Looking to buy some diamond jewellery for a special person in your life? Taking your time to choose the right diamond is essential. These precious stones come in many different forms. It’s important to consider what type of diamond is right for your loved one, while making sure it’s appropriate for the style of jewellery you’re buying and also within budget. Below are just 7 factors to weigh up.
WHY IS CARAT IMPORTANT
The weight and size of a diamond are referred to as the carat. It is one of the 4 Cs (carat, cut, colour and clarity) and has the most influence on the price of a diamond. While many think a large carat is necessary for a diamond to be impressive, bigger isn’t always better. A low carat diamond (below 1 carat) can be recommended for many intricate forms of jewelry – by prioritising the cut, colour and clarity, you can still make it look stunning.
THE SECOND THING IS THE CUT
How much a diamond sparkles is determined by the ‘cut’. When a diamond is cut into shape, the smoothness of the facets and symmetry of the angles can affect how the stone catches the light. Choosing a diamond with a high cut grade can be a great way to make a low-carat diamond stand out.
WHAT DOES COLOUR MEAN WHEN SELECTING A DIAMOND
The colour of diamonds is ranked from D to Z. The closer a diamond is to D, the more colourless and the more valuable it is. Diamonds nearer the opposite end of the scale (J to Z) have an increasingly browny-yellow tint and are less expensive. You can also buy diamonds in colours like pink, blue and green. Although not seen as ‘fancy’ by diamond purists, these coloured diamonds can still be sought after by some people for their uniqueness.
WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER CLARITY
Clarity refers to how clear a diamond is. The clearest diamonds are ranked as ‘flawless’, while diamonds that are cloudy or have blemishes are referred to as ‘included’. The clearer a diamond, generally the more pricey.
SHAPE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
It’s not just the 4 Cs you need to consider when buying a diamond. The shape of a diamond is arguably one of the most important factors. Diamonds come in all kinds of shapes, including round diamonds, pear diamonds, oval diamonds and heart diamonds. Certain shapes may be better suited for necklaces, while others are better for rings. Arguably, the best place to buy diamond rings is Rare Carat, as this site allows you to explore a range of different shapes.
ORIGIN OF THE DIAMOND
You should also consider where a diamond has come from. Natural diamonds are the most desirable and the most expensive types of diamond – these are mined directly from the earth and exported around the world. Unfortunately, some natural diamonds can be sold to fuel conflicts or mined under poor working conditions. Fake diamonds also exist. This has led to lab-grown diamonds becoming a popular option. In all cases, you should make sure that a seller provides a certificate – this can authenticate that a diamond is real and that it is obtained ethically.
LASTLY CONSIDER COST
When buying any diamond jewellery, it is important to have a clear budget in mind from the beginning. The cost of diamonds can vary drastically from as little as £600 to millions of pounds. You can often buy diamond jewellery on finance, although not all jewellers provide this. Be wary of very cheap ‘diamond’ jewellery – it may not be real!
