-3).
3. Color is different from clarity. It refers to the internal color of a diamond. Color is graded from Colorless (D-F) to Near Colorless (G-J) to Faint Yellow (K-M) to Very Light Yellow (N-R) to Light Yellow (S-Z). A Colorless diamond is rare and considered the most valuable.
4. The cut of a diamond is the arrangement of its facets, its finish and proportions. The cut of a diamond is what gives a diamond its sparkle and brilliance. In general, you should know that an ideal cut diamond is worth more than a diamond that is cut too deep or too shallow.
So what this mean for you? Well …. while you may want to go big sometimes a smaller diamond (one with fewer carats) with excellent clarity, color and cut can be more valuable than a larger diamond with poorer clarity, color and cut. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter most.!
