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Helpful tips: Before shopping for merchandise, you must have knowledge of a particular item to be sure that you are satisfied and getting the most for your money. A person without knowledge of diamonds is often more vulnerable to paying for over priced merchandise. We here at North-South Jewelry Co. have dealt with this and share your frustrations on paying too much. In addition to offering you the best quality products, we also seek to offer you the best prices. In order to do this, we seek to deliver you the knowledge it takes to distinguish between a VVS and I quality or an F and I color rating for example. To assists you in your quest for beautiful jewelry at the best price, we've provided some tips on, the always very expensive diamond. Center Stones: When buying an engagement/wedding ring, every women desires a quality diamond, while every man desires quality price. So to attain satisfaction for both, we suggest that you look into an SI1 quality diamond. Mainly because, when compared to a VVS-VS diamond, an SI1 cannot be distinguished by an individual who is not an expert in the field. This is because the inclusions are so small that they are difficult to see with the naked eye. Also, the price is substantially lower than that of a VVS or VS diamond. As long as you can obtain an SI1 diamond with a high color rating, no lower than I, then not many individuals can tell the difference. Plus, in the future you will be able to upgrade your diamond to a larger size or higher quality. Semi-Mounts/Settings: Diamonds for most settings are small enough that you are able to acquire high quality diamonds, ranging from SI1 to VVS, for an affordable price. For example, ten small diamonds which accumulate to one carat, cost at least five times less than a single solitaire diamond that is one carat in weight. So it is perfectly fine to spend the money on high quality diamonds for your settings. This will complement your center stone as well as contribute to the elegance of your ring. Right Hand Rings: Usually many women wear anniversary bands as well as other rings on their right hand. For the most part, these rings consists of small diamonds as well. So we suggest that you follow the same guidelines as the settings above. Just remember that because they are smaller diamonds, the cost is evidently less than large solitaire diamonds. Feel free to spend the money on higher quality diamonds and rest assure that the price will be affordable because of the small size of the diamonds. Earrings/Pendants: Fortunately, earrings and pendants are meant to be seen from a distance. Because they are on the ear and on the neck, many individuals will not gaze at them from mere inches away as they would do to a ring. Smaller diamonds on earrings and pendants are a plus because the inclusions are even less visible due to the distance. This factor gives you the option of either buying a diamond with less quality, like an SI, and focus more on a higher color so the diamond looks whiter from a distance. Or you have the choice of going ahead and investing in a high quality diamond. Which ever option you select, you will be satisfied to know that you received the best look for your money. Bracelets/Bangles: Bracelets are a bit more complex. Bracelets consists of more carats weights and a larger quantity of diamonds overall. But the diamonds are still considerably small, so our suggestion is that you focus on the color of your diamonds over the clarity. Because the diamonds are small in size, it is quite difficult to identify an imperfection with the naked eye. On the other hand color is more visible to the eyes if the diamonds were yellowish, this being the reason why we shift our focus to better color over better clarity for bracelets and bangles. Through this strategy, you are able to spend less while still benefiting on your quest towards beautiful jewelry. Diamonds/Gemstones: Gemstones are generally minerals which have been fashioned to use for personal adornment, such as fine jewelry. As a rule they are rare, durable, and beautiful, which is why they are so desired and sought after. Gemstones are chosen primarily for four properties. These are color, cut, clarity and carat weight. We pride ourselves in obtaining the highest quality stones available for our clients. We do not sell synthetic or lab created stones.
Color Diamonds:
Colorless diamonds have always been valued for their lack of color. But there is a new and increasingly popular style called colored diamonds. These diamonds are opposite those of the traditional style of the colorless diamonds. They are valued for the deep intense color. These color diamonds occur naturally and come in blue, brown, or pink. Color diamonds are extremely rare due to the process in which they are created. The naturally occuring process happens very seldom compared to the colorless diamonds. The ratio between the two is for every one color diamond created there are ten thousand colorless ones created. This is the reason why you do not see many of these stones and each stone is one of a kind. Fundamental of 4Cs:
The Four Cs of diamond quality will give you a multitude of information about a diamond’s characteristics and value: clarilty, color, cut and carat. Clarity: Most diamonds contain imperfections and inclusions which occur naturally during the development of the stone. Inclusions and blemishes are usually irregularities in the form of tiny white points, dark dots or feathery cracks. Blemishes can also look similar to tiny feathers, tiny points/dots, and/or faint clouds. Diamonds are usually categorized by the number and size of the inclusions and blemishes found. The categories are as follow: FL - Flawless diamonds which contain no visible inclusions or blemishes. A nearly perfect diamond. This diamond is very rare and very expensive. IF - Internal Flawless diamonds which contain minor blemishes which are visible only with the aide of some sort of magnification piece. Also a rare diamond and not affordable to most. VVS - Very, Very Slightly included diamonds that includes two subcategories: VVS1 and VVS2. Both categories contain tiny feathers, tiny points/dots, and/or faint clouds that are difficult to see with the naked eye. This diamond is the most common among the quality diamonds. Though it is not the best, it is the most affordable for its expensive price. VS - Very Slightly included diamonds that include two subcategories also. In both VS1 and VS2 the diamonds contain minor inclusions like feathers, clouds, points/dots, and crystals. All of them difficult to find with the naked eye. SI - Slightly Included diamonds that include three subcategories: SI1, SI2, and SI3. All diamonds contain feathers, crystals, and clouds visible with the naked eye by an expert. These imperfections are usually found towards the center of the diamond. I - Imperfect diamonds included in three subcategories: I1, I2, and I3. These diamonds contain large feathers, clouds, and crystals easily found with the naked eye by any individual.
Color: Just like imperfections, the color of a diamond occurs naturally during the development of the stone. Many individuals assume that most diamonds are colorless, but in reality many are various tones of yellow or brown. The color can usually effect the brilliance of a diamond. The more colorless a diamond is, the more brilliant it appears. Because a diamond works as a prism, any color in a diamond will lessen the amount of light reflected. Diamonds are classified by letters of the alphabet from D to Z. D - Highest grade on the color scale. Nearly perfect colorless diamond that is usually hard to get a hold of. E - Nearly colorless diamond containing faint traces of color. This is also a difficult diamond to find. F - Nearly colorless diamond containing traces of color that are slightly visible, but still high quality. This is often difficult to find as well. G-H - Diamonds containing color traces that are visible usually when compared to other diamonds. These diamonds are the most common to find because of the great value. They are very affordable and the color traces are not very noticeable by the naked eye. I-J - Diamonds that have traces of color that are usually noticeable. These diamonds are also easy to find, and have a great value because the color is slightly noticeable. K-Z - Diamonds that have color traces more noticeable as it moves down the alphabet.
Cut: The cut of a diamond refers to the design. This usually defines the shape and symmetry of the stone. The way a diamond is cut determines the brilliancy. Shapes such as emerald, marquise, pear, oval, baguette, and Princess(square) are common among diamonds with the round brilliant cut being the most in demand. Factors that can effect the cut of a stone is the roundness, depth, width, and the uniformity of its facets. The cut is categorized as either Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair or Poor. An ideal diamond is one that is proportional with all the right angles to release the brilliance of the stone. While the a poor cut is a dull diamond with less brilliance because of the off angles.
Carat: The term carat is the measurement unit weight of diamonds, abbreviate CT is for diamond carat weights, TW is for total weight of diamonds in any piece of jewelry. One carat equal to 100 points, the numbers are usually expressed in decimal form like 1.50ct equal to one and half carat of diamond, 0.20ct is one fifth (1/5) carat of diamond for example. Jewelers usually price the diamonds by size on a chart, a single 1.00ct diamond will cost a lot higher than a several diamonds that weigh total of 1.00ct. and always with a good balance of the 4Cs as described above. So to be a smart shopper, if you're looking for a one carat diamond, you're better off finding one that is 0.90ct or so, this way you get more for your money. Because if you cross that line, do expect to pay a lot more for those few points of a carat. Good luck! Shapes/Cuts of Diamonds:
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