Diamond Buying Guide ​

What is a Diamond Shape?

The shape of a diamond refers to its physical form and outline as seen from above. It is one of the key aspects of a diamond's appearance and plays a significant role in its overall aesthetic. Common diamond shapes include round, princess, emerald, oval, marquise, pear, cushion, and heart, among others. Each shape has its own unique characteristics and appeal:

• Round: The most popular shape, known for its brilliant sparkle.
• Princess: A square shape with sharp corners, offering a modern look.
• Emerald: A rectangular shape with step cuts, known for its elegant and sophisticated appearance.
• Oval: An elongated shape that maximizes carat weight and provides a larger appearance.
• Marquise: An elongated shape with pointed ends, ideal for maximizing perceived size.
• Pear: A teardrop shape that combines the round and marquise shapes, offering a unique and elegant look.
• Cushion: A square or rectangular shape with rounded corners, known for its soft and romantic appeal.
• Heart: A heart-shaped diamond, symbolizing love and romance.

The choice of diamond shape is a matter of personal preference and can influence the overall style and design of the jewelry piece in which it is set. Different shapes may also reflect light differently, impacting the diamond’s brilliance and sparkle.

What is a Diamond Carat?

A diamond carat is a unit of weight used to measure the size of a diamond. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams (0.2 grams). Carat weight is one of the Four Cs (Carat, Cut, Color, Clarity) that determine a diamond's quality and value. Generally, as the carat weight increases, so does the diamond’s value, assuming other quality factors are equal.

Difference Between Carat and Dimensional Size

While carat refers to the weight of the diamond, dimensional size refers to the actual physical measurements of the diamond, including its length, width, and depth. Two diamonds with the same carat weight can appear different in size depending on their shape and cut. For example, a well-cut diamond will maximize light performance and may appear larger than a poorly cut diamond of the same carat weight due to better proportions and a higher ability to reflect light.

Key Points:

• Carat Weight: A measure of how much a diamond weighs.
• Dimensional Size: The physical measurements of the diamond, which can affect its appearance.

Understanding both carat weight and dimensional size is crucial for assessing the true size and visual impact of a diamond. 

What is Diamond Color?

Diamond color refers to the hue present in a diamond. It is one of the Four Cs used to evaluate diamond quality, alongside Carat, Clarity, and Cut. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades diamond color on a scale from D to Z, where:

• D-F: Colorless. The most sought-after and rare.
• G-J: Near colorless. Slight color detectable by an expert gemologist.
• K-M: Faint color. Noticeable color presence.
• N-Z: Very light to light color. More apparent color.

The less color a diamond has, the higher its value, as colorless diamonds allow more light to pass through, resulting in more sparkle and brilliance. However, some diamonds can have fancy colors, such as blue, pink, or yellow, which are evaluated on a different scale and can be highly valuable.

Understanding diamond color is crucial for selecting a diamond that meets personal preferences and budget, as the color can significantly impact the stone’s appearance and value.

Understanding Diamond Price

The price of a diamond is influenced by multiple factors, primarily the Four Cs: Carat, Cut, Color, and Clarity, along with other considerations such as fluorescence and shape.

1. Carat Weight: Larger diamonds are rarer and more valuable, with prices increasing exponentially with weight.
2. Cut: This refers to how well a diamond's facets interact with light. A high-quality cut enhances brilliance and sparkle, making the diamond more desirable and expensive. Cut quality ranges from Excellent to Poor.
3. Color: Graded from D (colorless) to Z (light color). Colorless diamonds (D-F) are more valuable.
4. Clarity: Measures internal and external flaws, with grades from Flawless to Included.
5. Fluorescence: Some diamonds fluoresce under UV light, which can either enhance or detract from their value depending on the intensity and market preferences.
6. Shape: The physical outline or form of the diamond, such as round, princess, or oval. Different shapes require different amounts of raw material and cutting techniques, affecting the price.

Understanding these factors helps in making informed decisions when purchasing a diamond.

Understanding Diamond Clarity

Diamond clarity refers to the presence of internal and external characteristics, known as inclusions and blemishes, respectively. Clarity is one of the Four Cs used to evaluate diamond quality. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) clarity scale ranges from:

1. Flawless (FL): No inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification.
2. Internally Flawless (IF): No inclusions, only minor surface blemishes visible under 10x magnification.
3. Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2): Minute inclusions that are difficult to see under 10x magnification.
4. Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2): Minor inclusions visible under 10x magnification but still not easily noticeable.
5. Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2): Noticeable inclusions under 10x magnification that may be visible to the naked eye.
6. Included (I1, I2, and I3): Obvious inclusions visible under 10x magnification and to the naked eye, potentially affecting transparency and brilliance.

Higher clarity grades are rarer and more valuable, as they indicate fewer inclusion that can affect the diamond’s beauty and sometimes durability at lower clarity grade. Understanding clarity helps in choosing a diamond that balances visual appeal and budget.

Understanding Diamond Cut Grade

The cut grade of a diamond is a measure of how well a diamond's facets interact with light. This is a crucial aspect as it affects the diamond’s brilliance, sparkle, and overall visual appeal. The GIA evaluates cut quality for round brilliant diamonds based on several factors:

1. Brightness: The total light reflected from a diamond.
2. Fire: The dispersion of light into the colors of the spectrum.
3. Scintillation: The pattern of light and dark areas caused by reflections within the diamond.
4. Proportions: The relative dimensions and angles of the diamond.
5. Symmetry: The precision of the diamond’s cut.
6. Polish: The smoothness of the diamond’s surface.

The GIA cut grades range from:

1. Excellent: Maximum brilliance and fire.
2. Very Good: High level of brilliance and fire, but slightly less than excellent.
3. Good: Still exhibits good brilliance and fire but with noticeable differences.
4. Fair: Reduced brilliance and fire due to proportion and symmetry issues.
5. Poor: Lacks brilliance and fire due to poor proportions and finish.

A higher cut grade indicates better light performance, contributing significantly to a diamond's beauty and value.  

Diamond Curation Service

At BESPOKE BRILLIANT, we strive to alleviate the stress associated with purchasing diamonds. That's why we proudly offer our diamond curation service, completely complimentary to our valued customers. In today's expansive e-commerce landscape, numerous websites boast extensive diamond selections sourced from factories and vendors worldwide. While this diversity is advantageous, it also presents a challenge: not all factories permit retailers to showcase their entire inventory online, limiting the options available to customers.

To address this issue and ensure an unparalleled diamond shopping experience, we've introduced our diamond curation service. On every product page, customers can opt to personally select their diamonds or entrust our expert gemologists to curate the perfect stone for them. Through our meticulous curation process, we meticulously align each diamond with our customer's budget while conducting thorough quality checks to ensure utmost satisfaction.

During our quality control process, our inspection teams travel to factories worldwide to meticulously examine each diamond. We verify that each stone matches its certificate number, exhibits exceptional clarity, lacks any undesirable tints or hazy appearances, and possesses impeccable luster. We meticulously scrutinize for any prominent flaws or light leakage, such as the bow-tie effect in oval and marquise cuts or dark tips in oval diamonds, ensuring that only the finest diamond cut meets our stringent standards.

Upon passing our rigorous factory-level inspection, diamonds are further evaluated at our office to confirm precise cut grades and adherence to our quality benchmarks. Only after meeting our exacting criteria are diamonds approved for customer consideration. This thorough vetting process streamlines the diamond selection process for our customers, sparing them the arduous task of sifting through countless options.

Should any questions arise during your shopping journey or if you seek guidance in selecting the perfect diamond, please don't hesitate to reach out. Our dedicated team is here to assist you in sourcing diamonds that may not be readily available elsewhere online. At BESPOKE BRILLIANT, we're committed to ensuring your diamond purchase is as effortless and rewarding as possible.