Let's face it ladies - we all love getting diamonds. Not only do these gems mesmerize us with their sparkle and brilliance, but also they symbolize enduring love and deep emotions. There are so many to choose from, so before you begin diamond shopping, it's important to do your research so that you can find the best diamond for you.
Whether you're looking for a pretty new right-hand ring, a dramatic teardrop necklace or a rock of an engagement ring, Longview's Pam Lollar at Lollar's Jewelers and Sondra Moore of McCarley's have some helpful tips to finding the diamond you deserve.
Why diamonds?
"A diamond is such a popular stone because it's a symbol of love, it makes a great heirloom to pass down to younger generations, it sparkles and it lasts forever," Sondra said.
The quality of a diamond is as extremely meaningful. Diamonds of higher quality have more sparkle and more brilliance than others you'll see while shopping around.
The 4 C's
To determine a diamond's quality, jewelers look at the four C's - cut, clarity, carat weight and color.
The cut
Put plainly, the cut of the diamond is what makes the gem sparkle. While nature determines a diamond's clarity, carat weight and color, it's the hands of the craftsman that bring out the stones brilliance and sparkle. When a diamond is cut in good proportions, light reflects from one mirror-like facet to another through the top of the stone, resulting in fire and brilliance.
"Cut can be one of the most important things to look at," Pam said. "A good cut can make the diamond look beautiful while hiding any flaws it may have."
The clarity
The clarity describes the clearness or purity of the diamond. Virtually all diamonds contain some kind of imperfections, known as inclusions, but many are invisible to the naked eye. These are nature's birthmarks, and they appear as tiny clouds, feathers or dots.
A jeweler uses what's known as a GIA scale to determine the clarity of the stone. Flawless stones are at the peak of the scale, while diamonds with very small inclusions are graded as VVS1 or VVS2. At the bottom of the scale are stones with obvious, visible markings, which are graded I1 to I3.
"My advice is to stay in the middle of the road," Pam said. "Diamonds graded at VVS1 or VVS2 are extremely eye-clean, which is what you want."
The carat weight
A diamond's size is measured in carat weight, and each carat is equal to 100 points. For example, a .75 carat diamond is the same as a 3/4-carat stone.
The size you choose is a matter of personal preference and, of course, budget. The larger ones are more rare in nature, thus more pricey; however, the bigger ones do show off the stone's dazzling brilliance better than smaller ones.
The color
Diamonds come in many colors, and the most radiant stone is as clear as a glass of pure water.
They are graded by color, starting at D and continuing down the entire alphabet. While many diamonds appear colorless, subtle shades of yellow can be detected by a trained eye.
Bellow is a chart to help you in your quest for a diamond that suits you:
D E F = colorless
G H I J = Near colorless
K L M = Faint yellow
N O P Q R = Very light yellow
S T U V W X Y Z = Light yellow
The shape
Last but not least, it's important to know which diamond shape you're after. If you're unsure, ask your jeweler to help you choose a diamond shape that suits your personal style and taste. Common shapes include round, oval, pear, princess, marquise and emerald. Have your jeweler show you all the shapes. Try them on, and have fun draping yourself in diamonds.
"You must educate yourself before your diamond purchase," Pam said. "Learn as much as you can on the Internet, but be sure to go out and actually look at the stones, as well. Knowing the four C's is helpful, but until you actually see the diamonds in person, you can't really know what you'll like."
Proper care
Just like any other important thing in your life, a diamond needs to be cared for properly.
"After you purchase your diamond, go ever six months or so to get it cleaned," Sondra said. "You need to do maintenace on jewelry just like you do a car."
"And never, ever use a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean your jewelry," Pam warned. "Even though diamonds are the hardest stones, toothpaste is abrasive, and it can wear your prongs or your gold down."
