If you’re in the market for diamond engagement rings, there is something you should know ahead of time. That is, how to tell if you’re really getting value for money. There are 4 crucial things that affect the quality, price and overall beauty of a diamond. These are the 4 Cs of diamonds. Here is everything you need to know when choosing a diamond.
Cut
The cut is incredibly important to the overall value of a diamond. Essentially, the cut refers to the shape of the diamond. Engagement rings include diamonds that are cut into certain shapes and styles. So, the visual appeal is different for every diamond.
The key things to look at when examining the cut are angles, proportions, symmetry, brilliance and finishing. There is a good reason to pay special attention to the cut, too. A diamond with exceptional other qualities can still be worth less if the cut is poor. So, look out for the cut when choosing your engagement ring.
Colour
Colour might sound a bit strange when talking about diamonds, but what you’re actually looking for is a lack of colour. A diamond with very little colour sparkles more brightly, provided it has a good cut. You’ll notice that diamond colours are rated from D-Z. D is the most colourless and therefore most valuable.
Bear in mind that choosing a ‘D’ rated diamond that’s been cut poorly will not be as brilliant. Therefore, you need to examine the colour very carefully alongside the cut of your diamond.
Clarity
Diamonds go through quite a process before they’re ready to be included in pieces of jewellery. The clarity refers to the blemishes or inclusions on a stone. The brilliance of a diamond, particularly the way it sparkles in the light, is affected significantly by blemishes and imperfections.
The very best diamonds are considered ‘Flawless’, while lesser quality stones are rated as ‘Inclusions’. Check this carefully, because you want your diamonds to have a beautiful, natural sparkle to them.
Carat weight
Finally, we’ve got the carat weight. Many people think ‘carats’ refers to the quality or size of a diamond. In fact, it refers to the weight and density of the stone. So, two diamonds of a very similar size to the naked eye may have different carat weights.
This is perhaps the least important of all the four Cs. Cut, clarity and colour affect the value much more, but you also want to consider a higher carat weight if the other factors are similar.
Want the best diamond engagement rings in Melbourne?
There are so many reasons to choose Catanach’s Jewellers for your diamond engagement ring. Firstly, we’ve been providing Melburnians with beautiful jewellery for over 140 years. That’s a whole lot of knowledge, skills and experience that you won’t get from most jewellery stores. Secondly, we offer a comprehensive bespoke jewellery service. Book a consultation and discuss your ideas for a personalised engagement ring with our friendly team today. To find out why people love Catanach’s Jewellers, visit us or contact us today.
The Four Cs of Diamond Engagement Rings
If you’re in the market for diamond engagement rings, there is something you should know ahead of time. That is, how to tell if you’re really getting value for money. There are 4 crucial things that affect the quality, price and overall beauty of a diamond. These are the 4 Cs of diamonds. Here is everything you need to know when choosing a diamond.
Cut
The cut is incredibly important to the overall value of a diamond. Essentially, the cut refers to the shape of the diamond. Engagement rings include diamonds that are cut into certain shapes and styles. So, the visual appeal is different for every diamond.
The key things to look at when examining the cut are angles, proportions, symmetry, brilliance and finishing. There is a good reason to pay special attention to the cut, too. A diamond with exceptional other qualities can still be worth less if the cut is poor. So, look out for the cut when choosing your engagement ring.
Colour
Colour might sound a bit strange when talking about diamonds, but what you’re actually looking for is a lack of colour. A diamond with very little colour sparkles more brightly, provided it has a good cut. You’ll notice that diamond colours are rated from D-Z. D is the most colourless and therefore most valuable.
Bear in mind that choosing a ‘D’ rated diamond that’s been cut poorly will not be as brilliant. Therefore, you need to examine the colour very carefully alongside the cut of your diamond.
Clarity
Diamonds go through quite a process before they’re ready to be included in pieces of jewellery. The clarity refers to the blemishes or inclusions on a stone. The brilliance of a diamond, particularly the way it sparkles in the light, is affected significantly by blemishes and imperfections.
The very best diamonds are considered ‘Flawless’, while lesser quality stones are rated as ‘Inclusions’. Check this carefully, because you want your diamonds to have a beautiful, natural sparkle to them.
Carat weight
Finally, we’ve got the carat weight. Many people think ‘carats’ refers to the quality or size of a diamond. In fact, it refers to the weight and density of the stone. So, two diamonds of a very similar size to the naked eye may have different carat weights.
This is perhaps the least important of all the four Cs. Cut, clarity and colour affect the value much more, but you also want to consider a higher carat weight if the other factors are similar.
Want the best diamond engagement rings in Melbourne?
There are so many reasons to choose Catanach’s Jewellers for your diamond engagement ring. Firstly, we’ve been providing Melburnians with beautiful jewellery for over 140 years. That’s a whole lot of knowledge, skills and experience that you won’t get from most jewellery stores. Secondly, we offer a comprehensive bespoke jewellery service. Book a consultation and discuss your ideas for a personalised engagement ring with our friendly team today. To find out why people love Catanach’s Jewellers, visit us or contact us today.