Buying diamond jewelry is not only about refined taste but also an investment. You must make sure you are getting the best value for your money when you are shopping for diamonds. Clarity, weight, cut, and overall design of the jewelry all contribute to the price of the item. But more than anything, clarity and weight are the primary determinants of the price of the diamond. Whether you are getting Asscher cut diamond engagement rings or a pendant- its price will depend largely on the clarity. But how do you understand whether it is the quality you are looking for? Here we have listed some of the ways in which you can determine the quality and clarity of the diamonds and then invest accordingly.
Diamond clarity rating
The most important and scientifically approved marker of diamond clarity is the rating. There are several categories of rating based on the presence of impurities in the diamond. Here are the categories you will come across:
- Flawless diamonds (FL)- This is the highest clarity grade in diamonds. The impurities are not visible even with 10x magnification.
- Very Very Slightly Included 1 (VVS 1)-This is the second-best quality diamond where inclusions are nearly invisible under 10x magnification.
- Very Very Slightly Included 2 (VVS 2)- These diamonds have slightly more inclusion compared to VVS 1 but are still among the best quality diamonds available.
- Very Slightly Included (VS)- The inclusion is comparatively more in VS diamonds under 10x magnification. But they are the more widely sold variant as they are comparatively affordable for the masses.
- Slightly included (SI)- They show a significant range of impurities upon magnification. There are also two grades of SI that are SI 1 and 2.
- Included (I)- These diamonds have obvious impurities that can be easily detected by a trained grader and are graded as I1, I2, and I3. The inclusion of these diamonds even affects the transparency and brilliance of the diamond.
Carat weight of the diamond
The carat weight is associated with the quality and value of the diamond. The cut also affects the appearance of the stone. A one-carat diamond with an emerald cut may appear bigger than a cushion-cut diamond even though they weigh the same. This is sole because of the different shapes. The weight is not affected. The clarity will depend largely on the clarity rating of the stones, though.
The color quality of diamond
Color quality is another crucial factor in determining the clarity of the diamond. A high-quality diamond is nearly transparent or white. If there is any color, it indicates inclusions and lack of clarity. However, these hints of color are nearly untraceable to the naked eye. Hence, there are some ratings for color quality as well, which are provided below:
- Colourless (D-F)
- Nearly Colourless (G-J)
- Faint (K-M)
- Very Light (N-R)
- Light (S-Z)
Now that you know the tricks to decide the clarity of a diamond, you can buy the right jewelry without any worry. The Hatton Garden jewellery stores are some of the most reputable options for finding the best diamonds and other precious stones. If you are in London, this is the one-stop trusted destination to find the best pieces of jewelry.
