For a long time, men have developed a fascination towards diamonds because of their hard strength and sparkling nature. A natural diamond may be the oldest thing that you buy, unless you choose to buy the lab grown ones.Buying a diamond is a major purchase and people usually go to the jewellers who have a good reputation and stand by the products they sell. That being said, when you buy a diamond, you might as well buy it from the best Hatton Garden Jewellers as they have some of the oldest craftsmen and traders. So sufficient to say that they are sellers of repute.
Purchasing a diamond can be a daunting task, especially if it’s your first time. It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed and confused because it’s an important purchase and you do not want to be ripped off. But worry not, we’re going to tell you how to go about buying diamonds and what exactly you should know about diamonds before you purchase one.
The first thing that you need to do is decide the shape of the diamond that you want to buy. Diamonds come in various shapes and cuts such as princess, round, emerald, radiant, oval, marquise, asscher and pear. If you find it difficult to determine which shape you want or if you’re buying diamonds for the first time, then try to opt for the most common classic shape such as a round one because round is always in style, always in vogue and extremely popular.
Now, the value and worth of a diamondare determined by four attributes that all diamonds share i.e. colour, clarity cut and carat weight which are also popularly known as the 4 ‘C’s.
- The first C is colour. When it comes to diamonds, the lesser the colour, the higher the grade. There is a standard colour scale used to classify diamonds from a D type which is colorless to Z which is light yellow or brown. Anything from D, E, F, G, H is a good choice for a clear diamond and as you slide and get past H in the colour scale, the diamonds will appear a bit yellow to the eye and may not seem as desirable as the clearer options.
- The next C is for clarity and refers to the clearness or purity of the diamond. When you’re looking at a diamond, an inclusion is a little black spot that looks out of place. This means that the diamond is not quite as clear. If there are fewer inclusions in the diamond, the clarity increases and hence it’s going to be more expensive. A scale is used to assign a grade to the diamond based on its clarity where F represents flawless diamonds and I representthe inclusions in a diamond.Most diamonds are graded between F and I. Most people may choose a diamond which has inclusions in it but are not visible to the unaided eye.
- The third C is cut. The cut of a diamond refers to the proportion, finish and polish of the diamond. These factors directly determine the brilliance and fire of the diamond and the amount of light reflected by it. Sometimes when you look at a diamond, you’d feel it’s a pretty stone. But other times you look at a diamond and it shines and stands out sparkling. This happens because the diamond that shines and sparkles more, has a better cut. An ideally cut diamond will have light bouncing off its surface and reflecting in all directions. It will look extremely special.There are three types – a shallow cut, a very shallow cut, a deep cut and a very deep cut, which will dictate what that diamond will look like. A diamond which is cut deep will look small but shine bright but if it’s cut wide and shallow will look large but won’t sparkle as much. So, it’s really up to you to decide whether you want a small diamond that sparkles a lot or a large one that doesn’t sparkle as much.
- The fourth and final C is the carat of the diamond which is basically how much the diamond weighs. It also correlates to the size of the diamond.One carat is equal to 0.20 grams. Although the other C’s do determine the price of the diamond, the carat of the diamond is a major determinant of its price. In other words, the larger the carat, the more expensive will the diamondbe.
Once you are sure about the specifications for a diamond, make sure to compare a few stones in that range to consider other aspects such as the brilliance and light dispersion of the diamond before choosing the one you want to purchase. Make sure that the one you choose comes with a diamond grading certification from a trusted and unbiased source like GIA. This certification should be undisputable and is proof of the originality of the diamond. Apart from these things, you should keep in mind the budget you set for the purchase. There is a huge variety of diamonds available in the market that you can purchase, so don’t hesitate to spend a little extra time in choosing the right one that fits your budget. Last but not the least; choose a jeweller with the expertise and knowledge of diamonds like the Hatton Garden Jewellers. They are armed with experts who can guide you through your diamond buying journey with patience and expert advice.
Diamonds are rare, beautiful and symbolize durability and longevity. And therefore, most people buy diamond engagement rings for their better halves because they stand for everlasting love. There are other reasons for buying a diamond as well, such as an investment, to celebrate an occasion, as a gift etc. Whatever be the reason, the commercial value of a diamond has the least importance when compared to the emotions attachedto it. This makes it extremely valuable and special for the person who purchases it and the one who gets it. So, while someone might wear diamonds as a sign of affluence, the other might wear it just for the beauty of it. And some, place emotional attachment to a diamond that has been gifted as a piece of jewellery on a special occasion. But what really matters, in the end, is how much that little piece of jewellery can mean so much to you.