Diamonds - how d'you choose 'em?

Try to ask a jeweller this question, "How much does a diamond cost?" A typical one would sigh, then started to explain profusely the factors affecting a diamond's price. More often than not, The answers you'd get would leave you more confused than before. (Laughs)


Although, at the very least, you should have heard about the "4Cs" - Carat, Cut, Clarity and Colour. Any jeweller worth the trade never misses out these factors that plummets or rockets skyhigh the price of any diamonds. (If the one you meet did not mention any of the above, he/she is probably a fake jeweller. Its likely that his/her gems are hoaxes, too)


Carat, of course, means weight. (1 carat equals about 0.2 grams) When compared, a 2 carat diamond is rarer than a 1 carat diamond of the exact properties. However, as a diamond's volume does not increase in proportion to the weight, You'd rather get one with a weight that looks good enough on your finger as well as one that don't burn you moneybags into ashes.


Cut stands for the way the diamond is polished and proportioned so that the diamonds' brilliance may be shown fully. It also stands for the shape the diamond has been cut into. The most popular cut is known as the Round Modern Brilliant Cut, which contains different varieties such as heart shapes and pear shapes. A subtly cut diamond can refract light from any direction to all directions, which gives the diamond a sparkling brilliance.

Colour is also an important element when choosing a diamond. Not for the sake of the gem itself,
but rather as the diamond's colour may well reflect your personality as an accessory (albeit an expensive one). A diamond with a colour that suits you on the inside shows on the outside, meaning when you wear a jewellery with a diamond you like a lot, it sort of enhances your flair in life, an aura that some may find breathtaking.

Lastly, there's the clarity of the stone. Generally, clarity means imperfections within the diamond that may affect the beauty of the diamond. If I may, I stressed the word may, since the said imperfections are microscopic, i.e. normally unnoticed under the naked eye. Starting from flawless, and going down to rejection, higher-graded diamonds are, of course, rarer and more expensive than their low-graded counterparts. Still, for normal consumers, a diamond that seems perfect enough is, well, perfect enough. I personally don't think its wise for those with a slightly tight budget to go for a IF (Internally Flawless) diamond.

In a nutshell, if I were to go and buy a diamond for my girlfriend, I'd take her along, let her choose the colour that's to her liking, then take the best cut, seemingly-without-imperfection, best-sized-for-her-finger diamond. I'll pay by cheque, and request to the bank for an unlimited overdraft beforehand. (I'm joking! Really!)