Top 5 Ways To Check The Quality of Your Diamond
They say a diamond is a girl’s best friend. Whether female or male, diamonds have always been beloved by both sexes. This is because not only is a diamond a beautiful stone, it is the most precious of gems. Not only is it the hardest substance on the planet, but its rarity, durability, and sparkle also make it the most coveted and beloved of stones.
A diamond consists of clear and often colorless crystalline pure carbon form in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Every genuine diamond is unique, but not all diamonds are of the same quality.
In addition, because diamonds are so beloved and so rare, there are many substitutes, such as cubic zirconia rings and other jewelry that is made to look like a diamond at first glance. When a diamond is not listed as a fake, they are often presented to fool customers who are not educated on what makes for a genuine diamond. However, for those who want to ensure that the diamond (s) they own are good quality and genuine, there are steps one can take. Here are 5 ways to check the quality of your diamond.
Before we begin, it’s important to know that in the diamond industry there is something known as the 4Cs launched by the Gemological Institute of America or GIA. The 4Cs are color, clarity, cut and carat weight or size. The 4Cs are a standard way to determine the quality of a diamond.
1. Color
The color of a diamond is one of the most critical considerations in determining the quality of the stone. A diamond that is colorless represents a perfect diamond. The value of the diamond reduces as tinges of color appear. For example, if there are tinges of yellow in the diamond, it’s not as valuable as a colorless diamond. With that being said, some diamonds are colored as part of their quality, for example, a red diamond which is extremely rare.
Often, changes in color cannot be seen with the untrained eye. Therefore, taking a diamond to a specialist is the best way to determine its color, and consequently, its color quality.
2. Clarity
The clarity of a diamond is another crucial consideration. A diamond that is considered flawless is a brilliant diamond with no imperfections. This is a diamond that is extremely rare in nature. A lesser quality diamond will have inclusions or surface imperfections.
It should also be noted that a diamond that is not pure in clarity is a stone that has a higher chance of chipping, cracking, etc. Sometimes imperfections can be seen with an untrained eye, but most of these imperfections cannot. Just like with testing the color, a diamond specialist will be able to locate any defects in a diamond and determine its clarity quality.
3. Cut
A third important determination for ways to check the quality of your diamond is the cut. This is important for how your diamond will appear or its aesthetics. What’s the one thing that a diamond with a superior cut does? It’s a diamond that sparkles. Every angle of the diamond is brilliant when it catches the light, no matter where you are. There are three characteristics of a perfectly cut diamond. First, brightness is a characteristic. This represents the white light reflection of your stone. The second is known as the fire.
This represents the flashes of color your stone gives off due to the prismatic effect. If you ever played with prisms as a child, you’ll remember the kaleidoscope effect they give off. The prismatic effect of a diamond is similar to that vision. The third characteristic is the scintillation.
This is the combination of the light and dark areas of your stone. A diamond is best tested for the cut when placed under various types of light, such as indoor lighting and outdoor lighting. However, as with color and clarity, the best way to get an accurate indication of the cut of your diamond is to take it to a diamond specialist.
4. Carat Weight
A fourth characteristic is the carat weight, or size, of the diamond. The weight is measured with a calibrated digital scale. Keep in mind that a diamond may have an actual carat weight that is less than what is represented in the store. For example, a diamond that is sold as one carat may in actually only be 0.89 carats. It is common for retail stores that sell diamonds to round off the carat weight to the next highest number.
With that being said, carat weight is not the primary way to tell if a diamond is of a high quality. In fact, it should be your last determination. In other words, just because a diamond may be two carats in weight doesn’t mean it’s better quality than a one-carat diamond.
If the two-carat diamond is of a lesser color than the one carat, for example, or if it’s cut is not as pure as the one carat, the one-carat diamond will be of better quality. However, if you’ve got a two-carat diamond that is of superior color, cut and clarity, you’ve got an excellent diamond.
5. Certification
A final and great way to tell the quality of your diamond, and to ensure that it’s not a fake, is to make sure the diamond is certified. A genuine diamond should not only be appraised, but it should also have a certificate from a reputable company. You should never just take a jeweler’s word that a diamond is certified. In fact, certifications by diamond sellers can part of the ever-increasing diamond scams.
Therefore, choose a top diamond grader for certification. There are a number of companies that you can trust. Some of these include the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), American Gemological Society (AGS), International Gemological Institute (IGI), etc. Getting an independent, reputable agency to certify your diamond is the way for you to trust the certificate.
These are 5 ways to check the quality of your diamond. They represent the standard ways to ensure that your diamond is a good one to have.
