Some consider diamonds as the ultimate investment. Even though controversy has always surrounded the world of diamonds, research shows that the value of diamonds have increased every year for over 50 years! With concerns about increasing world debt, inflated stock market bubbles, and a worthless paper money system, diamonds might be a great alternative for you to invest your hard earned money and make it grow over time.
While gold bars are heavy and riskier to carry (they might break a few toes if you were to drop one on your foot!), diamonds are small, easy to carry and store – the most concentrated form of wealth on the planet!
Like every other investment, the key when investing in diamond jewelry is to pay the best price possible, not retail. At 5-star-rated CRM Jewelers, we specialize in supplying you with high quality diamonds and elegant jewelry at attractive prices.
Now you know why cliches such as “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” and “Diamonds are forever,” are not only common, but also true!
BUYING DIAMONDS – THE FOUR C’S
If you are in the market to buy certified diamonds, you might have heard about the 4Cs: the globally accepted standard for evaluating and classifying diamonds: Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight.
CUT
The “Cut” not only refers to a diamond’s shape (round, emerald, princess, etc.), but (more importantly) it’s quality (proportions, symmetry, and polish), which affect how well the diamond interacts with light; that is, it’s brilliance. Even though the cut grades of a diamond are subjective ratings, a diamond’s “Cut” is considered the most important factor affecting its beauty. The four GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certified diamond cut grades are as follows: Excellent, Very Good, Fair and Poor. Furthermore, when it comes to diamond engagement rings, the most popular diamond shape is the round brilliant cut.
CLARITY
The clarity of a diamond is a measure of the degree of “imperfections” or flaws it contains. Imperfections can be found on the diamond surface, which are known as blemishes (scratches, pits, chips, etc.), or inside the diamond, which are known as inclusions (bubbles, cracks, dots, etc.). The clearer (or more flawless) the diamond, the higher its value. The GIA Diamond Clarity Grade scale consists of five main categories with 11 grades in all. The categories are: FL (Flawless), IF (Internally Flawless), VVS1-VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included 1 & 2), VS1-VS2 (Very Slightly Included 1 & 2), SI1-SI2 (Slightly Included 1 & 2), and I1-I2-I3 (Included 1, 2, & 3).
COLOR
When diamond jewelers speak of a the “color” of a diamond, they are usually referring to the hue or degree of yellowish tint in a white diamond (different color criteria apply to rarer “Fancy Color” diamonds [pink, yellow, orange, etc.], which have a more intense color grading). Colorless, white diamonds allow more light to flow through them, which makes them more brilliant and fiery. Thus, the more colorless the stone, the higher its value. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) uses 12-letter (D to Z) color grading system, ranked from least amount (D) to most amount (Z) of color. The GIA color scale is divided as follows: D to F (Colorless), G to J (Near Colorless), K to M (Faint), N to R (Very Light), and S to Z (Light).
CARAT WEIGHT
A diamond’s weight is measured in “carats,” a unit of mass specifically used for measuring gemstones and pearls. One carat is equal to 200 mg or 0.007 ounces. Each carat can be divided into 100 parts or “points” (each weighing 2 mg). As the mass (or number of carats) of diamonds increases, the price increases exponentially. Many think that a 1-carat diamond is the ideal size for an engagement ring. However, it is interesting to point out that the average carat weight used on engagement rings is 0.37 carats. I know that women might be shaking their heads in disbelief after reading this!
DIAMOND CERTIFICATES
Certified diamonds are stones that have been analyzed by a laboratory, which then issues a certificate with the specifications and quality of the diamonds. The 4Cs of each diamond (and more) are specified in the certificate.
The two most respectable certificates are those issued by the world renowned labs, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS). Buying a GIA certified or AGS certified diamond allows you to make a more informed and intelligent decision when making your purchase, since you can compare the loose diamond to others with different certificates.
If you are buying a diamond that is not certified, make sure that it is appraised properly.
For all your questions about diamonds and diamond jewelry, please call us at 305-349-5000.