How to by a diamond:

There are quite a few things to think about before you buy a diamond, or diamond jewelry for yourself, or a gift for someone special. It can be a bit confusing.

I am going to help you know how to shop for the best quality diamonds, at the best price. Always consider what you can comfortably afford, before you shop. There might be a situation when you can get something a lot prettier, for a little more, would you consider that? Let the jeweler know so they can better help you.

I would hope that you would buy your diamonds and diamond jewelry from Halem & Co, but this will help you buy from any reputable jeweler.

The first thing I recommend is that you ask questions.

Select a jeweler as you would a doctor, a lawyer, or any professional. Ask your family and friends for referrals, and / or go out and talk to local jewelers. Buy from the one you are most comfortable with; trust and accountability are very important. They should be able to help you find the best quality diamonds for the best price. Halem & Co will always meet or beat prices you find on line, or any advertised price.

So how do people learn about diamonds so they can buy, own and enjoy their beauty with confidence?

A diamond's quality and rarity is determined by its unique combination of four characteristics; Clarity, Color, Cut, and Carat Weight. The international diamond quality grading analysis, used around the world since the 1940”s, is based on these 4 C's. Diamonds are graded using 10X magnification by skilled and experienced graders. Your jeweler should have a hand held 10X magnification tool called a loupe, and / or a microscope, for you to use so you can see any clarity characteristics for yourself.

Diamonds rating higher in the gem grading analysis are rarer, and therefore more expensive.

This is a description of the 4 C's:

CLARITY:

Almost all diamonds have tiny imperfections or clarity characteristics (birth marks formed during their creation). Diamonds with few or no imperfections receive the highest grading. Characteristics in the FL to SI1 range can not be seen with the naked eye. The clarity grading scale includes eleven clarity grades ranging from Flawless to Obviously Included.

 

FL / IF / VVS1 / VVS2 / VS1 / VS2 / SI1 / SI2 / I1 / I2 / I3

 

FL=Flawless (no surface blemishes, or internal inclusions); IF=Internally flawless; VVS1=Very very slightly included; VVS2=Very very slightly included, (easier to see to the trained eye); VS1=Very slightly included; VS2=Very slightly included (small inclusions can be seen under table facets to the trained eye); SI1=Slightly included (inclusions can be seen with 10X magnification under table facets); SI2=Slightly Included, (you can see inclusions under table when looking for them); I1=Internally flawed (larger inclusions under table, may show clouding); I2=Internally flawed

(obvious inclusions with naked eye); I3=Internally flawed, larger obvious inclusions.

Diamonds in the I2 and I3 range are much less expensive compared with an SI clarity diamond and are very obviously not as pretty.

 

COLOR:

A diamonds color grade actually refers to the lack of color. The color grading scale ranges from 'D' to 'Z'. Color grades are determined by a skilled, experienced grader using a master set of comparison stones, by independent gem analysis labs.

D / E / F / G / H / I / J / K / L / M / N / O / P / Q /R / S / T / U /V/W/X/Y/Z

D thru F = Colorless; G thru J = near colorless (G & H, I can only see faint color compared with grading stones, not naked eye); I & J = trained eye can see faint grey or brown tint); K thru M = faint tint (best set in yellow gold jewelry); N thru R = very light (obvious tint); S thru Z = light (more of an obvious tint).

 

Some diamonds can emit a visible fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light (black lights). Fluorescence is not a determining factor in color. It is however described on gem grading analysis reports, and is a important identification factor.

 

Diamonds form in nature in all colors. Beautiful colored diamonds are termed fancy colored. Colored diamonds are graded on a separate scale based on their hue and saturation of color. Your jeweler can also help you find colored diamonds. Some colors are very rare, and can be more expensive than the same quality colorless diamonds.

 

CUT:

Diamonds are cut in many different shapes. There are also many patented cuts done by different companys. In the diamond's grading analysis the shape and name of cut is listed; the cut grading analysis is based on the perfection of proportion. A polished diamonds brilliance lies in its complex relationship with light: how it strikes the surface, how much enters the diamond, and returns to your eye.

 

The polished diamond cut scale ranges from Excellent to Poor:

 

Excellent (Ideal) / Very Good / Good / Fair / Poor

A diamond in the Very Good to Excellent range will have amazing brilliance, sparkle and fire.

 

CARAT WEIGHT:

This is a weight, not a size. Diamonds are weighed in metric carats; one carat (CT) is equal to 200 milligrams, or 1/5 of a gram. 100 “points” is equal to 1CT, so a diamond of 50 points (pts) weighs 0.50CT or ½ carat.

Diamonds are valued / priced, based on their quality (first 3 C's) per carat. Diamonds of higher weight are rarer, and therefore priced more per carat.

For example: a diamond weighing .75CT priced at $5,000.00 per carat (/ CT) would cost $3,700.00.

A diamond of the same quality with a weight of .12CT might be priced at $3000.00 / CT, and cost $360.00.

 

Now you know a little bit about the 4 C's, I hope this has helped you.

I think knowledge is power. The more you know the more confident you will be in asking further questions, and feel good about your final decision and purchase.

There is a fifth 'C' that I believe is just as important: Confidence

I recommend the following web sites to learn more, and just for fun:

www.gia.edu

www.diamonds.com

 

A few other things to consider:

Fine quality diamonds over .40CT should come with a Diamond Grading Analysis Report by an independent grading laboratory.

There are many others that are probably just as good; but these are the three I have the most experience with.

G.I.A - Gemological Institute of America, headquarters in Carlsbad California

E.G.L. - European Gemological Laboratories

A.G.S. - American Gemological Society Laboratories

 

 

It is very important to have your new jewelry insured.

A diamond grading report tells you the exact gemological quality of your diamond in detail. Many also include a gem print, which is a microscopic photograph of your diamond. This is your guarantee.

Many diamonds today are lazer inscribed with a certificate or registration number on the girdle of the diamond. You can also have your diamond lazer inscribed with a personal message of your choosing. All these things together add to it's traceability, and recover ability in case of loss or burglary.

The diamond grading analysis report describes the precise gemological quality of your diamond, and appraiser or experienced jewelry professional can then put a monetary, replacement value with it so you can have it insured.

 

Please feel free to email me, call, or come in, ask questions and look at some loose and set diamonds at Halem & Co.

 

Nihala

 

Halem & Co

On the Windsor Town Green

730 McClelland Dr.

Windsor, CA, 95492

(707) 837-2900

halemhbg@sonic.net