The 4 C's + 1 Important T
Oct 09 '01
The Bottom Line Learn about the 4 C's before you buy, and make sure your gut trusts your merchant. In summation- educate yourself!
Purchasing a diamond may be one of the hardest things you ever attempt to do if you do not choose the right merchant to help you make your selection. Being lead down the wrong path can lead you to purchasing a lower quality diamond and paying more for it all the while thinking you've made yourself a good deal.
The first things a merchant should discuss with you are not the size, the cost, or even the shape of the diamond you are looking for, but rather the 4 C's of diamonds so that you can make an informed decision about your purchase. These other things should be secondary.
The Four C's
Color- This refers to the opaqueness of the diamond you will be viewing. The lower the letter of the alphabet your diamond is rated the better the clearness of it. For example, a diamond rated O,P,Q, is considered to be a very light yellow; while a rating of D the best is considered to be near colorless thus of the most value.
Clarity- This c deals with whether your diamond has occlusions or flaws and how visible they are to the naked eye. A rating of I3 may mean that there are large clearly visible black or white flaws seen even without the help of a jewelers loupe or under a scope. A VVS1 rating is nearly flawless in clarity and may only be detected by a trained jeweler using a scope. SI (slightly imperfect ratings) falls in the middle. The better the grade the greater the value of the diamond.
Cut- This refers to the shape the diamond is cut into and to a lesser extent to the type of setting appropriate to best hold and support your diamond. Popular shapes include marquise, square, round, heart, and tear drop. Which you choose is an individual choice based upon your taste. The strongest setting for a diamond or any other type of stone is called a basket setting, but I'd rely on my merchant to advise me of what is best to meet my individual needs.
Carat- This of course refers to the actual size(weight) of the diamond, and here is where cost plays it's heaviest influence. The larger the amount of carats the larger the price placed upon the stone. As you increase the clarity and color the price rises as well.
Last when choosing a merchant, I feel the T of it is equally important. This is trust. If you do not feel it for the person helping you to make this important decision, do not buy from them! If the 4 c's have been explained to you, you've set a price range, picked out a cut you like, discussed the color and clarity of the stone you have chosen, you yourself have taken a look at the stone under a scope (I've been told this is better than a loupe because the loupe causes you to hold the stone and may block your view), and you've talked about how to set it and all feels right- go ahead do business with this merchant. It's good to develop this relationship of honesty and trust because you may need to use them again someday. After all, anniversaries, birthdays, mother's/father's days, and other important events do tend to crop up. A good, trustworthy merchant may just be your best friend someday.
One other thing. Make sure you get a written appraisal for insurance purposes. Also find out your stores policy on how often you have to have your diamond checked to keep the warranty in force. My merchant's policy is twice a year. Make sure you keep those visits up, and to take your paperwork with you so it stays properly recorded. Even with the best deal sometimes things can go wrong, and you may need this protection.
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pokemonsick
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Member: Marla Hansen
Location: Niagara Falls, NY USA
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About Me:
I'll be back sometime in mid July with some Myrtle Beach, SC reviews...
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