Online shopping for diamond jewelry is still an emerging market, but it has gained momentum because of COVID-induced travel restrictions. 2021 saw a boost of 20% in online retail sales in the diamond jewelry sector. A diamond’s quality and price depend on the 4 Cs – cut, color, clarity, and carat. You may have heard of them before, but how do you know them and select the ideal piece? Visiting jewelry stores in Pittsburgh or any major city in the United States (or if you are in the UK, you can visit trusted local specialists like Manorhill Trading in Chester who buy, sell, and value diamonds with expert precision) is important to learn and have a diamond expert share information with you in order to help you select the best diamonds available. Here are some advice on choosing the best diamond jewelry store in your area.
*This is a collaborative post.
*This is a collaborative post.Cuts Of A Diamond
The cut of a diamond is what offers the stone its true sparkle. There are many cuts, but the way the facets interact with light is the game-changer in picking a diamond. A poorly cut diamond will appear dull despite having superior clarity and color.
The cut must be in proportion and symmetric to reflect the most light and give a maximum sheen. The light is absorbed rather than reflected if the diamond is too deep. Shallow diamonds reflect light in skewed patterns, which may cause them to appear bland.
Cuts can be a brilliant, step, or mixed, but the ideal diamond should have about 58 facets, which gives it a brilliant sparkle. Be it a cushion, oval, or heart shape, the stone’s cut makes or breaks its sheen. Pittsburgh jewelry stores offer about ten different cuts for engagement rings.
Colors Of A Diamond
Most people think that diamonds are colorless. The diamond color scale has 23 pegs, D through Z, ranging from colorless to light yellow. D is the most expensive because it is colorless, and Z is comparatively cheaper. That said, fancy colored stones are being discovered as well. A 39-carat blue diamond was found in the Cullinan Mine of South Africa.
When picking a diamond, check on its origin and choose a color that you think complements your personality. Pink is another color that is adorning the precious stone market. The largest pink diamond was found in Botswana, weighing 62.7 carats. This tells you that colored diamonds are not always cheap.
Clarity Of A Diamond
A 10-power magnification should result in no blemishes and inclusions to render the stone flawless. It is marked FL. The next category is IF, meaning it has a few internal flaws. The other types are VVS1 VVS2, slightly included; VS1 VS2 significantly included somewhat; SI1 SI2 included somewhat, and I1 I2 I3 are imperfect. The cost of the diamonds ranges upward from flawed to flawless. You can find one that fits your budget at jewelry stores in your city.
Carat Of A Diamond
Carat is the weight of the diamond. One carat is 0.2 grams. Different shaped diamonds may appear of the same size by varying in weight due to their depth and cut. Depending on its cut, a bigger stone can still weigh less than a small stone. If you are only looking at size, you should pick an oval or marquise shape that costs less than a round stone but appears bigger.
A major city like Pittsburgh is known for its whiskey, iron, steel, and diamonds. These 4 Cs are the features of a diamond that help decide its price. You can visit jewelry stores in Pittsburgh or in your city and make sensible diamond buying decisions now.
What diamond jewelry store options do you have locally? Let me know in the comments below.
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post. This post has been pre-written.
