Why you pay more for some diamonds
A diamond sure is a woman’s best friend. So, it is only judicious to choose a rock that is best in quality and would not let you down.
Gold has, time and again, proven to be a valuable investment proposition. But what about diamonds? Diamonds are no longer considered to have no resale value. Good quality diamonds with a high grading go up in value year-on-year, which makes them wise investment options.
If you consider diamonds to be more than just a piece of jewellery in your collection, you would like to know how to purchase the best quality ones. It is imperative to understand the process of quality grading of this precious stone. The secret lies in the 4Cs of diamonds: Colour, Clarity, Carat and Cut. These grading parameters were developed by the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) and are accepted as the most respected standards of evaluating diamond quality the world over.
Know your diamond
Why do diamonds that look the same have different price tags at different stores? The answer lies in the grading of the diamond.
The clarity of a diamond is considered to be the primary determinant of the stone’s quality, and, consequently, its price. Clarity, in common parlance, determines the refractive index and thereby the shine and lustre of a diamond. Considering the fact that the brilliance of a diamond lies in how well it shines, you should give clarity the utmost importance while purchasing diamonds as an investment.
The clarity of a diamond is determined by the level of inclusions and blemishes in the stone. Most diamonds have natural inclusions, which determine their clarity. The lower the level of inclusion, the more the clarity of the stone.
The GIA grading process is considered to be the most flawless system of grading where the stones are inspected by experts under a microscope that is equipped with darkfield illumination. On a 10X magnification scale, if inclusions are not visible, the stone is considered to be flawless or internally flawless. It is extremely rare to find a diamond that has zero inclusions/ blemishes; which is why the next level of VVS1 and VVS2 (Very Very Slight Inclusion) grade diamonds are considered to be of excellent quality and have high value in today’s market.
There are various characteristics of testing the clarity of diamonds.
- Size: whether the inclusions/ blemishes are of large or small size – larger inclusions obviously scoring lower on the quality grading scale
- Number: number the inclusions present in the stone
- Position: if the blemish is directly under the table of the diamond – which is the flat surface on the top – then the quality score is lower
- Nature: this determines the nature of the blemish – abrasions, polish lines, polish marks, etc are all types of blemishes
- Colour or Relief: coloured inclusions naturally hinder the flawlessness and hence have a lower grade point
Diamonds at Jos Alukkas
At Jos Alukkas, we take pride in our diamond collection. All our diamonds are certified and graded by International Diamond Grading laboratories like GIA, IGI etc., and come in round, princess-cut, Asscher-cut and emerald-cut shapes. We have one of the highest clarity graded diamonds in our stores, which is the VVS1 grade. This assures you get the best sparkle that is worth every penny you spend on it.
