5 Tips on What To Look For When Buying Diamonds For Wedding Rings
A wedding, or an engagement in Centreville, is one of the most important events in every couple’s life. One of the best ways of making the experience memorable is by choosing the right ring to symbolize the love you have for one another. While most couples would like to get the most beautiful ring they can lay their hands on, budgetary restrictions can be a challenge. However, it is possible to find an ideal ring based on your budget.
For anyone looking for precious diamonds for engagement rings and wedding rings in Centreville, they should consider going about the process carefully. There are various dealers in the market, some of who may sell you fake diamonds. Here are a few useful tips on what to look for when looking for precious diamonds for engagement or wedding rings.
Consider the Diamond Cut
1. Any expert will tell you that the cut is the most important thing to consider when buying diamonds in Centreville. The main reason behind this is that the cut usually influences the sparkle. A diamond may be clear and feature a high quality color grade, but if the cut is poor, it may still appear dull. The dealer you buy from should be able to cut your diamond in the proper proportions. If your budget can allow it, choose a diamond with the highest cut grade.
Diamond Color
2. Contrary to common belief, lack of color in your diamonds denotes a higher color grade. Some people go for pale yellow diamond, without knowing that it is low quality. To avoid such an experience, ask the diamond dealer to give you grade H or higher. Near colorless diamond ranges from grade G to J, but it may be quite expensive.
Clarity Diamonds can also be chosen based on their clarity levels.
3. This is usually not a very important factor to consider, considering that the precious stones usually come with imperfections, known as inclusions. These tiny imperfections may not be easy to detect, and they may only be seen through a microscope. However, the fewer there are, the higher the clarity grade of your diamonds. If your budget can be stretched further, consider buying grade VS1 grade or higher.
Consider the Diamond’s Carat Weight
4. Unlike common belief, carat does not mean the size of the diamond, but its actual weight. Carat and cut must be considered side by side, because no matter the size of the diamond, a poor cut grade can make your precious stones look smaller. Another important fact to keep in mind is that the more the weight of the diamond, the more you will pay for it. Therefore, you should consider going for a less heavy stone with a high grade cut.
Ask for Proof of Certification
5. There is nothing as unfortunate as buying diamonds for your special event only to realize that they are of poor quality, or that they were stolen. To avoid such an eventuality, always ask the dealer in Centreville to show you the copy of diamond certification.
With these tips, you should be able to make the right choice when buying precious diamonds in Centreville for you engagement or wedding.
Centreville How to Buy a Diamond And The 4 Biggest Mistakes When Buying a Diamond
In an ideal world with unlimited budgets and an infinite supply of diamonds, everyone would have beautifully cut "D Flawless" diamonds. In the real world every diamond is unique. There are plenty of gorgeous diamonds to go around - you just need to know how to find one. Choosing a diamond is about balancing several factors to make the most of your budget. Each factor contributes to the beauty and prestige of your diamond. I will explain these factors so you will be prepared to make an informed decision about your diamond purchase.
FACTOR 1: CARAT WEIGHT
People often use the word Carat when discussing how big a diamond is, however "Carat" actually refers to the weight of a diamond. There is no rule as to what carat weight you should buy, but you'll doubtless have heard that "bigger is better." If you ask me, I think bigger is great but you shouldn't forget about the other aspects of a diamond's quality.
A useful tip: if you're looking at Certified Diamonds, you may find it valuable to compare the diameters of different diamonds. Since every diamond is individually cut, some may appear larger than others of the same weight.
FACTOR 2: SHAPE
Approximately 75% of diamonds sold worldwide are Round Brilliants. Rounds diamonds are the most popular, most brilliant, and most expensive. If you are purchasing a diamond as a surprise, Round Brilliant is generally your safest bet.
There is no real hierarchy of shapes being better or worse - it is truly a matter of personal preference. Princess Cuts are the second most popular, and a classic alternative to round diamonds. Cushion Cuts are trendy and have a beautiful vintage look. If you want something different but not too crazy, try an Oval Cut, Asscher Cut, or Radiant Cut diamond.
While no shape is better, there are some significant differences between shapes. Take for example, the radiant cut vs the emerald cut. Though they are a similar shape, the extra facets of the radiant cut give it additional fire and sparkle. If you prefer the emerald cut's understated elegance, consider that it's easier to spot any imperfections and select a higher clarity grade.
Another tip: Diamonds (even round diamonds) may not be perfectly symmetrical. It's nothing to worry about if your diamond's width does not precisely match its height, but if your diamond is much longer than it is wide it may not be what you're expecting. This is especially the case in shapes like Cushion and Oval, where a more asymmetrical diamond might look "skinny", with much of the fire and brilliance concentrated at the ends.
FACTOR 3: CUT
"Cut" refers to a diamond's finish and proportions, and is critical in determining its beauty. Getting the angles right ensures a beautiful diamond that's full of life. In many cases it can be more difficult to spot flaws in a fiery, brilliant diamond. Cut is generally graded in five categories: Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, and Excellent. Excellent is the highest graded awarded by GIA (whereas other labs may use terms like "ideal" or numbers like "0"). If you want to play safe, stick to "Very Good" and "Excellent" cuts when you choose your diamond.
FACTOR 4: CLARITY
Almost all diamonds have naturally¬ occurring features called "inclusions." Inclusions form as the diamond crystallizes deep underground, and they are unique to each diamond. They take many different forms, and can help you identify a diamond as your own. However, large and prominent inclusions can detract from the beauty of a diamond.
There are many different types of inclusions, and not all are created equal. If your diamond certificate has an "inclusion map," check where the inclusions are. Try to find a diamond with inclusions near the edge where they will be masked by sparkle or hidden by the setting of your diamond. If your budget is limited, I recommend buying "SI" clarity or better. "SI" stands for "Slightly Included." With close inspection you can usually spot the inclusions in an SI¬ graded diamond, but these inclusions will most likely not be visible once your diamond is set in jewellery. If you want to be sure your diamond will look "eye clean", even up close, I recommend selecting a VS2 clarity diamond or better. "VS" stands for "Very Slight Inclusion," and imperfections in VS clarity stones are rarely seen by the naked eye.
FACTOR 5: COLOUR
The term "colour" usually refers to how much warm tint is in a diamond. The scale ranges from D (colorless) to Z (very strongly tinted yellow or brown). Pure white diamonds are considered more desirable, and are more expensive. Warmer¬-hued diamonds (such as K, L, and M) are not necessarily less attractive, but they are significantly less valuable.
Conventional wisdom is to select J colour or better. Personally, I love G and H colour diamonds ¬- they hit the "sweet spot" where most people will not notice colour in the diamond unless they're doing a direct comparison. However, an I or J colour diamond that is well cut and has a lot of life can give you a beautiful diamond at a bargain price.
Depending on how they are cut, different diamonds will display colour differently. This is why colour grades are assigned by looking at a diamond upside¬down. Generally, more¬ brilliant diamonds show their colour less than less brilliant diamonds.
FACTOR 6: FLUORESCENCE
Fluorescence has a bad rep, and most of it is unfair. Diamond Fluorescence refers to how a diamond responds when subjected to ultra¬violet light. Fluorescent diamonds can glow any one of several colours, but the most common is blue. In rare cases fluorescence can cause your diamond to have a milky appearance when viewed in direct daylight. This is most often the case with strong or very strong fluorescence and D/E/F colour diamonds.
However, there are many, many more cases where blue fluorescence is a positive thing. Imagine you were shining a blue light on a yellow diamond... the blue tint can make your diamond look whiter. If your diamond falls in the "near colourless," "lightly tinted," or "tinted" range I recommend looking for medium blue or faint blue fluorescence.
Warning: Green, red, and yellow fluorescence are rare, and they will not have the same benefit. If you are interested in a diamond that has strong blue, very strong blue, green, red, or yellow fluorescence, I recommend asking your salesperson to show you your diamond outside in natural daylight. If you're buying online, contact the seller prior to making your purchase so they can examine the diamond first in natural daylight.
FACTOR 7: GRADER
This should always be your first question: Says who? Every diamond grading laboratory has different standards, so comparing diamonds graded by different sources is extremely unreliable. One grader might grade a diamond K SI2, and another might call that same diamond F VS2. I know that sounds crazy, but I see it happen all the time.
The most reputable and consistent grading laboratories are GIA, AGS, IGI, and HRD. GIA is considered the global standard worldwide. AGS is a popular alternative in the U.S.A. while IGI and HRD are more common in Europe.
EGL is tricky because there are EGL labs all over the world, and some of them do a great job while others can be less reliable. We strongly recommend caution when buying an EGL certified diamond unless it's from EGL-¬USA.
Many diamonds are assigned grades by valuation companies and in-¬house graders. If your diamond does not come with a report from a major laboratory, you should always ask where the grader trained. He or she should be certified by a major grading laboratory: GIA, AGS, IGI, or HRD. Be smart and be cautious about reports done by uncertified shop owners, salespeople, or valuation companies.
SELECTING YOUR DIAMOND
You can choose to purchase your diamond online, or from a retail store. If you prefer to purchase your diamond in a retail store, avoid the big chains and shop with smaller independent jewellers. Many independent jewellers are actually significantly less expensive than their large competitors. (You don't have to take my word for it - shop around and you'll quickly learn that this is true). This way you'll buy a better quality diamond and - if you wish - you'll have the opportunity to design your own hand-made engagement ring setting.
If you choose to shop online, I would recommend comparing prices and service across several websites. Be sure that the company ships from your country - otherwise you'll be hit with expensive duty and GST. Always make sure you call or e-mail customer service and have them hand-inspect your diamond before you complete your purchase. Sometimes a diamond may seem like a great deal, but it could have an unfortunate inclusion, asymmetrical cut, or be negatively impacted by fluoresence. And above all, make sure you have an easy and affordable way to return the diamond if it doesn't turn out as you'd hoped. Online shopping is the best way to get a great deal on a diamond for your engagement ring, diamond studs, or pendant - just review this article, be reasonably cautious, and have fun.
Centreville
Not all sellers supply ruby grading lab records (aka diamond top quality reports) to their customers. So my general recommendations to you is to keep your loan in your pocket when handling such jewelry experts.
Only buy a diamond engagement ring if it has the initial diamond high quality report.
A laboratory record is an independent evaluation of the 4Cs of a loose diamond and also includes an outlined diagram of the rock's clearness features as well as a visuals depiction of the rock's proportions. Having such a record allows you to contrast rubies of various top qualities as well as eventually aids you make a more informed purchasing choice.
A store might reduce corners and also not supply a lab report or an unscrupulous vendor might offer a phony one since of the time, difficulty and also expenditure he'll bear to obtaining a stone graded.
Yeah - there is a price for rating a diamond (though that price is eventually paid by the customer), plus the delivery as well as insurance fees for sending out the ruby to the lab. And let us not fail to remember the possibility cost of a jewelry expert not having the ruby in his shop available for sale for a couple of weeks while the grading takes location.
Nevertheless, a diamond rating report might additionally not be available since the costs to getting one may influence as well heavily on the final price of the ring. As an example, a 0.3 ct ruby ring setting you back $250 claim, could cost around $75 to be rated and also have the record number inscribed on the girdle on the diamond. As you browse for that optimal ruby involvement ring for your sweetheart, you'll discover that there is an alphabet soup of labs declaring to provide credible ruby rating records. But I would just put my money on ...
The Premier Diamond Grading Lab News
Yes, all ruby high quality reports are not developed equal. Within the sector, it is an agreement that both premier laboratories are GIA-GTL (Gemological Institute of America's Treasure Profession Laboratory) as well as the AGS (American Treasure Culture Laboratories).
The GCAL (Gem Accreditation and Guarantee Lab) additionally offers extremely related to reports or "diamond certifications" as they are described by GCAL. The GIA has the toughest worldwide online reputation for freedom and also consistency. Due to their continuous shade and clarity strictness standards, the world's largest as well as most costly rubies have actually been sent out there for rating years. In 2006, GIA-GTL added a two-dimensional cut grading system for rounded great diamonds.
AGS uses the most strict cut requirements in the market. It makes use of a three-dimensional light performance metric that can grade a number of ruby forms. Actually, it is the only cut grading system that is acknowledged by the scientific community.
What is even more, its Diamond Quality Record uses an unique and exclusive 0 to 10 grading system to evaluate the 4 Cs - a system which is less complicated to understand compared to GIA's grading system. In fact, AGS also goes the additional step by equating their 0-10 score range to other types of rating. For instance, the traditional VS1 diamond clearness ranking is a 3 on the AGS Ruby Top Quality Document.
Diamond Reporting - The Drawbacks
1. Diamond grading is not standard or regulated as well as therefore you may encounter rate 2 labs that utilize looser standards to the tier 1 grading laboratories discussed above. If you get a diamond that has been graded by a tier 2 lab, you could end up paying more for a lesser top quality ruby. So for example, a diamond rated a "F" in shade at a rate 2 laboratory could obtain a G, H, or reduced color score at an extra trusted laboratory. The sector also marks down rubies rated by minimal recognized labs by regarding 15-30% or more. So either you only get a diamond graded by a tier 1 lab or you approve that you may be getting a lesser quality diamond than just what is mentioned on the record if that diamond is graded by a lesser well-known laboratory.
2. Several big store have huge contracts with lower known labs with "softer" ruby grading guidelines. Several of these softer laboratories put "recommended substitute worths" on the laboratory records - values which are more than exactly what shops means sell the rubies for. So a sales representative in a store may state to you, "Look at the good deal you are getting right here. We are offering you this diamond engagement ring for $2500 however the record states that the suggested substitute value is $4000." Wow - just what a deal - NOT! This is why it is much better that you rely on just independent rate 1 laboratories.
Likewise bear in mind that reputable ruby grading reports are not assessments and also do not provide assessment figures. Ruby evaluations are typically grossly filled with air and also are not something you'll desire to rely upon.
3. Diamond reports are filled with please notes that define that nothing is "accredited" or guaranteed and that the labs are not responsible for errors. In fact, the GIA uses a please note of types on their internet site pertaining to making use of words "license." The website says:
"It is inaccurate to state that students, grads, their services, or particular gems are "certified" by GIA. The Gemological Institute of America does not certify anyone or anything. Neither a trainee neither a graduate that has actually been granted a certification or diploma, nor a treasure which has actually been graded or recognized by GIA has been accredited by GIA".
So it is possible that you the customer is left holding the bag ought to an error in a report is later on discovered. Courts have actually regularly ruled that sellers, not laboratories, are in charge of such mistakes. Why? Because the laboratories suggested in advance that their reports could not be held accountable.
Thankfully, there are a couple ways to offer on your own more purchaser security:
A. You can fly to India where jewelry experts offer a lifetime buyback policy to their clients. Also costly to fly?
B. You can locate one of the 20% of United States jewelers that market fully bound diamonds. These are rubies that are offered with life time damage, lifetime trade-in and lifetime buyback plans.
C. Not as excellent a remedy as getting a completely bonded diamond however you might purchase a diamond that has a real "certificate" as well as not a report. "Licensed diamonds do feature guaranties" albeit for much shorter periods.
Qualification Some vendors describe a "diamond report" as a "certified ruby" but technically this is not fix. From a legal point ofview, a ruby record is a just a skilled point of view though in reality, elements of a diamond grading report are not just opinions.
For example, a ruby's carat weight (weight) can be accurately identified as well as its cut quality by gauging its optical performance or by referring to a computer system version. A certification on the other hand is a declaration of truth - a document for which the issuer accepts lawful duty as well as will make restitution to the customer for errors.
Some top ruby grading laboratories use both records and certificates. AGS provides Ruby High quality Files (non-certified records) as well as Diamond High quality Certificates. Diamond Quality Certificates are ready exclusively for AGS retail jewelers and also provides warranties from getting involved American Gem Society participant stores.
GCAL licenses it's ruby grading additionally. Its 100% money-back assurance policy stands for a period of 2 years from the date on the appropriate certificate. This policy makes sure the precision of the cut, color and also clarity grades and also the carat weight.
A report or certification should will certainly have a number on it that may or might not be etched on a diamond. You will have the ability to enter that number on the web site of the accrediting laboratory to inspect a report's validity.
Components Of A Ruby Grading Report Ruby rating reports are constantly advancing yet specific aspect must remain the same. For instance, the:
The Report #. This number is offered and tape-recorded in a laboratory's record and might or may not be inscribed on a diamond's girdle. You could go into the report number on a grading lab's web site to inspect the credibility of the diamond quality record or to obtain more info about the diamond. Shape & Facet Style: This is the summary and the reducing style used for the element plan. There are 3 basic element designs - "fantastic cut, step cut and mixed cutting design" as well as 12 standard forms which consist of notables such as rounded dazzling and also princess cut" diamonds.
Measurements: This refers to size (not weight) of a diamond. Dimension consists of dimensions such as size, size, weight as well as diameter. A dimension is typically listed to the hundredth of a millimeter. Measurements play a huge role in just how a ruby sparkles.
Carat Weight: The weight of a ruby is gauged to the hundredth of a carat weight and some also supply such measure to the thousandth of a carat (1.123 ct.). Carat weight is one of the most objective and the easiest to comprehend of the 4Cs since all one needs to do is weight the rock. Shade Grade: This informs you the level of color absence in the diamond. The less color the higher the quality.
Diamonds are commonly graded from D-Z; the closer to "D" the whiter the ruby. You ought to never see diamond shade array such as (G-H, I-J-K, and so on) on a diamond report. You should just see shade arrays on evaluations for rocks that are mounted.
Clearness Grade: Essentially every diamond has internal imperfections called incorporations and also outside imperfections called acnes. A ruby is rated inning accordance with the dimension, kind, place and also amount of these imperfections.
Quality qualities range from Remarkable (FL) - Consisted Of. Labs make use of a pair specialists to quality the quality of a diamond in order to generate a more accurate analysis.
Cut Grade: Much more recent ruby records consist of a cut grade for basic round fantastic rubies. Cut takes into account the luster, fire and scintillation of the diamond. Cut grade ranges from Excellent - Poor.
Various other elements you may find on a diamond report consist of the gloss, symmetry, fluorescence as well as proportion. Equipped with this info, you are much better able to make an evaluation of the quality of ruby that is mounted in an involvement ring.
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