How to Choose Diamond Jewelry Based on the Cs

Diamonds and women have some kind of a love affair. Every woman dreams of having at least one piece of diamond jewelry. If you are looking for any kind of diamond jewelry, a good guide is to start with the 4Cs when choosing your diamond. The 4 Cs are Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut. Choosing the right diamond jewelry can be daunting to some but with an understanding of the 4 Cs, you can make an informed purchase.

Carat is the standard and objective measurement of diamonds. If you are looking forward to saving on your purchase, you can avoid the magic sizes (e.g. 0.5, 0.75, or 1). For instance, instead of buying a .5 carat diamond, you can save more with a .48 stone. Diamond jewelry is appraised and the carat weight is usually an estimate based on the outside dimensions of the stone. Always keep in mind that diamonds with more weight will also cost more. Engagement rings are sold in .5 to 1 carat, and once again, don’t hit the full magic size to save on your purchase of any diamond jewelry.

Colour. In diamonds, it is hard to find perfectly colorless stones. This is because natural diamonds tend to have brown or yellow tints, but look more icy white. Diamond jewelry with noticeable color (light yellow) are rated ‘Z’ while the colorless ones have a ‘D’ to ‘F’ rating. Diamonds with G to J rating is near colorless, K to M has a faint yellow color, and the N to R rating comes with extremely light yellow color.

Clearness is synonymous with clarity. The natural stones have internal inclusions and external blemishes, as well as other imperfections. Clarity is the measurement of these impurities. It is rare to find flawless diamonds, and since imperfections can only be seen under magnification, the clarity rating will serve as the buyer’s basis. This is the general rule - the higher the number, the lesser is the value of the stone. F1 pertains to flawless diamonds, IF is for internally flawless stones, VVS1 and VVS2 have minute inclusions, while the VS1 and VS2 have minor inclusions. SI1 and SI2 have inclusions that are visible from under the stone, while diamonds with a rating of I1, I2, and I3 have visible and obvious inclusions.

Cut is one of the most important characteristics of the diamond. Cut makes diamond jewelry sparkle and this is what amazes people. The sharpness and cleanest cut is hard to achieve, and it can have a tremendous effect on light refraction and light performance of the diamond. Finely cut diamonds are fiery and clear.

Now that you know the different Cs, you can make the right choice. Picking diamond jewelry is a personal decision. It depends on the personal taste and financial capability of the buyer. Follow the recommendations above, and you can buy the best diamond in the market.

Wait, there is the fifth C which is the diamond certificate. It is sometimes called the grading report because this contains a complete evaluation of your diamond that has been performed by a qualified professional. Listed on the certificate is the recognizable, individual characteristics that each stone bears.

How to select a stunning diamond ring quickly

At tea-break the other day, we (my co-workers and I) were talking about the Zodiac and the various gemstones associated with each sign. The exchange became more spirited when it came to diamonds. Everyone had something to say about diamonds. No surprise, really.

Shopping for a diamond ring can seem challenging at first, especially if you don’t know the proper guidelines in selecting the right one. But with the right amount of basic knowledge about rings, it could help you choose a diamond ring in no time. Here are a few tips to help you out with selecting the perfect stunning diamond ring of your dreams.


Have knowledge about the terms when shopping for a ring
Having the basic “know how” when it comes to diamond rings will help build your confidence. It will also help you ward off any dishonest ring sellers. You can do research about the terms that are standard when it comes to ring knowledge. Some terms may include band, setting, gemstone, the 4 C’s (carot, color, clarity and cut of the gemstone) and cost.

Select a good jeweller
Just because a jeweller is expensive, it doesn’t mean that it is the right one for you. Make sure to look for a store that makes you feel at ease and where the employees are helpful and pleasant to talk to. Be sure that you go somewhere that fits your budget range so you can walk in a jewellery store and walk out with the diamond ring of your dreams.

Know your taste or the taste of the person you are purchasing the ring for
To get the upper hand, it is always best to know what you want in a ring or what the person you plan to purchase the ring for prefers. Try to find out as much as you can in terms of the desired ring’s attributes so that you don’t get frustrated or too intimidated with all the diamond rings available at the jewellery store.

Know your budget
This is probably one of the most important tips because your budget will determine most of the decision. Choose a budget that is within your reach and won’t leave you broke. But don’t be too cheap and buy a diamond ring that isn’t even close to the desired style or type.

Know your diamond information
It is common sense to have basic knowledge about diamonds when it comes to actually purchasing one because they don’t come cheap. Try to do your research about the carat, color, clarity and cut of diamonds so that you’re familiar with what you should be looking for when you get to the jeweller.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Ready to learn a thing or two about diamonds whether buying diamonds online or otherwise?

You probably already knew about the 4Cs but beyond the basic 4Cs of Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut/shape used to determine a diamond’s overall quality, there is yet another level of excellence that involves the symmetry and reflective quality of a diamond’s cut, and which potentially enhances all of the 4Cs.

This reflective quality determines how well a diamond “performs”, i.e., how well it reflects light under all lighting conditions and situations. What increases a diamond’s “wow” appeal is the way it transmits light back to the viewer’s eye, and that’s affected more by the cut than any other factor.

As for Clarity, a diamond's value is determined by absence or less of a diamond's internal inclusions and/or external blemishes. A flawless diamond is rare.

As for Carat weight in relation to Cut, a well-cut and polished diamond with precise symmetry will have more fire and brilliance and give the impression that it is larger than a stone of equal weight but with a lesser cut. Therefore, a good cut can give the impression of a bigger stone.

Many people think diamonds are colorless. Under normal lighting conditions, most diamonds appear to be colorless to the naked eye. A diamond’s color grade is actually determined by its “lack” of color. In reality, diamonds come in a wide range of colors though the color differences are very subtle. The “normal” color range of commercial diamonds is from colorless (white) to light yellow and light brown. Diamonds also come in a number of fancy colors like the ones below. Beautiful, aren't they? Diamonds, a girl's best friend!

Fancy Colored Diamonds: Fancy Pink, Fancy Red, Fancy Green and Fancy Yellow

Engagement Rings

A colleague who often goes uphill to the casino in Genting Highlands with her husband, tried her hand at an online casino the other day, and what do you know! She made a small fortune and to have something to show for it, she has been scouting around for a girl's best friend, diamonds, of course.












Checking online, she found a site with an exquisite range of diamonds and diamond jewelry including diamond engagement rings and wedding rings.

The site is easy to navigate and the items are well grouped into categories including Diamonds, Engagement, Wedding, Designer, Studs, Gifts and Education. Everything you need on diamond jewelry is easily accessible. Each catergory in turn is further sub-categorized providing more detailed information on the piece you are looking for. You will know what you are buying because there is a gallery of 3D pictures of each item. I have no doubt James Allen is truly a professional jeweler my colleague would feel secure buying from.