Diamonds are a piece of art. These shiny little stones make people fall in love with them. Whether you are honoring your matrimony, looking for an expensive anniversary present, celebrating professional success or feel like treating yourself, diamonds make the perfect gift.
Natural Diamonds are celebrated all around the world. The Natural Diamond industry is worth billions and a really successful industry with many many competitors. If you are looking for a Diamond and want to select the best of the best then you need to do your homework, not to worry we have just the right notes for you.
Why Natural Diamonds?
You might be wondering why Natural Diamonds are the talk of the town. Everyone is now talking about the natural diamond industry and recognizing that natural diamonds are a fantastic thing to buy. To give a more clear idea as to why you should choose natural diamonds, here are a few things you should know.
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Brilliance and Purity:
Natural Diamonds have the best brilliance and purity in the market. Naturally mined diamonds are millions of years old and have gone through immense heat and pressure in the most natural way possible. A diamond’s brilliance and purity is the defining factor and Natural diamonds have no competitors.
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Options:
If you are looking for multiple options, then natural diamonds are your stone. Natural Diamonds have a lot of variety in terms of cuts and shapes. They can be cut in different styles and are more versatile to work with.
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One of a Kind:
Every Natural diamond is authentic, unique and different. No two authentic diamonds are the same. The feeling of owning something that no one else has in the world is ecstatic.
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Value for money:
Natural diamonds are real value for money. Natural Diamonds have more resale value in the market, increase net worth and are a great long term investment. When you buy natural diamonds, you get the real worth of your money.
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Help local economies:
Natural diamonds are extracted by mining. Many places like forest areas of India and Africa have many diamond mines. More than often these diamond mines are the only economic activity in the region which create employment and money generation.
The Perfect Guide
Buying natural diamonds is a tricky process, having the right tips and research up your sleeve can make all the difference between having the perfect gem and buying just an alright diamond. We have curated a detailed guide for you to buy natural diamonds like an expert. It covers what you should know before walking into the store and what all you should consider when buying a natural diamond. Once you are through with this guide, you will know everything about natural diamonds and be an expert in diamond shopping. Without any further adieu, we bring you the perfect guide for buying natural diamonds like an expert.
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Why are you buying diamonds?
Do you go to the grocery store without a list, chances are you do not and even if you do we are pretty sure you might end up buying the wrong item and totally forgetting what you needed to buy. The same is when you go diamond shopping. Know the reason behind buying a diamond. Is it for a wedding? , Do you need it for daily wear? , Is it a gift? Knowing why you are buying the diamond can make all the difference. Do you need a big stone for a wedding or a simple diamond for daily wear?
Also Read: Why We Attract Towards Recycled Diamonds And You Should Too
If you are a couple who is buying a diamond, always remember to have a long detailed discussion before buying a diamond. Make sure you are on the same page about what you are looking for and about your preferences. If you are buying a diamond for someone significant, then make sure to know their likes and dislikes. Also, it is really important to be through with your significant other’s ring measurements before you go diamond shopping.
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Know the origin stories
Every diamond has a different origin story. From the process, they are obtained though, to the place where they were found. Now, why is it important to know the origin story of diamonds? You want to choose ethically sourced diamonds and diamonds obtained with different mining techniques can have certain differences. An overview of different kinds of mining is:
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Marine Mining:
The ocean floor is rich in diamonds. Marine mining is a process of extracting these diamonds by collecting the gravel from the ocean floor and then extracting diamonds from that gravel.
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Underground:
The most widely used method to obtain diamond in underground mining though the shaft method. Pipes or tunnels are dug into the ground where diamonds are extracted from beneath the earth’s surface.
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Open Pit:
Open-pit mining is another form of underground mining, but large pit and dug beneath the surface, but shallower than the shaft method. It is also known as quarrying. Diamonds that are not so deep in the earth’s surface are obtained through this process.
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Alluvial:
Alluvial soil is mostly on the river banks. The sediment carried by rivers often carries diamond in a rough form. Alluvial soil is collected and then sorted through to collect these rough diamonds. This is an over-ground method of diamond extraction.
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Why is knowing all of this is important?
Because some of these methods are not practiced the right way. It is important to make the right and ethical choice while buying natural diamonds, and knowing the backstory helps. Alluvial and Marnie Mining are generally practiced in an ethical way whereas underground shaft mining has earned a bad name especially in India and Africa.
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Budgeting
Naturally sourced diamonds come in a big price range. Choosing a budget before is important. You do not want to fall in love with a diamond you can not buy, so always choose a diamond prices and decide a budget before. Another thing that helps is deciding the mode of payment, which makes the transaction smoother. The price of natural diamonds varies according to carat, cut, brilliance, and clarity.
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Know the Shapes
Natural diamonds come in a variety of cuts and shapes. Knowing different shapes is imperative when selecting natural diamonds because it affects the brilliance and beauty of the diamond. Here are the most common and popular shapes that you should know:
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Round and Brilliant:
Round cut diamonds are the most traditional diamonds out there. They are available in different metals and various band designs. They are most suitable for conventional wedding and engagement rings.
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Cushion:
Cushion cuts have earned a great name in the market for their fancy cornets and uncanny resemblance to cushions, hence the name. Cushion cuts are known for their large faces and corners.
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Princess:
Princess cut diamonds are known for the different colors they reflect. The diamond is cut in such a way that the edges and corners display a prism of colors. They are found in both rectangular and square shapes.
Also Read: Difference between Full Cut and Single Cut Diamonds – Which one to choose?
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Emerald:
Emerald cut diamonds appear to be a labyrinth. The diamond has many rectangular-shaped facets, cut in a way that the diamond appears to be going inward, because of this unique design emerald diamonds appear to be larger than they actually are.
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Marquise:
Marquise cut diamonds are popular for the optical illusion they provide to the hands of the bearer. The hands appear to be thinner and longer when wearing a marquise ring. Marquise cut diamonds often are done in bands.
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Radiant:
Radiant cut diamonds combine different emerald-cut diamonds. The reason behind the name is that other shapes of diamonds are also added to one diamond, which maximizes the brilliance of radiant cut diamonds.
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Pear:
Pear shaped diamonds give a delicate and fine appearance, They are a combination of marquise and round cut diamonds. They make great wedding rings and have a sense of exquisiteness to them. They are also known as teardrop cut diamonds.
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Oval:
Oval cut diamonds also have a unique cut which makes the diamond appear larger than they actually are. They are often paired with other diamonds in engagement rings. Their brilliance is similar to round cut diamonds.
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Asscher:
Asscher cut diamonds are a fairly recent cut. They have the same cut technique as emerald cut but in a different shape. Emerald cut diamonds are rectangular whereas an Asscher cut is square in shape.
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Certifications
Diamonds are an expensive buy, and you would want to make sure that you are buying a thoroughly tested and checked product. Always remember to check the certifications of your diamonds. Diamonds are commonly certified by laboratories and the most well known international certifications are:
- GIA: Gemological Institute of America
- AGS: American Gem Society
- IGI: International Gemological Institute.
- EGL: European Gemological Laboratory
Each of these certifications is regarded on an international level and aim to check the quality of diamonds. Always remember to buy certified diamonds, with certifications from a well-known laboratory.
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Know all about the 4C’s
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Carat:
Carat weight is really important because it determines the value of the diamond. Carat weight has nothing to do with the size of the diamond, but the weight.
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Clarity:
Diamonds are meant to be clear, the more clear the diamond, the better. Clarity has a direct effect on the brilliance of the diamond. Clarity is also graded by laboratories such as GIA. AGS and IGL.
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Cut:
How a diamond is cut can be a defining factor of its aesthetic and shine. Knowing about cuts helps you identify which diamond is going to look pretty even outside the showroom. Diamond cuts and the reflection has a direct relation. A well-cut diamond reflects light proportionately. The cut should neither be too deep or too shallow.
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Color:
Diamonds are colorless, the white light visible to the naked eye is the reflection of the light around us. For diamonds to have great brilliance, they need to be colorless. The color of the diamonds is also certified by laboratories.
Different grading levels.
There are 3 grading types you should keep in mind when buying a natural diamond, Clarity grading, cut grading and color grading. All three are factors which affect the brilliance and beauty of natural diamonds.
Clarity scale
The diamond clarity scale has six categories on the GIA scale and five in the AGS scale. We have mentioned the grading followed by GIA for your reference. Here are the levels of the clarity scale by GIA.
- Flawless or FL grease means that the diamond is free of blemishes and inclusions and they are not even visible under magnification.
- Internally Flawless or an IF grade means that there is no inclusion but slight blemishes may be visible under magnification.
- Very, Very Slightly Included or a VVS1, VVS2 grade means the diamond has inclusions but they are not easily visible, not even to an expert.
- Very Slightly Included or a VS1, VS2 grade means that there are certain minor inclusions only visible to the naked eye.
- Slightly Included Or SI1, SI2 grade means that there are inclusions which are visible to the naked eye but only when carefully inspecting the diamond
- Included or I1, I2, I3 grade means that the diamond has visible inclusions.
The color-grading scale by GIA :
- Colorless or D, E, F grade means that the diamond is absolutely colorless.
- Near Colorless or G, H, I, J grade means that there is some color but not visible to the eyes.
- Faint Color or K, L, M grade means that the color may be visible to the naked eyes.
- Very Light Color or N, O, P, Q, R grade means that the color is easily seen.
- Light Color or S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z grade means that the diamond has a significant amount of color which is clearly visible.
The GIA grading scale for Cut:
- Excellent: Means maximum shine and reflection
- Very Good: Has good reflection and gives back most of the light
- Good: Brilliance is good but not the same as higher cuts.
- Fair: They do have brilliance, but only reflect back a limited amount of light.
- Poor: Diamonds may appear dull
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Explore, Compare and Take time
Buying a diamond is a long process. Before making a final choice, explore through designs, cuts and stores. There is a lot of variety amongst diamonds and every piece is worth a look. Shortlist your top choices and then compare them on the bases of Cut, Clarity, Certifications, Carat weight and price. After a thorough comparison makes a decision after giving a good thought to your final choice, never be in a rush to buy.
Also Read: How To Buy A Diamond Wholesaler: Find Certified Diamond Wholesaler Distributer
Closing Thoughts
Diamonds are beautiful objects that need careful selection. Knowing all the above mentioned information helps you in making the right choice and buying the perfect diamond. The guide is the perfect crash course into knowing all the important information about natural diamonds, now you can not only buy diamonds like an expert, but you are also closer to being one. Following all the steps makes you a step closer to finding yourself the best natural diamond. Always remember, there is no harm in being picky with your diamonds, after all, diamonds are meant to be forever.
