They’re the shining portrait of luxury, but not every diamond is created equal. Size is an obvious factor, but there’s much more to diamond jewelry than that.
In fact, the qualities of diamond jewelry vary greatly from one piece to the next. Before buying diamond jewelry or selling some of your own, it’s important to understand the key criteria that determine a diamond’s quality.
Luckily, the process of doing that is extremely straightforward. By examining four key areas of quality, you can get a good idea of a diamond’s value. Keep reading to learn the four key qualities to look for in diamond jewelry.
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The 4 C’s of Diamond Jewelry
Evaluating the quality of diamond jewelry all comes down to the four c’s: cut, clarity, color, and carat. Whether you’re looking to sell a diamond ring or purchase diamonds for yourself, these will always be the main criteria that determine your diamond’s value.
It’s also worth noting that diamonds can either be mined or manufactured. Those created in a lab are more likely to fall short on quality. Interestingly enough, these often end up as an industrial abrasive material rather than in jewelry, but it’s still important to evaluate a diamond’s quality nonetheless.
Cut
The cut of a diamond plays an important role in that diamond’s overall quality. This is because the cut is what makes the diamond reflect the most light. A perfectly cut diamond will shine brilliantly from its many smooth facets, whereas a poorly cut diamond will leave something to be desired.
Clarity
Before being made into diamond jewelry, a diamond has to form under extreme heat and pressure. Because of this, spots and blemishes are nearly inevitable. However, these can have a negative impact on that diamond’s overall quality.
This is why it’s important to consider the clarity of diamond jewelry. The fewer blemishes and imperfections are present, the greater the quality.
Color
When people shop for diamond jewelry, they’re most often looking for clear, colorless diamonds. This makes colorless diamonds have the highest value, while colored diamonds may not fetch as high of a price. Clear diamonds are also considerably rarer than colored varieties, which is another factor that boosts their resale value.
Carat
It’s not a surprise that a diamond’s size plays a key role in determining that diamond’s overall value. Larger diamonds will generally be pricier, but this value can go down if the diamond’s cut, clarity, or color is subpar.
Finding the Best Diamond Jewelry
As you can see, size alone can’t determine the value of a diamond. Instead, the four c’s of diamond jewelry will all play a part in finding the best bang for your buck. Now that you know more about the four key determining factors of diamond quality, you’ll be ready to find the perfect diamond for you.
For more topics, check out our other blog entries.
