Diamond certification is essential when you’re buying a diamond and is different from a jeweler’s appraisal, although the certification is part of any appraisal. Diamond certification is the written proof of a diamond’s attributes. Without it, you have no assurance that the diamond you are buying is of the quality you’re paying for. With it, you know the precise grading for each of the 4Cs – color, cut, clarity and carat weight, and, therefore, the diamond value.

Certification gives you the information you need to assess a diamond’s value compared to other diamonds. Diamond certificates are issued by independent gemological laboratories, not your jeweler. There are several grading laboratories, the most prominent being: the International Gemological Institute (IGI); the Gemological Institute of America (GIA); the American Gem Society (AGS); the European Gemological Laboratories (EGL) and GemEx Systems.

When you buy a diamond, be sure to question the sales associate first about the characteristics or attributes of the stone. Ask to see the diamond certification that will accompany the diamond when you purchase it. If you do some comparison shopping, you will note that the quality of the diamonds each jeweler carries varies depending on the store.

A diamond certification will also give you indicators about other diamond qualities, such as fire, brilliance and scintillation, also called Return of Light. These qualities refer to how light is refracted back to the viewer when held stationary or when in motion.

Carats

Many people equate the term carat with the size of a diamond, and as carat size increases, so will the carat weight. So ¾ of a carat is also 75 points. The heavier in carat weight a diamond is, the rarer it becomes. Prices of diamond increase exponentially with the weight of the diamond, so a one-carat diamond will cost much more than two ½-carat diamonds, given that other qualities, such as color and clarity, are equal.

The cutting of a diamond can impact the size of it, so depending on how their cut, two one-carat diamonds can look unequal. If a stone is cut flatter, then it will appear bigger, while a deeper cut stone will be smaller, but may have more brilliance and scintillation. A smaller diamond can always be enhanced with baguettes, trillians or smaller same-shape stones on either size.

There are many traditional cuts to choose from. A There are other cuts with unique faceting, such as the square princess-cut diamond. Some cuts are patented, like the elongated Ashoka diamond or the Asprey & Garrard Eternal cut diamond. Other branded and patented cuts include:

Elara – a square-cut diamond with rounded corners

Asscher – a square diamond with rounded facets that gives an unusual complexity to the diamond Couples diamond – this diamond is faceted to reveal either a circle of hearts or arrows inside. It’s a truly unusual diamond that requires precise cutting for the image to appear properly.

The price of a diamond increases exponentially with its carat weight. A one-carat diamond costs much more than 10 10-point diamonds and a two-carat diamond costs more than twice as much as a one-carat diamond (given equal quality in other areas).

A baguette is a small emerald-shaped diamond that can be placed on either side of the main stones and a trillion is a triangle-shaped diamond that also is a good enhancement to the center stone.

Diamond Couple Rings

Most of the stones that find their way into diamond wedding rings are cut and appraised in the Belgian city of Antwerp, which has been the center of the diamond business since the mid-1500s.The campaign was remarkably successful; within only a few years, plain gold bands had been replaced by diamond wedding bands and rings with set stones. A similar campaign was undertaken by the U.S. diamond jewelry industry; the market was targeted toward those couples planning to wed.

Diamond engagement rings symbolize true love, dedication and commitment. With their perfect clarity and indestructible nature, have come to symbolize the purity and eternal commitment between a man and his wife.Today, diamond engagement rings dominate the bridal jewelry industry.

Diamonds are mainly favored for the setting of engagement rings because of their stunning merits. No matter what you personally decide for your lady, but your special someone will always expect a diamond engagement ring! When couples exchange their engagement rings to each other, they more than likely can’t wait to tell their friends all about their engagement rings. And Current bridal fashion trends favors a solitaire diamond engagement ring set in a band of yellow or white gold, sterling silver, or platinum.