What Diamond to Buy: Diamond Purchasing Guide

Diamond is not a very rare stone in nature, however, 250 tons of rock, sand, and gravel must be removed to acquire 1 carat of diamond. This laborious operation increases the value and price of the diamonds.

In this diamond guide, I will specify the points you should pay attention to when buying diamonds. While jewelers determine the value of the diamond, they examine the 4c property of the diamond: Cut; Color; Clarity and Carat. In addition to the 4C feature, you should also learn about the 2C of the diamond before you buy it: Certificate and Care. After reading this guide you will be ready to buy the diamond that suits you.

Diamond is the processed state of raw diamond. That is, diamond, one of the hardest materials known, is extracted from nature raw. It is a modification of the carbon element. Another modification of carbon is graphite. Most diamonds are at least 100 years old and 2000 times harder than rubies and sapphires. Due to this unique cutting feature, diamonds are also among the surgeon’s tools.

The raw diamond turns into diamonds after being cut and processed. The diamond is called “Brillant” after it has been processed and the lower part has been cut like a dome. The lower part of the diamond is flat and the number of facets on this part is between 12-37. The diamonds are cut into 57 facets. The brilliant is more valuable than the raw diamond because it has fine craftsmanship.

Cut of the Diamond

Cutting Type

The most important value in terms of the brightness of the diamond is the cut of the diamond. The brightness, sheen, and price of the diamond depend on how the cut is made, so it is useful to understand the cut quality. Properties of diamonds, such as clarity, weight, and color, express how they are found in nature. However, determining the cut value depends on the diamond specialist who makes the cut.

The diamonds can be cut in various ways. Round-cut stones are the most preferred and most valuable ones. Shapes other than round cut diamonds are called fancy models. If you are buying your diamonds for investment purposes, you should choose round cut stones; Because they reflect the light in the best possible way. However, if you are considering buying a solitaire ring in the shape of almonds or other cuts, you can be attentive to the other 3C value to have a brighter product.

The preferred diamond cut shape reflects the taste of people. The most popular and valuable cuts are round cuts, but the fancy cut shapes are also very stylish. If you are not buying the diamond for investment, choose your favorite cut. The famous diamond expert Saul Spero explains which character of a woman prefers which kind of diamond as a result of his 25 years of researches with diamonds:

Round – Family-dependent, reliable, calm

Marquise – Extroverted, aggressive, creative, businesswoman.

Drop – Gentle, respectful, harmonious.

Emerald – Disciplined, conservative, honest.

Oval – Creative, regular, evaluating opportunities.

Heart – Emotional, feminine, sensitive.

Cutting Value

The cut value of the diamond should not be confused with the cut shape. Diamond cutting – roundness, depth, width, and facade (ie number of surfaces) determine the brightness of the diamond. The stone is essentially carbon, so it looks like coal. It consists of pure carbon which crystallizes at very high pressure (70 thousand kg / cm3) and temperatures (2000 centigrade). Such an environment is only present at depths of 150-200 km. Then they are pushed to earth with volcanic eruptions.

The most important determinant of brightness is the depth and width of the stone. Very narrow cuts lose light and brightness towards the bottom of the stone. In very deep areas, the stone looks dark and dull. According to the reports of G.I.A (The Gemological Institute of America), diamonds are classified according to the following cut values:

ID – Ideal / EX – Excellent / VG – Very Good / G – Good / F – Mediocre (Fair) / P – Poor

Cut Quality

Ideal: A perfect cut that reflects almost all of the light entering. Only 5% of the existing diamonds fall into this group.

Very good: A very good cut that reflects almost all the light entering. Close to ideal, but more affordable price

Good: A good quality cut that reflects most of the light it absorbs. Price is much cheaper than the very good cut

Mediocre: It’s cut to an acceptable quality, though not as good or as sparkling as the good cut. Among the diamonds of acceptable quality, it has the most suitable price

If you want to have a brilliant and shiny diamond, choose the ID-EX-VG and G precious diamonds. Diamonds of P and F grade will adversely affect the sparkle of the diamond as it will reflect the light incorrectly.

The combination of good cuts, reasonable prices and beauty would be the best alternative.

Color of the Diamond

The less color a diamond contains, the brighter and more valuable it is. The color property is measured according to the yellowness of a diamond. The most precious diamond is a colorless one and is very expensive. They are rare. According to the table of G.I.A (The Gemological Institute of America), the letters D to W in alphabetical order indicates the color ratio of the diamond. The rarest and whitest ones are D, E, F and G. But most diamonds are between H and L.

Diamonds between M and Z have a visible yellow hue. When used with white gold or platinum, the diamonds in the K-Z values will be more strikingly yellow and shine less. To understand the color of the diamond you get, ask for output from the colorimeter. Compare with other diamonds and make sure that the certificate is correct.

D: Completely Colorless. Best quality diamond color, very rare.

E – F: Colorless. However, they contain very slight color tones that can be determined by gemologists. Rare

G-H: Almost colorless. Classes that are perceived as white, whose color tone cannot be understood unless they are compared to whiter diamonds. Highest range of quality/price ratio.

I-J: Almost colorless. Latest colorless grades with a warm tone, noticeable from the naked eye

K-Z: Colorful.

If you are a perfectionist, choosing among the D-F color quality is the right choice for you. If you say “I want full white but the price should be affordable”, the classes you should choose are G and H. If you prefer to buy a white diamond at an excellent price, it makes sense to choose I or J.

Clarity of the Diamond

The clarity of a diamond is determined by looking at the stains in the diamond called nature’s fingerprints. There are traces of carbon crystal in the diamond. As these carbon crystals decrease, the clarity of the diamond will increase and this will increase the price.

FL, which is located at the highest level, means the diamond is completely clear and very rare in nature. Diamond stains can only be seen under very strong lenses. The stains increase from FL to P1-P2-P3. There is no visible difference between VVS1-VVS2 and VS1-VS2. This difference is only visible with a 10X microscope, so you don’t have to pay a high price difference between the two diamonds.

FL, IF Flawless, error-free. Diamond class with no flaws inside or outside. Very rare.

VVS1, VVS2 A small number of defects that are very difficult to see with a magnifying glass. It means excellent quality.

VS1, VS2 A class with a certain number of defects, which can only be seen with a magnifying glass. The most preferred class of clarity.

SI1, SI2 Defects can be easily seen when viewed through a magnifying glass, and sometimes contain some defects that are also visible to the eye. An economic choice

I1, I2, I3 stones with many defects seen.

I recommend you to choose VS1, VS2 which is more affordable than FL-IF quality, but its beauty is absolutely perfect. If you are looking for an economical alternative, if size and color are more important to you, you can also choose SI1 and SI2. It is to be noted that we pay particular attention to the fact that the defects contained in this diamond are not visible.

Carat of the Diamond

Carat is the unit of measurement for the weight of the diamond. In India, where Diamond was first found, the kernel of the carob is taken as the basis. And 1 carat weighs 200 milligrams (ie one-fifth of a gram).

In the jewelry industry, stones weighing less than 1 carat are usually sold. 1 carat is determined as 100 points. A half carat is 50 points and written as 0.50 ct. The weight of the stone should not be confused with its size. The price of two diamonds of the same carat weight will not be the same compared to the other 3C specification (clarity, color, and cut).

Since heavy and large diamonds are difficult to find, the value of the diamond increases in proportion to the carat weight. But when buying diamonds, you should definitely get rid of the idea that the biggest diamond will be the best. The value of a diamond is determined not according to its size but according to the 4C feature described in detail in our guide.

Which Carat Weight Is More Suitable for You?

To find the ideal carat weight, I recommend that you consider the size of the finger, the shape of the mount and your budget. If the Carat weight is more important to you, you can have a larger diamond by choosing the I-J color and SI clarity.

Diamond prices show a big jump at 0.50 Carat and 1.00 Carat levels. Although some weights below these figures seem almost identical in size, they would be more favorable in terms of price.

The smaller the finger the diamond will be attached to, the larger the diamond will look. For example, a 0.70 Carat gemstone diamond will look much larger on a finger with a size 10 ring than it will stand at number 19.

Diamond Certificate

If you are considering buying a precious diamond, you must request a copy of the certificate, because these certificates are the only guarantee of the quality and value of the stone you will receive. What is included in a certificate? The diamond certificate can also be a diamond rating report or a diamond quality report. The stone is examined by a gemologist under a microscope and a report is prepared on the dimensions, clarity, cut, color, symmetry, and other properties.

Applicable certificates are not issued by jewelers but by organizations such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL). However, for the diamond rings available on the market, your jeweler will provide a small certificate showing the value. These are the internationally valid certificates issued for precious stones only. GIA is also the organization that sets the standards that determine the values of the diamond. A certificate from this organization includes the following information:

Measurement – Dimensions of diamond in millimeters
Weight – Carat weight of the diamond
Depth – Depth of stone for round cut diamonds, and/or ratio of stone width to the diameter fancy cut diamonds
Table – The number of facets (surface) of the stone for round-cut diamonds and/or the ratio of stone width to the diameter for fancy-cut diamonds
Ring girdle – Arch thickness of the stone
Finish – Glazing and symmetry degrees
Clarity – Degree of clarity as determined by a 10x microscope
Clarity drawing – A map of traces in the diamonds based on approximate size, genus, and location
Color – Color rating
Fluorescence – The power of diamond color under UV light
Comments – Other features not included in the report

Diamond Care

Diamonds are the hardest substances in the world; they are uniquely resistant to damage from fire and scratching. They can only be cut and polished by another diamond. However, they can also be drawn with a very heavy blow. With a little care, you can protect your diamond for a lifetime. Hair sprays, household chemicals can shade the surface of the diamond, in which case the diamond will lose its luster. Therefore, taking your diamonds to your jeweler regularly and asking them to clean it will help you maintain its brightness and shine.

Cleaning: You can clean your diamond at home with a solution of 1 teaspoon of ammonia and 6 teaspoons of water. You can remove all dirt by brushing the diamond with a soft brush, but be careful not to touch the metal part of your ring or jewelry and not to scratch the metal with the brush. Once a year, it is useful to show your diamonds to your jeweler and to get information about the status of the stone.

Storage: When storing your diamonds, it is a good idea to keep all your jewels separately so that they do not touch each other. You can use pieces of fabric to separate your diamonds.

What to Consider When Buying Diamonds

Diamond is among the most precious and valuable gifts today. In fact, solitaire diamond rings have become indispensable for marriage proposals. So much so that solitaire diamonds are the protagonists of making our loved ones happy, symbolizing our emotions, making our most beautiful moments permanent and immortalizing these moments. Diamonds, which have survived to the present day by defying years, become precious and sparkling, embellish the dreams of every lady. Today, there are many kinds of diamonds and diamond models. There are many beautiful models that make buyers hesitant about solitaire diamonds or five-stone diamonds made in different features and styles. When a diamond gift will be chosen for a valentine, spouse, mother or a dear friend, almost everyone falls into indecision. Which one should I take? Which is better? Which is better quality? These and many other questions appear in our minds. Every diamond is special and beautiful in its own way. However, there are some points that should be known and paid attention, when buying diamonds.

When buying a diamond, whether it is a solitaire diamond ring, diamond necklace, earrings or other accessories such as bracelets, you must first know the diamond’s standard 4C rule and pay attention to them. Color, clarity, carat, and cut are the only factors that determine the value of diamonds. Although most appear to be colorless, diamonds should be known to have a color range from D to Z. Diamonds with a color of J and above are diamonds of reasonable and sufficient whiteness. H, D, and G are the best ones. On top of each diamond, however, there are spots that define the clarity of diamonds, which are described as fingerprints of nature. When buying diamonds, take this into consideration and prefer VS-SI grade diamonds.

Like the other features of the diamonds whose weight is measured in carats, the weight of the stone, ie the carat, is a point to be considered. Carat size in diamond ring prices is a factor that affects the price even if it does not cause an asymmetric or proportional price increase. Because a diamond with a very large carat but low in other features can be lower priced than a smaller carat diamond. In this sense, when buying diamonds for your loved ones and especially when making a marriage proposal, make sure that the solitaire diamond ring model is 0.10 carat and above. The only feature created by man on diamonds is the cutting of diamonds. Therefore, when making your diamond preference, pay attention to the quality of the cut and the cut model to suit the taste of your loved one.

The diamonds, each of which has a unique characteristic, expressing uniqueness are beautiful gifts that deserve to be shimmered on every woman. Diamond ring types with dazzling sparkles always bring the glory of your loved ones to the fore. In marriage proposals, birthdays, mothers day or on a day that is special for you, in addition to the abovementioned features, the model of mounting is also important. Diamond ring prices and diamond models that determine the elegance of the classic mountings, four-nail mount, six-nail mount, heart-mounted styles. When buying solitaire diamonds or five-stone diamonds, the accessory of your choice should be suitable for the taste of the person who will receive the gift and compatible with the diamond.

Tips for Buying Quality Diamonds: Questions and Answers

What is a Diamond Certificate? Who issues the certificate? Which certificates are given to which type of diamonds?

The certificate is divided into two, one is the product certificate and the other is the diamond certificate. The diamond product certificate specifies the gold gram of that ring, necklace or earring, the declared gold setting, the weight of the diamond used in carats, the color, and clarity of the diamond. This type of certificate is provided to you with the card type or paperwork type they print. This type of certificate is issued if the stones consist of a lot of small diamonds because if all the stones on the ring or necklace are certified, the product becomes very expensive. If the diamond on the product you purchase starts from at least 0.30 carats (0.35, 0.40, 0.70 and upwards) and weights above it, we strongly recommend that you buy an internationally recognized diamond. Because the company gives its own certificate for these stones and if they accidentally write I or H instead of J in the color of the diamond, you will get a diamond that you will get to 90 units as a consumer to 110 units. However, a certificate from a real laboratory will show you the true color and clarity of the stone independently. Another point I would like to add: 90% of the jewelers cannot distinguish between a real J color and a real I color diamond. The only thing that will prevent you from being wrong is that a real laboratory will certify that diamond (for the sizes you mentioned above).

This certificate is like your ID card. Examples of these certificates are;
HRD (Belgium),
GIA (America),
IGI (Belgium).

Why is a 1-carat ring made of many small diamonds much cheaper than a 1-carat diamond engagement ring?

The price of the diamond product increases exponentially as the carats of stone grow. To give an example, there are a lot of small diamonds on a ring, a total of 1 carat, on the other side there is a stone alone 1 carat. In this case, 1-carat diamond alone will be much more expensive than the other ring. Why is 0.50 carat F color solitaire diamond more expensive than 0.58 carat I color stone? Why is 0.58 more expensive than 0.50 by weight? (To give an example from your life, 1 kilo of strawberries should be more expensive than half a kilo of strawberries, but vice versa can be the case.) The four most important factors that determine the price of diamonds are the properties we call 4C. The first two features of these are diamond color and clarity. As the color and clarity of the diamond increases, the price increases, because the diamond becomes a rare stone, and the diamonds are priced according to color, clarity, and carat in international exchanges where diamond prices are determined. In this respect, a 0.50 carat F color VVS clear stone is much more expensive than a 0.58 I color VS clear diamond because it is a rare diamond.

In this case, is the F color good and the I color bad?

Never. Diamond is the most precious of rare stones that nature gives us. Real I-colored stone will look very very nice on a beautiful mount (ring). This business is a bit of a budget matter. If your budget is enough, you can also get the F color. To give an easier example, one is Toyota and one is Mercedes. But both are very nice cars. We hope we can tell the example we want to give.

What is the difference between an SI-clear stone and a VS or VVS?

In an SI1-clear diamond, the consumer cannot see the scars with the naked eye. These traces can be seen with a trained eye with magnifiers that diamond stores have. In this respect, it is acceptable to buy SI1 diamonds according to the budget. Of course, you need to know that the stone is really SI 1. For VS stones, you should look at the diamond with a magnifying glass. With a magnifying glass, it is possible to understand that a stone is a VS, either by a gemologist or a master diamond expert. In VVS stones, it is very difficult to decide with a magnifying glass. In particular, it is almost impossible to understand the difference between VVS1 and VVS2. A special microscope is required to understand this type of stone. There is no trace on the IF-clear stone. Clarity is excellent. They are very rare in nature. In the so-called pique stones, the marks on the diamonds are markedly selected by the naked eye. Such diamonds are not acceptable. In this respect, if you have found a good color diamond when buying diamonds and clarity is SI1, it is desirable to buy this type of diamond. Of course, VS and VVS are more desirable. This is all about the consumer’s budget. The example of the car above also applies here (for easier understanding). If we say SI1 is Toyota, we can call VS or VVS Mercedes.

There are two different firms with rings that have the same gold gram and diamond size and diamond colors, but why one is 30% more expensive than the other?

Because the other invest in the brand, it has to increase its prices (television advertising, the chain of stores, print media ads, etc.). This does not mean that the other is better or poorer than the other. The result is a diamond. If you really have a certificate from a laboratory, there is no trust problem. And if you think about it, things can get different. Buying a one-carat ring from Tiffany is different from buying one carat from X jeweler. One has a double price, but if the consumer’s budget is sufficient, he would prefer to buy it from Tiffany. It is about the nature of the person. You get a one-carat ring from one store and another from Tiffany. The products are the same where the companies are different (If we accept that both of them are awarded international certificates).

Get the diamond from the jeweler who really understands the diamond.

It is often inconvenient to buy diamonds from a jeweler who has 20 – 30 diamond rings in the shop window because the main job of this person is gold jewelry, not the diamond. In this respect, you can hear the characteristics of the diamond as secondhand information from this person. Our advice to you is to get the diamond from the real jeweler. A true jeweler is a patient person who can guide you through the subject of diamonds and be able to tell you the details. In the end, you are buying a diamond, not a gold bracelet (It, of course, does not mean that the bracelet is worthless). You will keep this precious jewelry for the rest of your life. In this respect, it is your right to know exactly what product you are buying. In this respect, I recommend you to work with a jeweler who has an internationally valid certificate and who will tell you the details of this certificate.

Is there any truth to the story that the jewelers call the Dutch diamond and the London diamond?

There is no such thing as a Dutch diamond or a Belgian diamond. Those are lies. Diamond is a diamond. Raw diamonds are found in several countries such as Africa, Canada, Brazil, and Russia. In this respect, the emphasis is not correct, such as the Dutch diamond called to add quality to the product they sell. Just make sure that the certificate given to you meets the criteria mentioned above.

What is the difference between a jeweler and a jewelry company? If the place I bought diamonds is not a jewelry company, but a jeweler, what should I pay attention to?

Diamond forms 90% of the display case in the jewelry companies. If you have already visited 15 shops you will understand which one is a jewelry company and which one is a jeweler. When buying jewelry from a jewelry company, note that a considerable part of the showcase consists of diamonds. Ask the jeweler what you learned from this article and try to get answers. If you’re really trusted, make the purchase (For stones over 0.30 carats, a certificate obtained from the laboratory is required).