Diamonds are a girl’s best friend…and everyone else’s whilst we’re at it! Whether you’re giving or receiving, there is nothing quite like a diamond. The meaning. The value. The beauty.

But choosing a diamond – well, that can feel like a minefield. Which is why the first place to start is with a little education.

The Famous Four C’s

Diamonds are graded by those four all-important ‘C’s – Carat, Colour, Clarity and Cut. But when you visit a jeweller, what should you be looking for? What do those C’s really mean?

CARAT simply refers to the weight of the diamond, not the size. A diamond could have a higher carat weight without appearing larger, and two diamonds with the exact same carat weight can vary in size depending on their cut.

So, the widely held belief that the larger the carat, the more expensive the diamond, doesn’t always ring true. Because it fails to appreciate the impact that the other 3C’s have on a jewel’s value.

COLOUR is determined by how white the diamond is. It’s measured on a scale of ‘D’ to ‘Z’ with ‘D’ being the most colourless and ‘Z’ being noticeably yellow or brown. As you can imagine, those diamonds nearer the top of the colour scale are far rarer, and therefore come with a hefty price tag.

But you don’t need to go as low as a ‘D’ to find yourself that perfect diamond. As long as you keep the colour above ‘J’, the naked eye is unlikely to notice any visible colour, especially if it’s beautifully cut.

CUT does not refer to a diamond’s shape, but its symmetry, proportioning and polish. The cut of a diamond greatly affects its sparkle; if it’s cut poorly, it will appear dull and lacklustre.

So, when looking for a diamond, aim towards the higher end of the grading scale (which ranges from ‘Excellent’ to ‘Poor’) to guarantee a radiant sparkle.

CLARITY is determined by how many marks/blemishes the diamond has, otherwise known as inclusions. Some inclusions are only visible under magnification whilst some are visible to the naked eye.

Diamonds that are graded IF/F (Internally Flawless, Flawless) are extremely rare and expensive.

Thus, if you’re looking for a beautiful diamond at a sensible price, the key is to look for an SI (Slightly Impaired) diamond. It may have flaws but bear in mind that they tend to be invisible to the naked eye. And since there are very few of us walking around with magnification tools, it’s safe to say no one will ever see them!

Now you have the low down on the 4C’s, how do you find that perfect diamond?

The 4C’s all interact with each other within the diamond and dictate how it will appear (and what its price will be).

The key is to look at a selection of different grades and decide what is most important to you. For example, some customers want a large stone and therefore will prioritise a diamond’s carat weight above everything else. Others are more concerned about sparkle and would prefer a smaller stone with an excellent cut and colour grade.

Although grading is important, remember that each diamond has its own personality. When looking at diamonds, I recommend that you look at the stone first and the certificate second. Don’t put too much focus on its grade as you may find that a stone with a grade that you think might be unappealing, is a very pretty and sparkly stone.

When purchasing a diamond, I would recommend only considering stones that come with a certificate.  The GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) is the most internationally respected authority on diamond grading.  However, bear in mind they are not the only diamond grading authority. 

Other diamond grading institutes include – AGS (American Gemmological Society), IGI (International Gemmological Institute), HRD (Hoge Raadvoor Diamant) to name but a few. 

However, bear in mind that the GIA is the strictest and most accurate when it comes to accurately grading diamonds, but there is a price tag associated with diamonds that they have certified. 

And just before we sign off on our diamond education…

There are a few more unfamiliar terms you may come across on your diamond search so to make sure you’re fully clued up, we’re breaking them down for you…

Diamond shapes range from brilliant (round) to emerald, asscher, cushion, radiant and princess (square and rectangular shapes) to pear, marquise, oval, heart and trilliant, which are the more unusual shapes.

Each shape has its own characteristics – some sparkle more than others, some appear larger than their carat weight, whilst some show up flaws and colour more.

Keep your eyes peeled on our blog in the weeks ahead for the lowdown on diamond shapes.

Fluorescence is the coloured luminescence (usually blue) which diamonds can exhibit when exposed to ultraviolet light.

The presence of fluorescence can make a diamond appear hazier and therefore reduce its value. However, it can also have the opposite effect with the blue, fluorescent glow complementing the yellow tones of a lower grade coloured-diamond and making it appear whiter.

The preference to buy a diamond which exhibits fluorescence is a personal one but keep in mind that in most diamonds, the fluorescence will have no visible effect on its appearance.

Melee is a group of very small diamonds weighing less than 0.12 carats and typically used to accent a larger stone.

Fire, brilliance and scintillation all refer to the different ways in which a diamond sparkles depending on how the light behaves when it is refracted or reflected through that diamond.

So, a final top tip before we leave you…

Jewellery shops will always have their lights arranged to enhance a diamond’s brilliance and fire. Before you purchase, be sure to view your preferred diamond in natural light so you can fully consider its beauty.

If you would like to book a phone consultation to learn more about Lottie Leigh’s Diamond Discovery service and how we source diamonds from across the world, please click the link below.