Valentine’s Day, birthdays, Christmas and other special days are perfect times to give her something that sparkles and shines. Every woman loves jewelry and it’s a gift that lasts forever, just like your love. To get your special gift for that special someone, here are some jewelry ideas and a guide to selecting high-quality diamonds and gems.
PLAN - PRICE Description Silver Round Fashion Necklace (various stone) Stone Width: 9.92mm Stone Thickness: 5.17mm Stone Drop Size: 9.92mm Necklace Size: 17.5" Sterling Silver Open Heart Pearl Stud Earrings Stone Width: 8.10mm Stone Thickness: 3.67mm Stone Drop Size: 9.03mm Necklace Size: 18" 14k White Gold Halo Engagement Ring Crown Width: 8.30mm Crown Thickness: 5.10mm Band Width: 1.90mm Band Size: 6.5 14k White Gold Princess Cut Tennis Bracelet Gem Selection: Sapphire or Ruby Diamond & Stone Width: 3.4mm Diamond & Stone Thickness: 3mm Bracelet Size: 7" Freshwater Pearl Necklace, Bracelet, Earring Set Pearl size: 7-8mm Necklace: 18" Bracelet: 7.5" Earrings: 7-8mm Certified 14k White Gold Princess Cut Engagement Ring Ct. t.w.: 1.5 Color: H-I Clarity: I2-I3 Band Size: 5-10
The “4 Cs” Buying Guide:
Every diamond and gemstone undergo a thorough evaluation, and in the U.S., it is certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The evaluation is categorized in 4 grades: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight. All 4 grades affect the diamond’s and gemstone’s prices.
After learning more, if you need to see diamonds in person, visit your local jewelry store. For all the jewelry in the chart above, you can click on any of the products’ detail and make an appointment online before viewing it in person at a Gabriel & Co. store near you. Once in the store, you can get a better sense of what you personally value in a diamond or gemstone and can note the cut, color, clarity and carat that best fits your needs.
- Cut. How diamonds and gemstones are cut (round, oval, square, etc.) affects the appearance and beauty and has the greatest influence on its sparkle. When a diamond or gemstone cuts are made with the proper proportions, light is returned out of the top of the diamond (which gemologist refer to as the table). If the cut is too shallow, light leaks out of the bottom and if too deep of a cut, it escapes out of the side. Even if a diamond or gemstone has a perfect clarity and color grade, if it has a poor cut, it may appear dull. So, the proper proportion cut is ideal. To maximize your budget, choose the highest diamond cut grade your budget allows. We suggest a cut grade of very good or better.
- Color. Diamonds and gemstones come in a variety of color, some of them highly prized (pinks, blues, even yellows). However, in a white diamond, the presence of a yellow tint will lower the price of a diamond. The less body color in a white diamond, the truer color it will reflect and thus, the greater its value. There are 5 categories on the diamond chart, with color grades that range from absolutely colorless to light in color.
- D-F Color (colorless – highest quality): while there are differences in color between D, E, and F diamonds, they can be detected only by a gemologist in side by side comparison and rarely by the untrained eyes. D-F diamonds should only be set in white gold or platinum. Yellow gold reflects color, negating the diamond’s colorless effect.
- G-J Color (near colorless – best value): while containing traces of color, G-J diamonds are suitable for a platinum or white gold setting, which would normally deceive any hint of color in a diamond. Because I-J are more common than the higher grades, they tend to be a great value. I-J diamonds may retail for half the price of a D diamond. Within the G-J range, price tends to increase 10-20% between each diamond grade.
- K-M Color (faint yellow tint): beginning with the K diamonds, color (usually a yellow tint) is more easily detected by the naked eye. Set in yellow gold, these warm colored diamonds appeal to some and are in exceptional value. Others will feel they have too much color. Due to the color tint, a K diamond is often half the price of a G diamond.
- N-R Color: diamonds in the N-R color range have an easily seen yellow or brown tint but are much less expensive than higher grades. Many jewelry stores, especially the high-end ones, do not carry diamonds in this color range due to the lack of demand.
- S-Z Color: for almost all customers, S-Z diamonds have too much color for a white diamond. Many jewelry stores, especially the high-end ones, do not carry diamonds in this color range due to the lack of demand.
- Clarity. Diamond or gemstone clarity is the assessment of small imperfections on the surface and internally. The surface flaws are called blemishes, and internal defects are known as inclusions. Diamonds and gemstones with the least and smallest inclusions receive the highest clarity grades. Clarity is the least important factor when choosing to buy a diamond or a gemstone because most diamonds and gemstones have blemishes and small inclusions that are microscopic, unable to be seen with an untrained eye, so it does not affect a diamond’s beauty in any way. Here is the different clarity scale:
- FL (flawless): inclusions and blemishes aren’t visible on flawless diamonds or gemstones, even under 10x magnification. Less than 1% of all diamonds and gemstones are FL clarity and are incredibly rare because it’s nearly impossible to find one 100% free of inclusions.
- IF (internally flawless): inclusions aren’t visible in internally flawless diamonds or gemstones under 10x magnification. But some small surface blemishes may be visible. FL and IF diamonds and gemstones appear identical unless viewed under 10x magnification by a skilled grader. Less than 3% of jewelry quality diamonds or gemstones are rated IF.
- VVSI-VVSI2 (very, very slightly included): this clarity scale range have miniscule inclusions that are difficult even for the untrained eyes to see under 10x magnification. VVS2 clarity have slightly more inclusions than the VVS1 grade. A VVS diamond is an excellent quality diamond/gemstone and clarity grade. 21% of customers buy VVS diamonds.
- VS1-VS2 (very slightly included): this clarity scale range have minor inclusions that cannot be seen without 10x magnification. VS1 is a higher clarity grade than VS2, which may have some visible inclusions. A VS grade diamond or gemstone is less expensive than a VVS diamond or gemstone. 40% of customers buy VS diamonds.
- SI1-SI2 (slightly included): inclusions are noticeable at 10x magnification with SI, which is the best value diamonds and gemstones. With SI1, inclusions are sometimes visible to the keen eye without magnification. SI2 clarity grade, inclusions are usually visible from the pavilion, or cone-shaped lower portion, and from the top. 30% of all diamond and gemstone customers buy SI diamonds.
- I1-I3 (included): I1-I2 diamonds or gemstones have minor inclusions that may be visible to the naked eye. I3 diamonds or gemstones may have more obvious inclusions. Because of the pronounced inclusions and may even affect the diamond’s durability, I1-I3 diamonds or gemstones are usually not sold in stores, especially in the high-end jewelry stores.
- Carat. A diamond or gemstone carat is often misunderstood and refers to a diamond’s or gemstone’s weight, not necessarily its size. When comparing carat sizes, take a diamond’s or gemstone’s cut into consideration as well because a high-carat diamond or gemstone with a poor cut grade may look smaller (which is often cut deeper) than a diamond or gemstone with smaller carat weight and a better cut. To maximize your budget, select a carat weight slightly below the whole and half carat marks. For example, instead of a 2.0 carat diamond or gemstone, consider buying a 1.9 carat weight. This will save a considerable amount of money and the slight size difference will never be noticed.
Here is a carat size chart to help you see the differences in sizes: SyncroReviews_Diamond_Carat_Size_Chart
Expert Tips:
- If a large carat weight is important to you, yet you’re working within a strict budget, consider a diamond or gemstone with a good cut, SI1-SI2 clarity, and an I or J color grade.
- Diamond and gemstone prices jump at full and half carat weights. Diamonds and gemstones just below these weights cost significantly less, and small size differences are almost impossible to detect.
- Keep in mind that the smaller the finger, the larger the diamond or gemstone will appear. A 1.5 carat gemstone or diamond solitaire looks much larger on a size 4 finger than a size 8.