Selecting the engagement diamond is one of the important early decisions in a couple's relationship. Beauty and good value are best achieved by knowing how to evaluate both a diamond and a jeweler. The quality and value of a diamond are determined by four factors known as the "Four C's"--cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
Cut--Often overlooked in importance, the quality of the cut is responsible for brilliance and color play in a diamond. Don't confuse cut with shape. Any shape diamond may be well cut or not.
Color--Diamonds range from being completely colorless to having intense shades of several colors, yellow being the most common. Values tend to be higher for the near colorless end of the spectrum and for the intense shades of red, blue and green. (The color of a diamond refers to the body color and not to dispersion of light into the colors of the rainbow when in the presence of incandescent light.)
Clarity--This term refers to the natural inclusions present within most diamonds from the time of their formation as crystals. How easily these inclusions can be seen forms the basis of clarity grading. Prospective purchases should be examined under 10x magnification (preferably a well-lit binocular microscope) to determine the nature of any inclusions.
Carat Weight--The carat is a unit of weight and is subdivided into 100 points; i.e. 50 points equals 1/2 carat.
The combination of these four factors together determines quality and value. Each factor is variable so that a particular price may be achieved in many different ways. Only by knowing these factors can one make a meaningful price comparison.
A good jeweler should be able to explain the "Four C's" in detail and help you find the most desirable combination within your price range. In addition, the jeweler should provide written assurance that the diamond meets a widely accepted standard (usually G1A) for grade with a money-back guarantee if it does not.
Other services include warranties on the mounting, free cleaning and inspection, insurance against loss or damage, and trade-in privileges.
This article published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, September 9, 2001.
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