Learning Center

Many People are confused about how diamonds are priced. The best explanation is that asking for the price of a diamond is like asking for the price of a house. A real estate agent can’t quote you a price for a house without knowing its size, condition, location, etc. This process is the same one used when buying a diamond. A diamond’s beauty, rarity, and price depend on the interplay of all the 4 C’s - cut, clarity, carat, and color.

The 4 C’s are used throughout the world to classify the rarity of diamonds. Diamonds with the combination of the highest 4 C ratings are more rare and consequently, more expensive. No one C is more important than another in terms of beauty and it is important to note that each of the 4 C’s will not diminish the value over time.

Once you have established those 4 C characteristics that are most important to you, a jeweler can then begin to show you various options with quoted prices.



Carat

Refers to the weight of a diamond.

Carat is often confused with size ever though it is actually a measure of weight. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. One carat can also be divided into 100 “points.” A .75 carat diamonds is the same as 75-points or 3/4 carat diamond.

A 1-carat diamond costs exactly twice the price of a half-carat diamond, right? Wrong. Since larger diamonds are found less frequently in nature, which places them at the rarest level of the Diamond Quality Pyramid, a 1-carat diamond will cost more than twice a 1/2-carat diamond (assuming color, clarity and cut remain constant).

Cut and mounting can make a diamond appear larger (or smaller) than its actual weight. So shop around and talk to your jeweler to find the right diamond and setting to optimize the beauty of your stone.



Clarity

Refers to the presence of inclusions in a diamond.

Inclusions are natural identifying characteristics such as minerals or fractures, appearing while diamonds are formed in the earth. They may look like tiny crystals, clouds or feathers.

To view inclusions, jewelers use a magnifying loupe. This tool allows jewelers to see a diamond at 10x its actual size so that inclusions are easier to see. The position of inclusions can affect the value of a diamond. There are very few flawless diamonds found in nature, thus these diamonds are much more valuable.

Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection, known as clarity, which was established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The clarity scale, ranging from F (Flawless) to I (Included), is based on the visibility of inclusions at a magnification of 10x.

Some inclusions can be hidden by a mounting, thus having little effect on the beauty of a diamond. An inclusion in the middle or top of a diamond could impact the dispersion of light, sometimes making the diamond less brilliant.

The greater a diamond’s clarity, the more brilliant, valuable and rare it is - and the higher it is on the Diamond Quality Pyramid.



Color

Refers to the degree to which a diamond is colorless.

Diamonds range in color from icy winter whites to warm summer whites. Diamonds are graded on a color scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) which ranges from D (colorless) to Z.

Warmer colored diamonds (K-Z) are particularly desirable when set in yellow gold. Icy winter whites (D-J) look stunning set in white gold or platinum.

Color differences are very subtle and it is very difficult to see the difference between, say, an E and an F. Therefore, colors are graded under controlled lighting conditions and are compared to a master set for accuracy.

Truly colorless stones, graded D, treasured for their rarity, are highest on the Diamond Quality Pyramid. Color, however, ultimately comes down to personal taste. Ask a jeweler to show you a variety of color grades next to one another to help you determined your color preference.



Cut

Refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond.

Based on scientific formulas, a well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another and disperse and reflect it through the top of the stone. This results in a display of brilliance and fire, thereby placing well-cut diamonds higher on the Diamond Quality Pyramid than deep or shallow-cut diamonds. Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow lose or leak light through the side or bottom, resulting in less brilliance and ultimately, value.



Cut also refers to shape - round, square, pear, or heart for example. Since a round diamond is symmetrical and capable of reflection nearly all of the light that enters, it is the most brilliant of all diamond shapes and follows specific proportional guidelines. Ask a jeweler to find out more about these guidelines. Non-round shapes, also known as “fancy shapes,” will have their own guidelines to be considered well-cut.

As member of the Independent Jewelers Organization we have the opportunity to travel to Antwerp, Belgium, the Diamond Capital of the World. We travel to Antwerp twice a year to buy diamonds directly from the Debeers sight-holders. In addition to purchasing diamonds for our store, we also serve as a diamond broker for some of our customers, finding a diamond for them in Antwerp. We always enjoy finding a special diamond for someone and then delivering it personally along with a pox of Belgian chocolates that we have hand carried across the Atlantic from Europe.

Because we deal directly with the diamond cutters and Debeers sight-holders in Antwerp, we avoid paying a mark-up to the U.S. importer and distributor. Therefore, we can offer you the diamond of a lifetime at a substantial savings over regular retail prices.

It’s not only the savings that make this a unique diamond buying experience. It’s the fact that your personal jeweler is traveling close to 10,000 miles to hand-select this specific diamond for you from among the largest selection f diamonds ever gathered in any one place. It’s your decision to choose a certain size, shape, color and clarity of diamond–not just accept what is available on the local market. It’s the journey of your special diamond–from the earth, to the cutter, to you–no precious owner, no stops along the way.

There is nothing quite like owning (or giving) a beautiful, quality diamond–a one-of-a-kind masterpiece of nature, perfected by the skilled hands of the expert diamond cutters in the world’s diamond center–which was hand selected for you by your personal diamond broker in Antwerp, Belgium. A gift that will last a lifetime–or twenty lifetimes.

If you are ready for the diamond of a lifetime, contact us for more information.



What to Spend - Diamond Buyer’s Guide When you start to think about buying a diamond - and the love it will symbolize - you naturally want the best you can afford and a beautiful stone you will treasure forever.

Diamonds can be found in a range of price - and you’re certain to find one within the Diamond Quality Pyramid that suites your taste and what you plan to spend. If you’re about to buy a Diamond Engagement Ring, you may want to consider spending the commonly accepted guideline of two months’ salary. But it’s up to you to settle on a diamond that will truly represent your deepest emotions and the promise for the future you will share.

We are members of IJO, Independent Jewelers Organization. This is the largest jewelry buying group in the world with over $900 million dollars in sales. This provides the access to the antwerp diamond offices and we, along with other IJO member stores, are welcomed onto the cutting floors with open arms.

We talk about specifications and price points and these are very important. But diamonds are so much more than just certifications and the "Four C's."

Diamonds are a symbol of love and romance and usually represent a significant and lifelong purchase.

In Antwerp, we search for diamonds of exceptional beauty. It's all about "fire" and brilliance and this can only be measured with your heart and eyes.

Specifications such as cut, color and clarity are simply a starting point. Since no two diamonds are alike, diamonds with the same certifications can often differ dramatically in their appearance.

We spend hours examining "same-cert" diamond parcels in search of the perfect diamond, just for you; to match your heart's desire. Purchasing a diamond from Antwerp that is hand-picked for you is a very special and unique experience. It represents a commitment to the very best in quality and value.

Being a jeweler is about sharing special moments with our customers. We love that. We get caught up in your lives and your stories and we love being a part of making your dreams come true. That is the Antwerp experience, for us and for you.