Buying a Diamond: 4 Cs: Cut November 23, 2005
Posted by Jill Renee in : Buying Diamonds, Buying Engagement Rings, Buying Jewelry, Jewelry , add a commentDiamond Cut
Cut does not mean shape. It refers to the angles and proportions a skilled craftsman creates in transforming a rough diamond into a polished diamond. The cut of a diamond is especially important because it has the most effect on the fire, or brilliance. A poor cut will make the diamond look dull even with excellent color and clarity. We only carry the higher cut qualities so that you don’t have to worry about picking a poorly cut diamond.
Cut – Why it’s Important
Nature dictates the characteristics of color, clarity and carat, while humans directly influence the cut. Cut refers to the angles and proportions (not diamond shape) a skilled craftsman creates in transforming a rough diamond into a polished diamond. The cutter must polish tiny surfaces known as facets onto the rough diamond. This process also creates the diamond parts known as the crown, culet, table, girdle and pavilion. A well cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another, dispersing and reflecting it through the top of the stone. This results in a display of fire or brilliance in the diamond.
Ideal Cut Diamond – Nearly all light that enters the stone is reflected out of the top, designed to maximize brilliance.
Shallow Cut Diamond – Light will be lost out of the bottom or sides causing the diamond to lose its fire or brilliance.
Deep Cut Diamond – Light will travel out of the bottom or sides making the stone look dark and dull.
Of the “4 C’s,” the cut of a diamond is the most important factor in its overall appearance. In addition, because it’s the only one of the 4 C’s that relies on the precision of human hands, it also is the one to which the value of your diamond will be most closely tied.
Once you’ve identified your budget, start by choosing the proper cut – and don’t look back. By choosing the most brilliant cut possible, you will have the most flexibility in tailoring the grades of the other 4 C’s to fit your budget without compromising the beauty of the stone.
Also, note that cut and shape are not the same thing. Shape refers to the outward appearance of the diamond; round, emerald, heart, marquise, princess, oval or pear. A round diamond is the most brilliant of diamond shapes. Its symmetrical outline allows it to reflect nearly all of the light that enters the diamond.
visit DanforthDiamond.com to learn more about buying your diamond.
Best Value Purchasing A Diamond Engagement Ring November 16, 2005
Posted by Jill Renee in : Buying Diamonds, Buying Engagement Rings, Buying Jewelry, Jewelry , add a commentTips on Getting the Best Value for your Diamond Engagement Ring
Excerpted from DanforthDiamond.com
Purchasing your diamond engagement ring from Danforth Diamond insures that you have gotten a high quality product at a very competitive price. We are able to offer you settings that are crafted by tradesmen who have decades of jewelry manufacturing experience. Our settings are built to last a lifetime. We only use precious metals and good or better diamonds. We will not sell anything that does not meet our high standards. We back this up with our no hassle return policy so just by buying your ring from us you can rest assured that you will be getting an exceptional value. Here are some other factors to consider when making your selection:
In selecting your diamond, compare the price with diamonds of the same shape, size, color, cut, and clarity. This is critical when comparison shopping. Remember all other factors being equal; a poorly cut diamond may cost 50% less than a diamond with a good or ideal cut. This is because a poorly cut diamond will lack fire and sparkle.
Make sure your diamond is securely set. If your diamond is not properly set the chance of loss greatly increases. All of our diamonds are set by experienced jewelers and are inspected before leaving our shop. We use 18K white gold or platinum settings. These choices stand up to wear and tear and prevent prong failure.
Is your setting comfortable and smooth when you are wearing it? Well made settings will be polished resulting in a smooth finish and comfortable fit. All of our settings are polished to a high luster and have a comfort fit for the wearer.
In selecting your engagement ring setting be sure to compare the cost of settings made from the same precious metal. Platinum settings will cost more than gold and 18K gold will cost more than 14K gold. Pay close attention to the gold or platinum content. A setting with a higher weight (precious metal content) will cost more than a setting with a lighter weight.
Have your ring appraised and insured. Most of our rings come with a certificate and appraisal. We strongly recommend insuring your ring and taking a photo of it to be stored in a secure location. This will help in case of accidental loss or theft.
Please visit Danforth Diamond for all your diamond and jewelry store needs.
