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Buying Diamonds For Cut, Carat And Clarity |
By:
Lee Dobbins |
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We've all heard that cut, carat and clarity are important
considerations when buying a diamond, but most of us have no
idea what that really means. In this article, we will give you a
little explanation of each so that you can be armed with a bit
of knowledge the next time you buy a diamond.
Carat
Diamonds are measured in what is called carat weight which stems
from an old form of measurement involving carob beans. At one
time, if a diamond weighed the same as a carob bean, it was
considered one carob or one carat. Today, the measurements are a
bit more precise and one carat is 200 milligrams.
You may also hear a diamonds weight referred to as grains which
stems from another ancient form of measurement. In the far east,
rice was used to measure the weight of a diamond. If the weight
equaled 4 grains or rice it was called four grains - or one
carat as we know it to be now.
You have to be leery when buying diamonds that are already set
or mounted. If there is more than one diamond in the piece then
the tag will show the CTW or Carat Total Weight which is the
combined weight of all stones. It will not tell you the weight
of each stone in the piece, therefore you must ask the jeweler
for the total carat weight of the largest diamond in order to
really know what you are buying.
Clarity
There are basically two things to think about when evaluating
the clarity of a diamond - inclusions and blemishes. Inclusions
are flaws inside the diamond and blemishes are those on the
surface. Diamonds are graded by the amount of inclusions and
blemishes and whether or not they can be seen by the naked eye.
Many diamond buyers mistakenly think that diamond clarity refers
to how clear it is but this is not the case. Clarity actually
refers to the external as well as internal imperfections in the
stone. The best diamonds, of course get a grade of FL or IF -
Flawless or Internally Flawless - meaning that it is perfect. A
grade of I-1, I-2 or I-3 means that the diamond is imperfect,
with a grade of I-3 being the worst.
Cut
Contrary to what most people think, cut does not refer to the
shape of the stone, but to the facets that are cut into each
stone. These facets are critical as they are what causes the
stone to reflect light and what gives it, it's brilliance. Even
the most wonderful diamond can be ruined if it is not cut
properly.
Jewelers follow a mathematical formula to insure that a diamond
is cut to show the maximum brilliance of the stone. As with
anything cut affects price and there are several grades of cut
to consider when buying a diamond.
The best cut is called "Ideal Cut" and it is perfectly per
portioned to maximize the brilliance of the stone. The next best
cut is called "Premium" which is also very desirable and is less
expensive than the ideal cut. A "Very Good" cut is one step down
from the premium but still reflects most of the light from the
stone.
In some cases, the cutters vary the proportions of the cut to
result in a larger diamond. The "Good" cut is an economical
grade - lower than the "Very Good" but quite popular with most
people buying diamonds as it still shows the stone off quite
well. "Fair" and "Poor" cuts should be avoided as they do not
result in a sparkly brilliant diamond. These diamonds are cut to
specifically maximize size but they sacrifice brilliance in the
process.
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Article Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article16275.html |
Article: Buying Diamonds For Cut, Carat And Clarity
Author: Lee Dobbins
Total Views: 30
Word Count: 571
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