| HOW MANY CARATS IS THAT PUPPY? |
| We’ve all seen this interaction before. A young bride runs into someone she hasn’t seen for a while wearing an impressive “rock” on her finger – the discovery is made – jaws drop – hugs for everyone – maybe, a few squeals of delight – excitement and joy abounds – then the questions come – when did it happen – who is he – let me take a closer look at that ring again – then, “How many carats is that puppy?” |
| The diamond is pretty, she is glowing, and the moment is brilliant. However, the size of the ring alone does not make for a magnificent stone and depending on your budget, personality, and individual priorities as a couple of what’s most important – taking into consideration what the industry has dubbed The Four C’s (Color, Cut, Clarity, Carat) when searching for an engagement ring has just as much power and potential to make the jaws drop, light up her face, and keep the moment brilliant. |
| Hopefully, you will find all the answers to your questions on the matter of size and clarity here. If not, check out our Cut and Shape Guide and if you have any further questions or would like to Schedule an In-Store Consultation to come and see the jewelery yourself, come into the store or send us an email and we’ll get back to you. But, be sure to take a look at our selection of one of a kind, hand crafted, engagement rings that The Noble Jewelers have made available in our Online Store. |
| 1. COLOR |
| With the exception of “fancy colored diamonds”, the more colorless a diamond is, the more valuable it is. Jewelers grade diamonds on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow.) |
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| If you are looking for a very high quality stone, and are prepared to pay the extra, then colors D-F are for you. If you are only concerned with how noticeable the color will be then D-J will be fine. |
| 2. CUT |
| The way a diamond is faceted determines how much light reflects from it. The quality of a diamond cut significantly alters how much sparkle a diamond has, and therefore how beautiful your Engagement Ring is. You can sometimes compromise on Diamond Color or Diamond Clarity but it rarely makes sense to compromise on diamond cut. |
| The Diagram below shows why well cut diamonds sparkle extra enchantingly. All the light is reflected back through the top of the diamond. |
| If a diamond is cut too shallowly then light will escape through the base of the diamond and if it is cut too deeply it will exit via the sides. However, when cut just perfectly most of the light will be reflected through the table at the person looking at the diamond. Diamonds with Excellent or Very Good cut grades are at the top of the sparkle chart because of this. |
| Cut is graded Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. Generally you should seek an Excellent to Very Good Diamond. |
| In a well-cut diamond light enters the diamond and reflects straight back to the viewer’s eye. And all the faces, angles, and dimensions are symmetrical and in the appropriate dimensions. Some cutters will sacrifice cut to create the largest possible diamond, thus making too shallow or too deep of a cut and causing light to “leak” out of the sides of the diamond. |
| The diagram below shows why well cut diamonds sparkle more brilliantly. All the light is reflected back through the top (or table) of the diamond. |
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| Cut can be something very difficult for a layperson to evaluate, which is why it is important to an AGS Certificate or a GIA certificate verifying the quality of your diamond. |
| 3. CLARITY |
| Diamonds frequently have inclusions, or small flaws, air bubbles, scratches, or other minerals inside of them. The most beautiful and valuable diamonds are the ones with the least inclusions. |
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| Stones that are VVS2 to F are very rare and thus very expensive. Most couples opt for a stone between S12 and VS1, and will never notice the difference. |
| 4. CARAT |
| This refers to the size or weight of the stone. 1ct = 200 milligrams. While some value carat above all, others prefer a small ring regardless of budget. If you’re buying a ring as a surprise for someone, consider how flashy their other jewelry is. If they’re not someone who wears a lot of designer labels or big jewelry, perhaps you’ll want to opt for a smaller stone. Ideally, you’ll be able to try on a variety of sizes within your budget to see which size looks best on you or your love, prior to coming to finding that perfect piece for your special occasion. |
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| This concludes the Size and Clarity guide section for our site. Hopefully we have answered all of your questions. If not, please feel free to contact us. For answers to you Cut and Shape questions please click here. Otherwise: |
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