Every diamond is a miracle, millions of years in the making. And, like delicate, precious snowflakes, no two loose diamonds are exactly alike. Nor would we want them to be. The exquisite nature of loose diamonds is precisely their appeal.
The perfect loose diamond will always offer exceptional artistry as standard. Its magnificent quality will make it easy to create a unique, personalized piece of jewelry. Its delicate grace will beautifully complete your engagement ring or anniversary setting.
Loose Diamonds – What is Perfection?
So, what is the perfect loose diamond?
Is it majestic because of its rarity? Is it spectacular because of its value? Or, does it inspire because it sparkles so splendidly?
While all of these may be true, the real truth is something far more personal.
The loose diamond that you are seeking is also seeking you. That is because the perfect loose diamond is a diamond that is perfect for you.
There are, of course, certain qualities to look out for to ensure your pick is perfect.
Here’s our quintessential guide to help you pick the perfect diamond for you.
Certification
The very first major decision you will make when shopping for loose diamonds is the precise nature of certification you require.
There is arguably no greater certification than the Gemological Institute of America or GIA and the American Gem Society or AGS.
Acclaimed across the world for their stringent and precise grading standards, the GIA and AGS grant high ratings to only the most superior diamonds.
We consider there to be no greater certification than that offered by the GIA. It is the gold standard in the field of diamond certification. Operating as a non-profit, its objectivity is guaranteed and its standards are beyond reproach.
The GIA has been the pioneering agency in many techniques and processes. In fact, many of its innovations have served to make all competing diamond labs what they are today.
So, when you’re shopping for loose diamonds, make sure that the diamond you choose has been certified to a standard that you are supremely happy with.
The 4 Cs of Diamond Quality
There is a universally accepted method for assessing the quality of loose diamonds. Created by the GIA and globally accepted as a universal language in diamond quality, it comes in the form of the 4 Cs:
- Color
- Clarity
- Cut
- Carat
All diamonds share these four attributes. The key to ensuring the perfect pick is to understand how these four features affect the quality, rarity, and beauty of your diamond.
Diamond Color
Loose diamonds come in a variety of hues, ranging from colorless diamonds to ones that are more yellow or brown.
When certified specialists are evaluating diamonds, they do it based on the absence of color. In GIA standards, diamonds are classified from D – colorless to Z – light yellow or brown. The less color, the higher the grade.
A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue at all. As you can imagine, a truly colorless diamond is a rarity and its value will always reflect this.
Here is what all of this means for you:
When you are looking for the perfect diamond, what you are really looking for is a diamond that is as close to colorless as possible.
Diamond Clarity
When you consider the extreme heat and pressure that combine in nature to form a diamond, it comes as no surprise that almost no diamond is perfectly pure. Most will contain natural flaws.
The scale of perfection in diamond clarity refers to the absence of inclusions and blemishes. Inclusions are the internal characteristics of the diamond itself, while blemishes are the external characteristics.
The GIA has 11 clarity grades for diamonds, operating on a sliding scale of perfection.
At the top end, a diamond is categorized as flawless if it is without any inclusion or blemish at 10 times magnification.
At the lower end, it is given a grade called I3, if inclusions and blemishes are obvious.
The thing to remember about flaws is that they don’t affect the beauty of the diamond. They primarily affect the value.
Many blemishes are so minute that they cannot be seen by anyone other than a trained professional. Many other flaws can be hidden by setting or the mount.
Diamond Cut
When we refer to a diamond’s cut, we’re talking about its design, its proportion, its finish and its craftsmanship. All GIA certified diamonds are given a grade range of any of the following:
- Excellent
- Very Good
- Good
- Fair
- Poor
The cut of your diamond is probably the most important consideration in your search for perfection.
Why is this?
Because the cut of your diamond directly affects its sparkle. The brilliance of a diamond lies in its incredible ability to interact with light.
So, if you want a diamond with an amazing sparkle, you need to focus on how successfully your diamond unleashes its light.
Look for the following criteria in visual effects:
- Brightness – internal and external white light reflected from the diamond
- Fire – the scattering of white light into all the colors of the rainbow
- Scintillation – the amount of sparkle a diamond produces and the pattern of light and dark areas caused by reflections.
A diamond’s cut grade is really concerned with how successfully it interacts with light. Put simply, the better the cut, the more brilliant the diamond.
Diamond Carat
Diamonds are measured in carats, which is actually a unit of weight, though there is a common misconception that ‘carat’ refers to size.
As the carat size of a diamond increases, the diamond’s price increases exponentially.
Why? Because, the larger the diamond, the more increasingly rare and desirable it is.
Some people believe that a diamond’s value is determined only by its carat size. This is not the case.
Two diamonds of equal carat weight may actually have very different values. This is because diamonds are not valued using just one of the 4 Cs, rather they are valued using all of the 4 Cs taken together as a whole.
The Perfect Loose Diamond
Now you have the knowledge you need, choosing the perfect loose diamond has never been so exhilarating.
When purchasing a diamond, ensuring that it comes with unparalleled certification is not only good advice, it’s an absolute must.
Considering the 4 Cs will ensure that you choose a diamond that does you justice; A diamond that is as dazzling as it is remarkable; as alluring as it is breathtaking.
Your instinct and intuition will take care of the rest.
Lifetime brilliance in a diamond is just a step away.
Yes, diamonds really are forever and magnificence never goes out of style.
