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HOW TO BUY A DIAMOND
Purchasing diamond wedding rings and diamond anniversary bands is an exciting and exhilarating experience. As a significant purchase, it is important to be educated prior to making your decision. Four major components are used throughout the world to evaluate a diamond's quality and value. They are known as the 4Cs: cut, color, carat and clarity. Diamonds with the combination of the highest 4C ratings are more rare and, consequently, more expensive. Whether you are buying diamond wedding rings, three stone diamond rings, diamond eternity rings, anniversary rings or any other piece of diamond jewelry, understanding the qualities of the 4Cs and how they interact with each other will help you choose the perfect wedding ring or anniversary ring for the right price. |
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Color | Clarity | Cut | Carat | Settings | Gold | Platinum |
DIAMOND COLOR
Diamond color refers to the degree to which a diamond is colorless. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has devised a set of guidelines in which diamonds are graded on a color scale. The color of graded diamonds is compared to the color of control stones - pre-selected gems of a specific color. A lettering system from D (colorless) to Z is used to identify the amount of color present in each diamond. Truly colorless stones (D) are extremely rare and consequently extremely valuable.
Diamond color differences are very subtle and it is very difficult to see the difference between two levels on the scale. Colors are therefore graded under controlled lighting conditions and are compared to a master set for accuracy. Graded diamonds must also therefore be loose stones, as the color of mounted stones can be affected by their mountings.
The progression from colorless diamonds to diamonds that are yellow or yellowish brown are grouped into the categories shown below.
| Colorless |
| D |
Absolutely colorless. The highest color grade;
extremely rare and valuable. |
| E |
Colorless, a rare diamond with only minute traces of color
that can be detected by an expert gemologist.
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| F |
Colorless, a high quality diamond. Slight color can be detected by
an expert gemologist, but still considered a 'colorless' grade.
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| Nearly Colorless |
| G - H |
Nearly colorless. Some color is noticeable when compared to
diamonds of better grades, but G-H grades offer excellent value. |
| I - J |
Nearly colorless. Color is slightly detectable;
I-J grades also offer excellent value. |
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| K - Z |
The color in diamonds graded K-Z detracts from the beauty of a diamond.
Eternity Wedding Bands does not offer any diamonds graded K-Z.
We only offer diamonds that are Nearly Colorless or Colorless. |
| K - M |
Faintly tinted, usually with yellow color. |
| N - R |
Lightly tinted, usually with yellow color.
Tint can be seen with the naked eye. |
| S - Z |
Tinted, usually with yellow color that may progress to a brownish color.
Color visible to the naked eye, even when mounted. |
At Eternity Wedding Bands we sell diamonds that are ONLY nearly colorless or colorless, guaranteeing all our diamonds to be H, I, J color or better. All of our diamonds provide an excellent value with no noticeable color to the unaided eye.
Diamonds can also be found in fancy colors, which include pink, blue, green, yellow, brown, orange and very rarely, red. The above grades do not apply to fancy colored diamonds. These colors are particularly rare.
Diamond fluorescence
GIA and many other lab reports indicate whether or not a diamond has fluorescence, which means a diamond produces a color reaction when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Since UV radiation is a component of daylight and is also present in fluorescent-lit rooms, the stone could change color under those conditions.
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