How to choose the right diamond? We need to do two things: articulate our expectations and make a financial audit. The diamond market is immense, there are many proposals in it. It is necessary to lay a clear route to the stone of your dreams and follow it unswervingly. Then the purchase will be a joy, and the investment of funds - reliable.
1 How to choose a diamond correctly:
color
1.0.1 Category D
1.0.2 Category F
1.1 Than you can donate
2 Weight (mass) of diamond
3 Cutting
3.0.1 How to save and other criteria
3.1 How to distinguish a fake
How to choose a diamond correctly: color
Let's start with choosing a diamond ring. We will postpone the question of the material and design of the frame, we will concentrate on the stone. First, what kind of diamond do you want: colorless or colored? Fabulously expensive option - a colored diamond of a natural fantasy color. Approximately half cheaper will cost a colored diamond with a modified color, if it does not bother you.
A sensible approach is to consider a diamond not only as a spectacular accessory, but also an investment. First, it must be liquid. Secondly, the amount received should be comparable to the price you pay when buying. Therefore, you need to choose a diamond with good characteristics (color, purity, weight, cut), choosing economical "corridors" of prices.
Suppose that your choice is a white diamond. But there are many shades of white: from completely transparent (River) to explicitly yellow (Yellow), classes on the GIA scale from D to Z.
Category D
The first - the most expensive. But here you can approach with a share of common sense. The River group includes diamonds of color categories from D to E. The most expensive are diamonds of color D, purity FL / IF on the GIA scale. However, visually the stones of class D and E are distinguishable in color under special lighting, in the presence of standard diamonds. At the same time, the difference in price is significant.
For example, according to the Israeli Diamond Exchange, with a mass of 0.3 carats, the cost of a Class D stone is 1124 US dollars, and Class E 883. Note that their other characteristics are identical (IF purity, round cut of excellent quality).
Category F
If you do not mind a light white or bluish hue, a stone of class F, with the same characteristics, costs 780 dollars. This is the very beginning of the category of color Top Wesselton. The yellowish shade is not here yet, visually from Class D and E under normal conditions are practically indistinguishable. You see, you can buy an excellent stone weighing 0.3 carats by almost $ 350 cheaper without sacrificing quality. According to gemologists, the ring with a diamond color F - the optimal ratio of price / quality.
The prices are stock prices. In the jewelry salon they are much higher. When buying a diamond weighing more than 1 carat, the savings will be simply enormous.
Note: in the example considered, the purity of the diamond was very high (IF). This is a true impeccability, which corresponds to the complete absence of internal defects when viewed in a strong magnifying glass.
How can you donate?
Diamonds of impeccable purity are a rarity. They are extremely expensive: at a weight of 1 carat and color D about 30.000-35. 000 dollars.
Do we need such perfection for a diamond ring? After all, even yourself do not visually distinguish the brilliant 1/1 of 3/3 (color / purity on the Russian scale). The difference will be noticeable only when using a strong magnifier (x10) or even a microscope: no more than three light points or two dark ones. It is permissible to purchase diamonds and grade 4 purity. We can say even more: buyers are able to perceive the internal defects of the stone only with class 7a on the Russian scale (by GIA - SI2) with the naked eye.
But in the other extreme you do not need to fall. The purity of grades 8-12 on the Russian scale means bad shine, a lot of defects and the risk of stone failure with careless handling. Diamonds of grade of purity 10-12 should not be bought under any circumstances. This is a waste of money.
Moreover, very often such stones are "ennobled", that is, cracks are filled with a substance with a refractive index close to diamond. There is another way to hide the defective area - under the rim of the stone. Perhaps it makes sense to think about buying a separate diamond with subsequent design in the frame. Work on making the ring is estimated, on average, to $ 100 (at cost).
If the budget is limited, you need to choose what to prefer: weight or purity. For example, for small diamonds (up to 0.29 carats), the 5th grade of purity is unacceptable, and for large diamonds it is quite possible. If the funds permit, experts advise choosing a purer diamond.
In the end, you can give in color, but not clean. If defects can not be avoided, then let them be in the pavilion, not on the site. Otherwise, shine and play will suffer.
Weight (mass) of diamond
Now about the weight of the stone. With the increase in the size of the diamond, its price increases, but not linearly, but jumpwise. A jump in value occurs when the weight crosses 0.5; 1 carat and so on. Therefore, an experienced buyer will choose a stone weighing 0.49 carats, and not 0.51 carats per kind, the difference in mass is imperceptible, and the savings are very significant.
A ring with one diamond in 1 carat is more valuable than with a scattering of stones weighing 0.01-0.09 carats. The total weight of the placer will be the same - 1 carat, but the cost of each individual pebble is negligible. Do not "catch the bait" the value of "a lot" of diamonds.
Cutting
Let's talk more about the cut. The choice of form is very subjective. So, people of the older generation often choose a round shape of cut, and young people - "princess".
And it is not at all in conservatism, but in the features of the view of different age groups. Diamonds of not very large size (0.5 carat) with round cut give more noticeable flashes of fire. Although their number is less than a cut diamond with a "princess". Young people better distinguish small flashes and choose a stone with more frequent flares as the best in brightness.
Experienced gemologists advise to focus on the following characteristics of a diamond as an ideal investment. Weight 0.5 carat and more, color in the range of D-F. Cleanliness within IF-VS2 (grades 1-5 according to the Russian scale). GIA abbreviations mean:
Internally flawless (IF), or pure. This is complete perfection, that is, the absence of any external and internal defects when viewed in a magnifier (x10). It is this diamond that is called a "stone of pure water";
Very, very small inclusions (VVS1), there are minute inclusions. In the central zone of the stone there may be a bright spot when viewed from the side of the pavilion. Middle zone and periphery - no more than two light points or one thinest strip; VVS2 (3rd class on the Russian scale) The category of diamonds most in demand for investment begins: the central zone of the stone can have up to three bright points, in the middle zone and the periphery, no more than two dark dots or two small strips;
Very small inclusions (VS1 - VS2) - there are minor inclusions. These are stones of medium purity (grade 5 in Russia).
The preferred type of cut is round. The quality of the cut is better to choose "Excellent" and "Very Good". In this case, the play of light will be richer. Fluorescence is inadmissible.
How to distinguish a fake
Fianit or zirconium with a good cut, an inexperienced buyer can take for a diamond. Here magnifier with 10-fold magnification will help. In cubic zirconia, double faces will be clearly visible, and the faces of the diamond are clear. The natural origin of the diamond will show different inclusions and opacities. Synthetic crystals of fianite are devoid of such defects.
But the right thing to do is ask the seller for a certificate of stone.
This is especially important when buying a diamond ring of high purity. It is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of synthesis of this stone and dishonesty of the seller. The synthesized diamond has a completely different price. No matter how beautiful the stone is, and the seller's speech is seductive, it is necessary to politely but firmly ask for a certificate.
But that's not all. If the certificate is provided, you need to make sure that it is issued on this stone. The easiest way is to weigh the stone and check the weight received with what is stated in the certificate. Moreover, you can ask for a strong magnifier (x10), study the features of the stone and compare it with the description of those in the certificate.
What kinds of certificates should I trust? Of course, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America). It is this certificate that gives the assessment most appropriate to reality. Possible PGGL, AGSL and LGP.
The buyer himself can apply a few simple tricks. If you breathe on a real diamond, it will not fog. On the counterfeit, there will be condensation.
Much can say and frame. If the stamp of the inner part of the diamond ring is PT (Plat), you can be calm: no one "packs" a forgery in platinum. The designation C.Z. should be alerted, since it is fianit.
The nature of the refractive index of a stone can also tell a lot. Putting a stone pad on the newspaper, try to read through it the text. Happened? You have a fake.
Another way: draw a point on the white sheet and put a stone on top. If circular lines are visible, then the stone is fake. Finally, you can test the stone for "buoyancy". The diamond will go to the bottom, and the forgery will remain on the surface of the water.