I still remember the look on my girlfriend’s face when I looked her in the eyes and presented her with a stunning diamond engagement ring. She is now my wife and not a day goes by where I don’t feel like the luckiest man in the world. Being the Diamond Geek, I had some extra pressure to find her a ring that truly went above and beyond, while still remaining within my budget. This is why i wrote this diamond buying guide, to make thing more simple.

Having gone through this process myself and having frequently helped guide people to finding the perfect engagement ring for their partner, I thought it was about time to collect all of my knowledge and experience into a single helpful diamond buying guide.

Finding the perfect diamond ring is about to get a whole lot easier.

STEP 1 – Define your budget

When making a big purchase it is always good advice to work out what you can afford first. Receiving a diamond should be a wonderful moment but here’s something they don’t tell you – GIVING a diamond should also feel like a wonderful moment. If you’re going to be in debt for the next six months because you overspent, then you’re not going to be in the right frame of mind to fully enjoy the moment.

Even if you’ve promised yourself to only buy what you can afford, that still doesn’t provide a magical number, does it? Some people think you should spend at least two months’ salary for the perfect engagement ring. Personally, I think that’s total nonsense!

With some smart research you can get a gorgeous ring for less than $1,000. She’ll think it looks like a million bucks and consequently feel like a million bucks, while you’ll be able to pay your rent – everyone is a winner!

Don’t worry, this diamond buying guide is going to help you maximize your budget – whatever the size – to find the perfect diamond ring for your loved one.

STEP 2 – Research her style

There are a LOT of diamond rings out there. Big and small, white and colored, different cuts, different bands, classic or modern…and on and on it goes. So what you’re going to want to do is narrow the search by determining something quite important to the whole process – what does SHE like?

Does she often wear jewelry? What type? Take note of her favorite colors and styles. Is she more classical or modern? Is she bold or understated?

If she doesn’t wear jewelry, do you know why? Maybe start a natural discussion about it. Or you could ask a trusted friend.

When I was 18 I gave my first girlfriend a gold necklace. She said she liked it but never wore it. When I finally built up the courage to ask, she told me that she was allergic to gold. Whoops.

Don’t make the same mistake. Your partner is going to be the one wearing the jewelry, so find out what she likes. Do that and not only will you have a happy partner, you’ll make your search so much smoother.

STEP 3 – Find her ring size

The average ring size for a woman is 6-6.5, but I would advise against playing the odds if you can help it. The simplest idea would be to find one of her rings, one she doesn’t wear often and wouldn’t notice if it was missing, and take it to the jeweler. It’s also important to make sure that she uses it on her ring finger.

If you’re scared of losing it, you could trace the ring on a piece of paper and take that instead. Alternatively, you could ask a friend of hers – a friend that you feel confident won’t spill the beans.

If you’re not the secretive type, you could even ask your girlfriend yourself. You could play it a bit coy by saying that one day you might have a reason to use the information. James Allen has an online ring sizing tool that will assist.

Failing all of that, you have the plain ring proposal option, whereby you find jewelers that have the option to place the diamond on a temporary setting (Gold or Silver). Then, after the successful proposal, you can return the ring together and have it properly sized for her finger and then set the diamond in an ideal setting of her choice.

It might not be as traditionally romantic but it will show you care about her opinion – something she may appreciate even more.

STEP 4 – Do your research

Okay, now it’s time to get serious and start looking at diamonds.

If you don’t have a lot of knowledge there are a number of guides, forums and websites that will help you understand what you should be looking for. Not every resource is going to be as accurate or as clear as you’d like, but my guides are a good place to start. I would also recommend Truth About Diamonds and Price Scope – both are great resources and the latter has a very active forum.

If you want to browse style ideas, I highly recommend online shops like Ebay and Etsy, which have lots of diamond rings to look over. I particularly like Etsy, which has items from private designers and small companies who make their own designs. Wouldn’t it be more special to have a uniquely designed diamond ring for your girlfriend?

If you want something more traditional, you can’t go wrong with James Allen. They offer a huge collection of diamonds, diamond rings and jewelry. Their big advantage over the competition is their ability to offer real 3D pictures of each diamond as well as competitive pricing.

If you have the time you could also go to a brick and mortar store. Talk to the salesperson and take a look at the rings in person. Sure, they will have an agenda but you can also absorb some key information such as what rings are within your budget and what styles are currently in fashion.

I would advise against making an impulse purchase, rather gather information and then weigh up your various options. However, if you are an impulsive person and you lay eyes on a ring that you think would be perfect for your girlfriend, by all means go for it.

There are many paths – you just need to find the right one for you.

STEP 5 – Choosing your proposal diamond

There is only so much research and homework you can do. Eventually you need to settle on a ring. I am going to cover the most important aspects that you need to consider when buying a diamond. You don’t have to fully understand everything, but even some knowledge is better than no knowledge.

Let’s begin with the crucial elements that ultimately decide how a diamond is valued. Two diamonds may look identical to the naked eye but under 10x magnification it could be that one is clearer better quality than the other. Once you understand the key metrics it will be a lot easier to find the right diamond.

The 4 C’s of Diamonds

CARAT

Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. Compared to the other C’s, the carat weight is very straightforward to calculate.

1 carat = 200 milligrams or 0.200 grams

This measurement was adapted from the way gemstones were historically measured with a balance scale. Carob seeds were commonly used as the counterweight, which explains where the term “carat” originates from. The weight of a carat was set in the early 20th century and it remains the same today.

Carat is probably the biggest factor in the pricing of a diamond and a lot of people want to get the biggest diamond possible in order to deliver that surprise reaction. However, that extra size is not going to come cheap.

Two diamonds that have the exact same shape, clarity, cut and color but slightly different carat weights – let’s say 0.98 carat versus 1.10 carat – could see you paying a couple thousand dollars more. There is also a premium, followed by a price hike, for diamonds that hold the carat weights of 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00. Shoppers just love those round numbers, and sellers know this all too well.

Personally, I’d much rather pick out a 0.95 carat diamond and avoid that extra premium.

Below you can see two almost identical diamonds that illustrate what I’m talking about.

Another important detail to bear in mind is that a larger carat size does not necessarily mean a larger diamond. Remember, carat refers to WEIGHT.

A diamond that weigh 0.92 carats can have the same diameter as 1.05 diamond – there can be many reasons for that but the most common is the fact that weight cutters prefer keeping the weight of the diamond high, while compromising on the cut. This can create a “fat” looking diamond, which has a much thicker girdle as this area can easily absorb weight. So for example, instead of having a diamond measuring 6.4-6.5 mm, it measures 6.1-6.2 mm.

The effect does not look good but hey, that doesn’t matter as long as it is above 1 carat, right?

Alternatively you can find an ideally cut diamond of 0.92 carats and a measurement 6.35 mm. This diamond will not only look better, it will also be priced cheaper. I know which diamond I would prefer.

To give you a more thorough guide on diamond price, you should try and get acquainted with the Rapaport price list. This list is the internationally recognized and standardized diamond trade price list that diamond traders use to determine the price point for diamonds.

Only diamond trade members can access the list but hey, the internet is a great place for finding information. If you have good sleuthing skills or have some connections, you could get your hands on the list. Alternatively, you could just compare prices between different websites or ask someone who knows the industry well – like me!

COLOR

Whereas carat is a very predictable element, in terms of personal preferences, color is the total opposite. Personal taste comes into play here and everyone is going to feel differently. You could go with a clear white diamond, one with a slight yellow tint (H to K color), one with a bit more noticeable color tone (L to S color) and you can also go to the FANCY color zone with edgier colors like yellow, pink or blue.

White or colorless diamonds are considered the most traditional choices for engagement rings, however most white diamonds actually have a yellow tint. With truly colorless diamonds you’re going to be paying for the rarity of that attribute.

Color grading for white diamonds ranges from D to Z, with D being the purest colorless diamonds and on the other end of the spectrum the Z grade is given to diamonds that carry slight color, mostly yellow, brown and grey.

While white or colorless diamonds are considered more beautiful (and thus valuable) with less color, Fancy Color diamonds are all about deeper, more saturated colors. In other words, the more the color stands out in a Fancy Color Diamond, the more beautiful it is.

For example, a Deep Blue diamond would be more valuable than a Light Blue diamond and a Dark Blue diamond would be an even greater value still. Part of this is aesthetics but it’s also due to rarity, intense color diamonds aren’t that easy to find and are thus a lot more expensive to obtain.

Some people would prefer a Fancy Color diamond but considering it’s a bit outside of the mainstream, you might be to try and confirm that this is something your girlfriend would like before you make the purchase.

CLARITY

Diamonds may look flawless but most diamonds are not. They come with a variety of internal and external flaws like cracks, nits, pits, scratches and lines. Some flaws can be seen with the naked eye whereas others can only be seen under a microscope. For the consumer, it’s important to be able to identify which flaws affect the diamond in the real world, because understanding this area is where you can really find great value.

Internal flaws are called inclusions whereas external flaws are called blemishes. These flaws are either a result of the natural creation process of the diamond, or they were produced during the cutting process.

Below is a breakdown of the clarity grades that gemological labs like GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and AGS (American Gem Society) will issue during the grading of a diamond. Clarity grading is based on the number of flaws found, their size, color, placement and ultimately their visibility.

For much more detail be sure to check out The Geek’s Guide to Diamond Clarity and Diamond clarity comparison – VS1 , VS2 , SI1 , SI2. But in summary, I would suggest getting a diamond that is above the SI2 grade. Whatever flaws these diamonds have will be hard to spot to the naked eye.

CUT

The cut of a diamond is a very important factor in determining value as well as real world beauty. The cut of the diamond is the only one of the 4 C’s that is entirely man made. An expert cutter can create the proportions and angles that result in a gorgeous sparkle every time light hits the diamond.

On the other hand, a bad cut will reduce the shine and sparkle. Unfortunately, many diamond ring shoppers will insist on getting a larger and cleaner white diamond, not realizing just how effective a good cut would be.

A well cut diamond will have good symmetry, proportions, polish and objective light return. In essence, the diamond will be shaped to return light to the viewer in the most dramatic and impactful way, while also reducing the amount of light that is lost due to leakage.

This can be a tricky attribute to determine as all diamonds look sparkling in the store, don’t they? Stores are actually designed to produce the best light to trigger sparkling, leading to many buyers wondering what happened to the sparkle when they get the diamond back home.

Since our eyes are limited in their ability to scrutinize this measure, you should lean on the grade from reputable laboratories like GIA and AGS, which of course means purchasing a diamond that is certified. These labs will have conducted tests to determine the real quality of the diamond cut.

SHAPE

Okay, shape is not one of the 4 C’s and it’s certainly not as important as them, but this is still something that should be understood and considered before making a purchase. The right shape will be a personal preference. Certain shapes are more traditional, others more modern, some are good for certain types of hands while others create the best sparkle.

The Round shape is considered to be the shape that brings out the best sparkle and thus also has the highest value. In fact, the Rappaport price sheet has a separate sheet for Rounds, so it is truly the ideal. The methods of cutting Round diamonds are still being perfected today. They conceal slight imperfections better than other shapes, they look whiter than other shapes and they maximize shine.

Not all rough diamonds have the right dimensions to be cut into Rounds, this is where we get the diversity of other shapes – called Fancy Shapes. These shapes include Princess, Asscher, Radiant, Oval, Marquise, Pear, Heart and Cushion.

All of these shapes, with the exception of Asscher and Emerald, are modified Round (also called Brilliant) cuts. The Emerald cut is a stepped cut, which dazzles with a mirror-like appearance and is great for diamonds that have good clarity and high color.

The one thing I would consider with shape is how it will look on the hand of your partner. Shorter fingers will benefit from elongated styles like Oval, Marquise and Pear. Long fingers are best paired with square shapes like Radiant and Princess. While women with larger hands should avoid narrow shapes like Emerald and Marquise and instead go for Heart and Round shapes, which will be more flattering.

Step 6 – Making your purchase

It’s almost time for the proposal. I can’t help you with that (or maybe I can, my proposal was successful after all) but I can help you with the actual purchase. Here are just a couple final things to consider.

PURCHASE A CERTIFIED DIAMOND

I talked about the diamond certification earlier, but in case you skipped those parts, diamonds can be graded by gemological laboratories, which will determine all the quality metrics in a consistent and reliable manner. It will include the precise measurement, cut, clarity, color, carat, finish, quality and any defects present in the stone.

This diamond grading report will basically serve as evidence for the diamond’s value and authenticity, although it’s important to remember that they DO NOT put a value on the diamond – this is what an appraisal is for. As mentioned earlier, there are a number of reputable grading labs like AGS, but the GIA is considered the most essential.

I would recommend that a non-expert buyer never purchase a diamond that is not certified. It provides reassurance that you’re getting what you’re paying for and is also necessary when insuring the diamond. Here are some of the few things that can be done to diamonds to make them seem better than they are, but which a grading will pinpoint.

• The diamond is synthetic and not natural
• The color of the diamond has been artificially enhanced
• The diamond has been modified through radiation and heat treatments
• The diamond has a chemical coating
• The diamond has had silicone or other materials injected to conceal defects

Some online and retail stores will try and sell self-certified diamonds. It doesn’t take a genius to see that this is a really bad idea and that there is every possibility that they would inflate the grades to sell the diamond at a higher price.

ONLINE OR RETAIL?

There are pros and cons to both the online diamond market and the traditional brick and mortar store. You really shouldn’t be worried about either option, although you always want to try and deal with sellers that have a good reputation.

Let’s start with the physical diamond store. The obvious advantage is being able to see and judge the diamond in person, while also being able to talk to a salesperson about the diamond and your specific needs. A lot of people like to have this personal connection, which they find reassuring.

The downside to the physical store experience is two-fold: limited stock and higher prices. So, less chance of finding the perfect diamond and a greater chance of paying more. Maybe the in-store personal experience is worth it? Only you will be able to answer that.

Buying diamonds online scares some people but I want to reassure you that it really is safe. To be extra sure, only browse the more reputable online diamond stores. The benefits of looking for your engagement ring online are quite numerous. For a start there is a much wider selection that you’d find in a store. Online shops are often run by large wholesalers, which is why they have such extensive and diverse inventories.

The other big advantage is that due to not having a commercial rental space, they are able to pass all the savings onto the customer in the form of cheaper prices. They also offer expert service offerings, so you can still communicate with a representative to talk about your needs, which is great for people who want help but are uncomfortable doing so in person.

When you make an online purchase you will typically have that diamond in your hands within a day or two, which makes the whole process incredibly convenient, particularly since you never even have to leave your house.

Another smaller benefit is the ability to easily find jewelry design specialists and work with them to create something unique and truly special for your engagement ring. You get to pick the metal, color, design, and setting characteristics – all from the comfort of your home!

On the negative side, it’s true that not being able to see the diamond for yourself can be scary when making such a big purchase, but the best online stores will have high quality photos for you to get a good look. They will also have a robust returns policy, in case you’re not happy with what shows up on your doorstep.

Was This Diamond Buying Guide Useful? Conclusions

There you have it, everything that you need in order to find the perfect diamond for this incredible journey you are on. I know what it is like to feel the pressure of this moment but more than anything you should relax and enjoy the search. These tips are not hard and fast rules because there is no right or wrong.

Be excited and proud of your choice and I’m sure that she (or he!) will respond with the answer you’re hoping for.

If you have any further questions, the Diamond Geek is here and always keen to help. Just drop me a line and I’ll reply shortly.

 Flawless, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1 – What does it all mean?

One of the most common topics that I am emailed about is regarding Diamond Clarity. I’m always happy to answer your questions but I thought it would be beneficial to create a diamond clarity guide that will help readers understand and appreciate clarity.

What Defines Diamond Clarity?

Clarity is one of the 4 C’s of diamonds – Clarity, Cut, Color and Carat. The first three make up the quality of a diamond while Carat refers to the quantity. The price and value of a diamond is based on the combination of all 4 elements. Clarity refers to how “clear” a diamond is.

Most diamonds are created with flaws and imperfections, some of which can only be seen under a microscope while others significant enough to be spotted with the “naked” eye. The clarity rating is based on how many flaws there are and to what degree. Imperfections can appear in the form of feathers, cracks, clouds, nicks, pits, etc.

The more imperfections there are in a diamond, the less value it has, although it is always my position to recommend a strong consideration of diamonds with lesser imperfections. If you need a microscope to view the flaw, does it really make much difference to most diamond wearers? In my view it shouldn’t. This is not to say that Clarity isn’t an important consideration and with a strong understanding of the different grades, you will be able to use this knowledge to find the best diamond deal for you.

Diamond Imperfections – Blemishes and Inclusions

The physical shortcomings in regards to diamond clarity can be divided into two categories: external and internal imperfections. External imperfections identify flaws on the surface of a diamond. These are called blemishes and here is what you need to know:

• They are either natural flaws produced during creation of the diamond
• Or they are marks created during the cutting process
• Blemishes include polish lines, scratches, naturals, nicks, pits and chips
• Some blemishes are so smooth that they are hard to see
• Some, like chips, are more noticeable

Internal imperfections are made up cracks, clouds and crystals that are made up of different material to the diamond. These are called inclusions and this is what you need to know:

• Common inclusions are clouds, feathers, cleavage, bearding, knots, cavities, included crystals and internal graining
• Some inclusions are hard to spot with the “naked” eye
• Others are more visible

Clarity Grading

When observing a diamond for its clarity, gemologists focus on finding blemishes and inclusions. How many are there? How big are they? What color? What location? And, ultimately, how visible are they? Diamond experts will define these flaws as either minute, minor, noticeable or obvious. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is one of the world’s leading labs. The American Gem Society (AGS) and European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) have a similar grading system but use slightly different terms. For the purposes of this guide, I am going to use GIA’s terms in this diamond clarity guide. Now let’s take a closer look at each grade.

Diamond clarity chart

Flawless (FL)

If you’re in the same room as a Flawless Diamond, consider yourself very lucky indeed. These rare diamonds are perfectly clear and free of blemishes and inclusions, even when observed under a 63x microscope. These diamonds are so scarce that most price reports do not even contain FL in their grade list.

Internally Flawless (IF)

Internally Flawless diamonds are also very rare and typically have just one or two slight blemishes that are revealed under 10x magnification. These diamonds do not contain any inclusions.

Very Very Slightly Included (VVS)

VVS grade diamonds have imperfections, but they are not easy to find. Skilled graders using 10x magnification and looking at the diamond from different angles will sometimes find the faintest of inclusions. These minute inclusions may not even be visible from the face-up position through the crown but might be when viewed through the pavilion.

VVS is broken up into two categories: VVS1 and VVS1, with the latter having marginally easier to find flaws. However, both grades indicate that the diamond’s flaws are almost negligible. Below is an example of a VVS clarity diamond. On the right, you will see that a small feather (at 8.30 clockwise) has been spotted. The flaw is invisible to the “naked” eye.

Very Slightly Included (VS)

Now we are getting to diamonds that mere mortals can actually afford. VS diamonds are perfect to the “naked” eye, however under a 10x loupe a skillful eye will be able to detect, after some work, a few inclusions. VS is also divided into two categories: VS1 and VS2, with the latter having slightly easier to spot flaws.

VS 1 Diamond Clarity

VS2 Diamond Clarity

Slightly Included (SI)

SI graded diamonds are the most purchased and are easily found on the market. These diamonds are the border between rare and common. Some Slightly Included diamonds are considered “eye-clean”, where no defect can be spotted with the “naked” eye. These diamonds can offer great value for consumers. SI is divided into two categories: SI1 and SI2, with the latter having inclusions that can be seen with the “naked” eye. The European Gem Laboratory (EGL) includes an extra SI3 grade to its report.

I believe the best value can be found in the VS and SI grades.

Be sure to take a look at my Buyer’s Guide to VS and SI Diamonds.

SI1 Diamond Clarity

SI2 Diamond Clarity

Included (I)

When inspecting an Included diamond, you can leave the loupe behind. These diamonds display obvious to very obvious inclusions, which are visible to the “naked” eye. Included grades are further broken into three categories: I1, I2 and I3. I1 stones have visible inclusions that do not hinder the overall brilliance of the diamond. The other two grades have bigger or darker imperfections that can also be more numerous. These inclusions can obstruct the return of light, making the diamond dim and less visually appealing.

I1 Diamond Clarity

Inclusions in I2 and I3 graded diamonds can also threaten the diamond’s structure as well as its durability.

Included diamonds can have their defects hidden through Clarity Enhancement, which can be a great option for buyers on a tight budget. To learn more about Clarity Enhancement, be sure to view my Guide to Clarity Enhancement.

Diamond Clarity Guide Shopping Tips

Now that you understand the different grades, it’s time to put your new knowledge into action. Below are my seven shopping tips for getting the best diamond clarity results.

1. Be sure to ask the vendor about the clarity of the diamond that you’re interested in. As a customer it is your right to know the condition of the diamond. Reputable vendors will reveal whether diamonds have undergone enhancement. Know your diamond before you reach for your wallet.
2. Ask for certified diamonds. GIA and AGS certifications have a standard grade that you can trust in. EGL certificates are also good, although the grading is more elaborate.
3. Study the diamond yourself. You may not be as skilled as a professional grader but it is a skill you can learn. If you, a common guy, can see imperfections under a 10x loupe then that tells you a lot about the severity of the flaws.
4. There are plenty of great online shops but make sure that they offer a true (not a sample) photo of each diamond on offer. For online diamond buying that you can trust I highly recommend James Allen, Brian Gavin and White Flash.
5. Ask the shopkeeper to clean the diamond before you view it. You don’t want to misinterpret dust as an inclusion.
6. Have a clear idea of your budget and your needs before you begin searching. What kind of imperfections are acceptable and at what price? Nobody can answer that but you.
7. There is a HUGE price difference between one grading group and the next. However, most experienced jewelers will struggle to see the difference in clarity between VS and VVS for example. So it makes perfect sense to choose a lower-graded diamond (at a better price point) and invest the savings into a better cut grade.

Conclusion

There you have it, an overview to diamond clarity that will put you in a good position to work out what you should be looking for and how to ensure you find what you want. The diamond industry can seem very intimidating to outsiders but if you do your homework and embrace learning, you can hone your skills and make fantastic purchasing decisions. As always, stay tuned for more diamond guides and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send them my way.

SI1 Diamond Basics

If you are looking for a quality diamond, an SI1 diamond would be a very wise choice. SI stands for Slightly Included, with inclusions being internal flaws within the diamond.

This guide will help you understand the advantages of SI1 diamonds along with some best practices to help you find the best SI1 diamond at the most reasonable price point.

We don’t just have information for you, we have magnified photos to help demonstrate what we’re talking about, so that you can learn what to look for when purchasing your new SI1 diamond.

Diamond Clarity Definition

Diamond clarity measures the presence or absence of flaws or inclusions in a diamond. The less flaws that a diamond has, the higher its grade. The most common method for classifying gemological clarity is a grade by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which consists of 11 different clarity grades.

Below you can see the GIA’s diamond clarity rating scale.

FL-IF: No internal flaws but IF will show very small surface flaws.

VVS1 – VVS2: Contain tiny inclusions that are very difficult to detect under 10x magnification by a trained gemologist. VVS1 is slightly cleaner than VVS2.

VS1-VS2: Minor inclusions visible under 10x magnification.

SI1-SI2: Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification but usually not visible to the naked eye

I1-I3: Inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.

Diamond Certifications

The GIA is one of the two most accurate and professional gemological labs, the other being the American Gem Society (AGS). There are other respected gemological labs, some of which have higher requirements while others are not as strict.

The grading of these other labs is not necessarily inaccurate or bad, but their systems tend to give diamonds a higher clarity grading in comparison to GIA and AGS. With the other labs you could think you’re getting a better diamond than you are, which is why I always recommend getting diamonds with GIA or AGS clarity certifications.

Why Choose an SI1 Clarity Diamond?

There is great value to be found in SI1 clarity diamonds. The GIA describes SI1 clarity as the existence of small internal flaws or inclusions that are only visible using a 10x magnifying loupe or other similar magnification.

This means that in real world terms, these flaws will not be noticeable to the naked eye. To all intents and purposes, your diamond will look incredible and the flaws can be viewed on a positive light: they actually allow you to own such a great diamond because they reduce the value.

Where to Shop for SI1 Clarity Diamonds?

We’re lucky that today there are some many shopping options for diamonds. You can purchase your diamond from a local jewelry store, a large well-known jewelry store, a department store or even a pawn shop.

More recently we have an influx of online diamond stores. Find a reputable diamond store that specializes in high-quality diamonds and you’ll have access to a wealth of choices.

Shopping for SI1 Clarity Diamonds Online

Shopping for SI1 clarity diamonds online has made finding and completing the purchase of diamonds so much easier. Physical stores have limited diamond options and the cost of maintaining a brick and mortar store gets added onto the price of the diamond.

Online stores offer wider variety, better value and the better websites also offer detailed magnification photos of each diamond, so you can get a good look at your diamond before you make your decision.

Online shopping is helping diamond buyers find the perfect diamond.

How to Find the Best SI1 Clarity Diamond

Very few diamonds are exactly alike. You will find diamonds with the same GIA clarity grade that actually have significant differences. These differences will decide whether you find a good deal or a great deal.

While SI1 diamonds all contain inclusions, there are three major factors that determine just how much these flaws actually affect the quality of the diamond.

1. – The location of the inclusions in the diamond.
2. – The size of the inclusions.
3. – The color of the inclusions.

The secret to finding the best SI1 clarity diamonds is to look for a stone with very small inclusions that match the diamond’s color and are located away from the center of the diamond.

Sample Pictures of SI1 Clarity Diamonds

Below we have several examples of SI1 clarity diamonds, as graded by the GIA. As you can see, there are major differences between them. It’s true that none of the flaws below will be noticeable with the naked eye, so the real world experience won’t be diminished, however if you’re buying a diamond you’re still going to want to find the best diamond possible.

The SI1 diamond images below are magnified by 40x.

Conclusion

Finding a great SI1 diamond is a wonderful feeling and thanks to this guide and the amount of options available thanks to online stores, you will definitely be able to purchase a truly special diamond.
If you are still unsure, by all means drop me a line. I love nothing more than helping people find perfect diamonds.

Finding a diamond in the rough, takes on an added meaning when you’re looking at I1 clarity diamonds. If you know what you are looking for, you can find an I1 diamond that is equivalent to a “superior” VS clarity diamond (to untrained eyes), only with a much reduced price.

This guide will help show you what to look for, so that you can find some of the most valuable diamond deals on the market.

I1 Clarity Diamond Defined

What is an I1 clarity diamond? I’ve written a whole guide breaking down all the clarity grades for you, but in short, an I1 diamond is given this grade because it contains medium to large inclusions (internal flaws) that are visible to the “naked” eye. In other words, you don’t need magnification in order to see these flaws.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the leading gemological lab in the world today. GIA ranks a diamond’s clarity using 11 different grades, dependent on the number and type of the inclusions. The i1 clarity is 9th on the scale.

So, yes, it is near the end of the scale, however I1 diamonds may have visible inclusions, but there are important factors that can lead you to purchasing a really beautiful I1 diamond.

What You Need to Know About I1 Inclusions

I1 diamonds have inclusions that are visible, however not all inclusions are the same. Lesser inclusion factors will result in a diamond that actually looks great. Here’s what you need to consider:

Size – The size of the inclusions, compared to the total dimensions of the diamond, are incredibly important.

Color – The color of the inclusions will affect the clarity. Lighter inclusions are better than darker inclusions.

Position – The position of the inclusions is also an important factor. Flaws in the center are worse than flaws near the sides.

Amount – This one is quite obvious – the more flaws the worse the clarity of the diamond.

When these factors are favorable you have an I1 diamond with inclusions that do not interfere with the stunning look of the diamond. These are called “good inclusions”.

Good Inclusions Are:

White – The closer the color of the flaw is to the color of the diamond, the less effect it has on the overall look and clarity.

Not centered – Flaws located towards the edge are less visible.

Size – Smaller the flaw/s, better the diamond. A Diamond with a few small inclusions that are NOT concentrated in one area is considered to be superior to diamonds that have one large flaw.

Bad Inclusions Are:

Dark – The darker the inclusion the more it stands out and ruins the look and clarity of the diamond.

Centered – Inclusions in the center are more easily spotted.

Large – The larger inclusions are more visible and ruin the clarity of the stone.

I1 Clarity Diamonds Comparison

Now for my favorite part – let’s look at some diamonds. Below are nine different diamonds under magnification – all of which are graded as I1 clarity, according to the GIA scale. As you can see, there is a great deal of visual difference between these stones. The secret of I1 clarity diamonds is that only a few of them are really great deals, so finding the right one is the challenge we are faced with.

How to Shop for the Best I1 Diamond

As we’ve just described, within the I1 clarity grade there is a real diversity of quality. You want to find the (I1) diamond in the rough and to do so you’re going to need to follow a few important steps.

If you are buying a diamond in store, make sure that you view the diamond through a microscope or a 10x loupe. This magnification will help even inexperienced eyes spot flaws present in the stone.

If you are buying online, make sure you choose trusted websites that offer true magnified photos of the diamonds. Online you should not settle for less than 20x magnification, which will allow you to get a strong idea of the clarity of the diamond.

I say it time and time again but for online purchases, James Allen Diamonds is the best around. They offer real pictures of their diamonds and at 40x magnification – this level of clarity is highly important when shopping online. They really help customers see the true picture of the diamond they are considering buying.

Conclusion

Be patient. You may have to look at several “poor” I1 diamonds before you strike it lucky. But if you persevere and show a keen eye for the details of the inclusions, you could walk away with the I1 diamond deal of the century.

If you need my assistance in finding the best I1 clarity diamond, just send me your info and I will be happy to present you with some hand-picked choices, found by the Diamond Geek just for you.

Looking for a well cut Round diamond advice? you are welcome to contact me. The service is free of charge and I will assist you finding the perfect diamond at the right price just for you.

Anyone wanting to buy a round diamond should do a good research before making an actual purchase. Not only since it’s a luxurious good, but especially since you want to get the best diamond for value. In this case, you are suggested to be particularly looking into the diamond’s cut characteristics and ensure that they are of a good quality.

There are few aspects that make a round diamond valuable and they are known as the 4C’s – Cut, Carat, Clarity and Color. These diamond characteristics are always found in diamond certificates issued by laboratories such as GIA and AGS. To make sure that you are buying a diamond that is worth its value, one should always check the diamond certificate.

Most of the diamonds you find in the market are the Round Brilliants. There are several reasons why it is so.

The first is one is that most diamond roughs are found in octahedral shape, making the round cut ideal to preserve diamonds weight.

The second rationale is that round diamonds are steadily priced the highest in the Rappaport list compared to the other shapes. This ultimately makes the round diamonds the most common and demanded diamonds among the other shapes and therefore many diamond cutters prefer to shape the diamond roughs to round.

The last reason is visual one – round cut delivers the best sparkle out of all shapes, which is important in regards to diamonds. The other brilliant cuts may also show gorgeous sparkle, but the round cut delivers the most.

For these reasons, we are going to concentrate here on round brilliant diamonds. Among all diamond shapes, the quality of the round cut is the most accurate to analyze. It has certain mathematical standards which the other shapes do not possess. And these standards determine the light performance the diamonds are able to deliver. This is why going through the round diamond’s cut quality only makes the perfect sense if we want to get the best diamond value for the price.

Why diamond cut is important

First of all, one needs to ask himself, “Why do people choose to buy diamonds – the type of gemstone that costs the most compared to the other precious stones?”

Although there are many answers that can cover that question, the biggest attraction of a diamond is its sparkle. Diamonds are also the strongest, most durable mineral gemstones men can find. Due to this sturdiness of the rough, diamonds can be more accurately cut with more facets instead of just a few. The many numbers of facets allow diamonds to bounce the light they receive onto these facets, and as a result, a beautiful glow is sent back to the viewer. This is something which the other gemstones cannot offer.

The said sparkle can only be achieved if a diamond has high-quality cut. If a diamond rough is cut carelessly with inaccurate proportions of facets, there will be less sparkle glowing out of the diamond. It will only be a dim, non-shining stone made of the most durable precious gem called diamond. This particular diamond gem has already lost its best value with the loss of returned light.

In the mean time, a diamond with a good cut receives more sources of light, bounce it around its inside facets and return it to the surface in the forms of brightness, fire, and scintillation, right into our eyes. This diamond has a beautiful successful light performance and is obviously valued higher than a badly cut diamond. That is really what one expects from a diamond and this is the diamond you want to buy.

How is diamond cut determined?

There are four main factors that define a good cut in diamonds; namely Symmetry, Proportion, Polish and Objective Light Return.

Symmetry gives the diamond a well-balanced shape. All facets that make up the table, the pavilions, and the girdle should have accurate symmetry in order to be sparkle. A poor symmetry of these facets can immediately be seen as one observes the diamond.

Proportion is the most important feature of a well-cut round diamond. Good proportions of each facet and cutting angles ensure that every single incoming light is sent back up to the surface and to your eyes. Failing in this will cause leakages as the light is emitted through any other parts of the diamond but the top surface. When a diamond doesn’t deliver the promised sparkle as it should, it misses the main attraction that draws people to diamonds: the shine.

Polish is the smoothness of the exterior of a diamond. A good polish grade indicates skillful craftsmanship and cleaner natural diamond. Polish can rarely affect a round diamond’s clarity. However, in the case of round brilliants, it is not the most crucial factor to hold on to. Diamonds with good polish grade are already well accepted, since the sparkle that the diamond produces usually is not affected due to lower polish grade.

Objective light return is the light performance of a diamond, which can be achieved (or not) based on the facet proportions and symmetry. Good proportions and symmetry of facets deliver a good objective light return. How much brightness does it have, how much fire (the colored light return) does it show, and how much scintillation is displayed when the diamond is moved? This is also an essential factor of a diamond cut since it’s what makes a diamond a true fireball.

How to know that a diamond has a good cut?

The first thing to do in order to verify that a diamond has a good cut is by checking the certificate that comes with it. Every buyer needs to make sure that the diamond they are buying is a real deal, natural instead of laboratory-treated, and has good grades for its price.

It is recommended to buy a diamond with a gemological certificate for these three main reasons:

1. To verify its characteristics
   Each diamond has its own unique characteristics. Whether it is the color, the clarity, the cut (brightness level) or the size, there must be something that differentiates one diamond from the others. These characteristics are normally written down in a report issued by the certain gemological lab, such as GIA and AGS. It is really your starting point to know if the diamond you are thinking of buying is worth purchasing.
2. To ensure its authenticity
   Beware of diamond look-alikes and false diamonds! Some diamond “imitations”, such as cubic zirconia, might look like a diamond at the first glance, but share not-even-close characteristics of the true diamond’s durability and light performance. The certificate helps you verify a diamond’s authenticity that it is indeed a real diamond that you are buying. Also important to know that many diamonds today come with a laser inscription over the girdle of the lab that certified the diamond (mostly GIA does it). Such an inscription is the best way to verify the authenticity of the diamond
3. Viewing the diamond or check its stats with online tools.
   Seeing the actual diamond you want to buy is a good way to verify it is well cut, but if you are not a professional it can be misleading. However testing the diamond stats (that can be found in its certification) with a few simple online tools can do the job even better. Also, when shopping a diamond online, these tools can be very useful.

As explained earlier, one should really take a good look at the cut grade of a round diamond. If you want a sparkling diamond, and you should, the cut grade of the diamond will assist to determine whether the stone has a good light return performance or not. If it is not up to the standard, leave it and move on.

On the basis of naked-eye look, one should choose a diamond that has at least “good” symmetry, polish and cut grade (when looking at the certification and visually). If you are buying the round diamond on the spot, always ask for a 10x loupe and see the diamond yourself up close. If you like the look of it, then it is a good way to go. If you don’t, put it down and browse for more.

There is also the possibility of buying diamonds online. It is not a better-or-worse practice compared to going to jewelry shops yourself. In fact, it has its own advantages and disadvantages. While it is true that in most websites you can’t see the diamond physically, you can still check how good its 4C’s are from the diamond’s certificate and you have much more diamonds to choose from than any physical store.

When buying online, you should buy a certified diamond. Some reputable websites even offer a real picture of the diamond under at least 20 x magnifications. You should make the best use of this by observing the stone for visible flaws. There are also certain tools available on the internet to double check the cut quality of the diamond merely by using the existing gemological information stated in the certificate.

The tools used to examine round diamond cut

Thanks to the advanced technologies available today; we have the luxury of examining diamonds virtually. All that can be done while we are sitting comfortably at home as we go through from one diamond to another, short-listing them, and finally coming to two or three diamonds we like best. How could it be more convenient than that?

However, to be able to use these tools, one should spend some good time understanding the diamond cut basics. What is considered good and what proportions are called “ideal”? If you think you have a good understanding in that, you should start making use of these diamond examination tools.

HCA (Holloway Cut Adviser)

The HCA tool is best used at the earliest stage of your search. It concentrates on the proportions of diamond’s facets to best estimate its objective light return. The proportions are the first thing you have to deal with if you want to get a nice sparkle from your diamond. This makes HCA an important tool to shortlist the real good diamonds from the average and below ones.

HCA is easy to use. You simply have to input the percentages of the diamond’s total depth, the table, and the culet as well as the angles of the pavilion and the crown. You can see this information in the GIA or AGS reports of the diamond. When you’re done filling in the info, click the “Go” button to find out the estimation of the possible light return, the fire, the scintillation and the spread of these returned lights. Then you will get your cut quality estimation result.

There are some diamonds that are not accompanied by GIA or AGS report. They may have been appraised independently or issued by other laboratories. Some of these reports sometimes don’t include the complete information that GIA would normally state. In this case, you should insist to the vendor to hand you the (Sarin /Ogi) analysis of the diamond before you proceed further. If he can’t provide you with such a report, don’t stick around. Move on to the next diamond.

Once you get the diamonds that could possibly have good light performance, you should proceed to the next tools. You can also consult an appraiser.

GIA facetware

GIA, as one of today’s leading gemological laboratories that have been around to access diamond’s quality for a very, very long time, owns a large database of diamond cut grade results made up of more than 38.5 million proportion combinations. This database is shared in GIA facetware, a free online tool that allows users to estimate their diamond’s cut quality (including the polish and the symmetry). You will need to register (for free) with GIA to be able to use the GIA facet ware. This great tool will allow you to test a diamond for its cut quality.

AGA/NAJA Cut Class Diamond Grading Tool

If HCA only focuses on round brilliant diamonds, AGA/NAJA cut class diamond grading screening tool allows other shapes to be examined as well. Again, with the help of the diamond lab report, you will need to enter the diamond’s dimensions, girdle thickness, crown angle and pavilion depth of the round brilliant, and polish and symmetry grades. This tool will calculate the cut quality of the diamond you want to buy.

A final word

if you are new to this and it seems a bit too much to learn everything all at once. I understand. Sometimes the lab report alone doesn’t speak the overall real quality of the diamond you are buying. Unless you are an advanced regular buyer, it is pretty hard to get a round diamond with cut quality that is worth its price. Although there are some great tools out there, you’ll need quite some time to learn how to use them. But no worries, I am here to assist you to find a diamond that is worth its value at no additional cost.

Yes, you read it right. The service is free. All you need to do is email me with the type of diamond you want and your estimated budget range. I’ll sift through some of the best diamond online databases and come back to you with a suggestion of several diamonds for you to consider. All you need to do is sit back, relax and get a diamond that is worth every dime you spend.

Bonus

Take a look at this cut quality comparison of three diamonds using the HCA tool. Two of the diamonds are graded as Ideal in terms of cut quality and the third is Excellent – as you can see there is an obvious difference in terms of HCA score between them.

The cut is the true soul of a diamond! Even though most shoppers prefer concentrating in Size, Clarity or Color as the most important factors, a cut is truly what makes a diamond sparkle and shine. Diamond cut is the one factor that is often under-appreciated by diamond shoppers and it should change.

The quality diamond cut means great proportions of facets placed at the right angles. A diamond with such cut is able to receive incoming light, bounce it several times against the walls of its facets, and reflect it back out into several sparkling lines of light that could wow you and potentially make you drop your jaw in amazement  That’s the ideally cut diamond.

A bad cut, however, may leave you little to no impression at all. A diamond crystal that is cut far from the “ideal” agreed proportion and percentage may cause the incoming light to bump onto different “wrong” directions inside the prism of facets, and possibly leak it out from the sides or the bottom of the diamond instead of back right up to do its most important job: to awe your eyes.

Diamond Cut history

Prior to the 14th-century, diamonds were used in their crystal form and weren’t always used for jewelry purposes. At that time diamonds did not carry the aesthetic weight in the market and most of them had an external rough appearance that made them look unappealing.

The first form of polish started in the 14th century when a form of simple polishing, which today is called the “point cut”, started. Since then many improvements occurred in diamonds cut.

One of the most significant improvements happened in the beginning of the 20th century when Marcel Tolkowsky found that the Round cut could be mathematically and scientifically defined in order to achieve its best sparkle. He believed that cuts that were too deep or too shallow could result to light being reflected the wrong exit points; i.e. the bottom or the sides of the diamond. If this happens, the diamond loses the shine it should be having and therefore, is less valuable. That’s how the importance of diamond cut was initially found.

Since this breakthrough of diamond cutting knowledge, the cutting technique has improved a lot and cut grading system is developed to define how precious a diamond is, based on how accurate its cut is. Today both Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and American Gem Society (AGS) have a relatively new cut grading for this Round cut.

Diamond Cut Basics

The whole purpose of cutting a diamond well is to bring its sparkle to its best. As you just read, it took hundreds of years bringing the round cut to perfection. It is still being perfected and even more shapes are being invented once in a while in the mean time.

To this day, the relatively new cut grading is composed of 4 main factors: symmetry, proportion, polish and objective light return. Symmetry and polish are considered diamond’s finish, the one that makes the diamond’s shape look nice. While proportion and objective light return are considered the most important in regards to diamond cut. A nicely balanced proportion allows a diamond to work the received light and return it back face-up to the viewers and simply say: To shine.

Symmetry:

Diamond consists of many facets. Facets by definition are the polished surfaces of a cut diamond, arranged at different angles to look as it is now. A round cut diamond consists of three major parts: crown (the upper part), girdle (the thin middle part that separates crown and pavilion), and pavilion (the bottom part). All these parts are made up of facets of different sizes and shapes.

Symmetry value of a diamond shows how its facets are aligned from one another as these symmetrical facets will bring out the best shape of the diamond. A diamond is called to be asymmetrical when there are misshaped facets constructing it. This imperfectness usually refers to misaligned facets, certain facets not parallel with the others, wavy girdle, etc.

The symmetry of a diamond affects its cut grade, value and consequently price. You don’t want to buy a diamond with poor symmetry because the asymmetry can easily be seen and one can immediately know that the stone is of the lesser quality. However, this symmetry value does not make a major effect for diamonds graded with “Good” and “Excellent”; at least by our naked eye. Therefore, if you want to make the best exercise of your purchase, don’t necessarily emphasize on buying a diamond with excellent symmetry. You can settle with the “Good” symmetry grade and allocate the fund for the more important grade: proportion.

Proportions:

Proportion is the measurement of diamond facets. Certain measurements are believed to create a mind-boggling diamond-seeing experience as these define how good the light can be returned. Good returned light makes a beautiful diamond! This is why proportion is the most important aspect to look at in a diamond cut quality.

Now let’s take a deeper look at it. The right proportion of the table facet – the largest facet of round diamond typically placed at the center of the crown surface – will make a great external reflection for some parts of the incoming light. The other parts of the light travel further inside, hit the walls of the pavilion facets, and these small fractures of light will go right back up as white light (brightness) and/or fire (colored light). When moved, the diamond can create a dance between brightness and fire, which is called scintillation. This is when a real diamond can truly astound you.

Diamond needs to be cut properly and each facet has its own ideal proportion to be able to return an excellent amount of light. A diamond that is cut too deep or too shallow will reflect the light to the wrong directions. Light exiting from anywhere but the top – mostly from the bottom or the sides – will likely fail to create that brightness, fire, and scintillation you have been expecting for. This will greatly contribute to the loss of a chance to get the genuine diamond sensation for your eyes. So if you want to get a real quality diamond, take the cut proportion into a huge consideration. This is what determines that the diamond you are buying is worth the money you are spending.

Polish:

When talking about polish, we are talking about the smoothness of the outer surface of a diamond. The lesser grains there are in a diamond, the better the polish grade is, and the more expensive the selling price is. There are also aspects like scratches, polish lines and other imperfectness that have possibly occurred during the cutting process. Collectively, this will give a negative effect to its polish grade as it loses clarity.

However, when higher grades on diamond polish are concerned, this is in fact not more important than the symmetry factor and definitely not compared to the proportion factor. If the fund allows, you should be choosing diamonds with a medium grade of polish. This means there are few or very few of grains or diamond dust on the diamond; more often too few for our naked eyes to be able to spot them.

Higher grade diamonds show a naturally smaller amount of grains, but they are only visible under a 10x magnifying glass. This range of polish grade looks awesome on the certificate that comes with the diamond, but it creates very little impact on how it looks under your own eyes’ observation. That’s why there is no point spending more money on this higher grade of polish. Stick to the medium grade and you’ll be alright.

Objective Light Return

The objective light return refers to the light performance that a diamond displays. It’s achieved by the superb proportion of the cut. Most of its mechanism have been explained above. You are basically looking out for a diamond that performs a great objective light return, where you can witness the sparkle of the diamond, which consists of its brightness, fire, and scintillation. A diamond with a bad cut will lose the light it receives and consequently also lose the dazzling shine it should be reflecting to you.

To help you find a diamond with a decent cut, you should be checking out the grade certification the diamond comes with. The GIA and AGS are today’s leading gemological labs whose grading is valued with minor changes. Both labs have held studies on diamond cut and both confirm that cut plays the most important role in creating the sparkle in a diamond. These labs test diamonds and grade them according to its cut value, as well as the clarity, the color, and the carat weight. Therefore, when shopping for a diamond, it is always useful to demand a certification issued by either GIA or AGS to the vendor you are dealing with. be alright.

Diamond cut in regards to the different shapes

Before the cut, diamond crystals are just rough -looking stones. They may appear in different shapes and sizes with their own limitations on how a diamond cutter should work on them. That’s the reason why not all freshly mined diamonds can be perfectly cut.

Most rough diamonds come in octahedron shape – a shape composed of eight equal triangles, which is an excellent base for making round diamond. But there are also other shapes that the stones originally come in. These so-called malformed, non-octahedron diamond crystals are then usually cut into fancy shapes to compromise (and gain) maximum carat weight.

Fancy diamond shapes refer to any other shapes but the rounds. The market of fancy-shaped diamonds is heavily influenced by the popularity of a specific fancy cut of the time. That’s why if you buy a Princess cut now, for instance, you may not get what you originally pay for when you want to resell it in 10 years as its popularity diminishes. Round cut, on the other hand, maintains its popularity and price as it is considered the most accurate diamond cut, which gives the brightest, shiniest, and most lustrous gleam a diamond can deliver.

Diamond Cut grading system by GIA

The GIA Cut grading is the most advanced today in the industry. It is supported by years of experience and many experiments that the GIA have performed during the years. The grading is not based on “dry” numbers only but also on visual scores that different diamonds have received.
GIA found that relying on a specific range of proportions only did not do a fair justice to so many different types of cut out there. There are diamonds that do not fall into this ideal cut proportion range that look and shine beautifully when coming into contact with light. So GIA developed a computerized system that replicates the behavior of light when entering a diamond and uses it to analyze how good a diamond can reflect the light. However, this computerized system does not essentially make what it grades alone as “Fair” a real fair quality diamond. When seen by human’s eyes, this “fair” graded diamond can actually be called the “good” diamond if the amount of the returned light is sufficient to astonish the viewer. Therefore, GIA adds another test involving real human’s observation to the diamonds they are grading. And this makes it their strongest grading system.

According to GIA, there are largely two components that make up a diamond quality; i.e. overall appearance (face-up appearance consisting of brightness, fire, and scintillation) and design and craftsmanship (weight ratio, durability, polish and symmetry). Based on this, the grading system for a round cut diamond is broken into 5 scales; namely Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, and Excellent. Each of these grades represents a wide range of cut proportion sets instead of limited numbered ones like how it once used to be.

Although cut is the most important factor to consider when buying a diamond, the other factors that make up the overall beauty of the stone should not be forgotten. A truly beautiful diamond should have flawless cut with amazing color and clarity, too. Then we also have the carat weight, which is equally essential as this is what costs the most. It is when the Cut is graded along with the Color, the Clarity and the Carat weight (now commonly renowned as the 4 C’s). All diamond shoppers need to at least acquaint themselves with this knowledge before buying any particular type of diamond.

The way different gemological labs observing the Cut

While GIA maintains its grading system with the help of human’s perception as well as how the brightness, fire, and scintillation of the stone are under common lighting environment, it also uses its most powerful tool, which is called DiamondDock. This tool observes a diamond on a neutral gray tray under a daylight fluorescence to observe its brightness and patterned scintillation and under 5800° Kelvin l.e.d to observe the fire and sparkle scintillation.

AGS, on the other hand, uses a tool called the Angular Spectrum Evaluation Tool (ASET). ASET is an advanced tool of reflector technology which color-codes a diamond’s angular ranges based on the light it absorbs. There has to be a good balance between blue, great amount of red and only some green for a diamond to get the AGS’ Ideal score of light performance. Of course, symmetry, polish, and proportion are also taken into account to achieve that grade.

The market in regards to diamond cut

In the past few years, diamond buyers have been sufficiently educated about the importance of cut in a diamond, thanks to the wealth of the shared knowledge in the world’s biggest library – the internet. The old buying method that cared merely about diamond’s size, clarity and color have been shifted to 4C’s – cut, clarity, color, and carat weight – with more emphasis on the cut grade.

In terms of fancy cuts, the behavior of the market relies heavily on what is popular at the moment. This makes the price of the fancy-shaped diamond goes up and down, regardless its cut value.

It can’t be said enough that the cut enables diamond to look at its best. A diamond with perfect cut boosts its light performance to its most sparkling, brightest, and fieriest state. This is the state you should be after if you want to be perfectly content with what you buy.

Tables of measurements and tools

These next two tables are basic measurements tables that specify basic measurement and proportions of several diamond shapes. All that is mentioned here is only a recommendation. In order to shop a diamond right, you should buy a certified diamond. You can also contact me for an advice regarding the right Cut.

There are several tables that describe ideal and recommended measurements today. Most of them are pretty accurate and should be followed when shopping for a diamond.

This next table brings the most important data. However, again, one should purchase a diamond with GIA or AGS certification to ensure that they are buying the best diamond.

Suppose now you have a list of diamonds that have either GIA or AGS certificates, how can you know which diamond is best to buy? If you plan to buy it online, you need to pay a good attention to the crown degrees and pavilion angles. These two aspects are not shown in GIA grading reports, but as important in determining whether the diamond has the desired returned light effect or not. Take a note on these details and test them with diamond cut appraisal tools, such as Pricescope tool and GIA tool.

Pricescope tool:

Pricescope has several tools that can be used to estimate the quality of different diamonds. For the round brilliant cut, the most versatile tool is the Holloway Cut Adviser (HCA), which observes the possible light return that could come out of a diamond based on the percentages of its facets and the degree angles of the crown and the pavilion. It is recommended that you use this HCA tool to shortlist the diamonds you are about to buy, then you can move on to observing the other aspects of diamond’s quality, including symmetry and polish.

GIA tool:

Although GIA grading report doesn’t show the quality of a diamond seen from its crown and pavilion degree angles, the company has a very useful tool to observe the stone’s cut quality. GIA Facetware is free and available online for you to assess a diamond’s sparkle value based on the cut. You will need to input your diamond’s details, such as the table size, crown and pavilion angles, star-length, lower-half length and girdle thickness, to this tool. The result is obtained by comparing your diamond’s data with GIA’s vast database of diamond’s proportion sets. Then you will find out whether the diamond being tested has the cut excellence or not.

Final Tips

When shopping for a diamond, you need to bear in mind that cut is what makes a diamond valuable. A good cut determines a good diamond with a well returned light. You may not be able to observe whether a diamond has a good cut on your own, especially when you are buying the stone from an online store. But you can always examine the report GIA or AGS issues for the specific diamond you are buying AND perform online tests with Pricescope tools or GIA tool to know the different qualities that the diamond offers. From here on you can be rest assured that you are purchasing this precious gemstone for what it’s worth.

You are welcome to contact me with any question you have regarding the diamond you wish to buy.