How to Choose the Perfect Diamond?

Diamond Education

Learning about the attributes of diamonds is important before making such an important purchase. The diamond is a complicated stone, and each aspect of it affects its overall beauty. This allows you to go beyond  "The Four Cs" (Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight) and find out everything that gives a diamond both its beauty and its value.

Diamond Cut A diamond's cut is not only about its shape, but how effectively the stone can return light back to the viewer's eye. A well-cut diamond will appear very brilliant and fiery. Poorly cut stones can appear dark and lifeless, regardless of color or clarity. Read more about Diamond Cut
Diamond Clarity Clarity refers to the presence (or absence) of impurities, blemishes or other identifying characteristics within a diamond. Clarity characteristics are what make each diamond unique since there are no two diamonds that will have exactly the same inclusions in the same location(s). Read more about Diamond Clarity
Diamond Color When shopping for a diamond, it is generally preferred to have the least amount of color possible. Diamond color is divided into five broad categories. Read more about Diamond Color
Carat Weight Carat is a term that refers to the weight of a diamond. Before the twentieth century, diamonds were measured by using the carob seed that is small and uniform and served as a perfect counter weight to the diamond. It is those original carob seeds which are the origin of the word carat we use today. Read more about Carat Weight
What Is Diamond Certification? A certificate is a blue print of a loose diamond. Wholesalers, retailers, and consumers know a certificate as either a diamond grading report or diamond dossier. A certificate will tell a diamond's exact measurements, weight, cut and overall quality. Read more about What Is Diamond Certification?
Diamond Grading A diamond's cost depends upon an objective characteristics knows simply as the 4C's: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat. The relationship between these 4 characteristics determines the value of a diamond. Our diamond grading charts will help you visualize the realtionship between rarity and cost. Although it is commonly assumed that Clarity is the most important member of the 4C's, color, cut and clarity have a much greater impact on the appearance of a diamond. Read more about Diamond Grading
Diamond Shape Diamonds come in many different shapes, and James Allen offers the highest quality certified diamonds to satisfy all tastes. Each diamond shape possesses its own unique quality, so exploring and learning about the various shapes is worth your while. Read more about Diamond Shape
James Allen's Conflict-Free Diamond Policy At James Allen, every diamond we sell is certified conflict-free, assuring you that our inventory was procured through legal sources. In compliance with the Patriot Act, the Kimberly Process, and various United Nations resolutions, the diamonds we sell have been obtained using legitimate means. Read more about James Allen's Conflict-Free Diamond Policy
What Is Diamond Polish? This is the overall condition of the surfaces of a finished diamond. There are ratings of Good (GD), Very Good (VG), Excellent (EX), and Ideal (ID). Read more about What Is Diamond Polish?
What Is Diamond Fluorescence? Some quality diamonds display a visible light when they are exposed to ultraviolet light. This light is known as fluorescence. Under most lighting conditions, a diamond's fluorescence is not visible to the naked eye. Read more about What Is Diamond Fluorescence?
Diamond Care Depending on the setting, you can soak your diamond engagement and wedding rings for up to 30 minutes in a solution of dishwashing liquid and water. Prong or cathedral settings are the best for this. Pave and basket settings are more likely to allow your precious gems to come loose, and soaking can speed this process along. Read more about Diamond Care
How to Choose the Perfect Diamond? The happiest occasions of our lives are often those which are capped by the giving of something precious; whether a diploma for the excited grad, or a certificate of thanks for a job well done, or some other item of value. When it comes to events of a highly personal nature, jewelry is the right gift especially in the form of a diamond ring suitable to mark an engagement, wedding, or an anniversary. Read more about How to Choose the Perfect Diamond?