Diamond Guide

Buying an engagement ring isn't just another purchase. From researching all your options including gold, platinum, the diamond cut that you desire and how much you want to spend, some couples find that emotions can run as high as prices. At Comfort and Son Jewelers we guide our customers through the process showing them every option available and finding a beautiful engagement ring at the right price that will forever become a family heirloom. Below we've put a little information together for you look over before you come in which contains the basics of buying a diamond.

Color

When jewelers speak of a diamond's color, they are usually referring to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. Color is a result of the composition of the diamond, and it never changes over time. Because a colorless diamond, like a clear window, allows more light to pass through it than a colored diamond, colorless diamonds emit more sparkle and fire. The formation process of a diamond ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colorless. Thus the whiter the diamond's color, the greater the value. Keep in mind that, while most people strive to buy the most colorless diamond they can afford, there are many people who actually prefer the warmer glow of lower color diamonds.

[NOTE: Fancy color diamonds do NOT follow this rule. These diamonds, which are rare and expensive, can be any color from blue to green to yellow. They are actually more valuable for their color.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond refers to how clear, or "clean" the diamond is. The more "clean" the diamond, the higher the price. Most diamonds have "imperfections" on them (blemishes) and within (inclusions) the stone. Inclusions refer to internal flaws and blemishes refer to surface flaws.

Inclusions include flaws such as air bubbles, cracks, and non-diamond minerals found in the diamond. Blemishes include scratches, pits, and chips. Some blemishes occur during the cutting processes. Diamonds with no or few inclusions and blemishes are more highly valued than those with less clarity because they are rarer.

Cut

First, don't confuse a diamond's "cut" with its "shape". "Cut" refers to the diamond's reflective qualities, not the shape. Shape refers to the general outward appearance of the diamond, (such as round, emerald, or pear). A diamond's "cut" is perhaps the most important of the four C's, so it is important to understand how this quality affects the properties and values of a diamond. A good "cut" gives a diamond its brilliance. Brilliance describes the reflections of white light coming from the diamond. The angles and finish of any diamond are what determine its ability to handle light, which leads to brilliance. Better "cuts" can be identified by their sparkle. Remember, "cut" DOES make a difference to the outward appearance of any diamond.

Carat Weight

The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. Total carat weight (T.W.) is the total weight of all the stones in a piece of jewelry. One carat is equal to 100 points. The term carats is often confused with "Karats". "Karat" is a measurement of gold purity and has no relationship to the term Carats. The price per carat rises dramatically as the diamond increases in size, simply because larger diamonds are rarer, and found less frequently. Diamonds of the same carat weight vary widely in price, because of other factors that include clarity, cut, and color.