Diamonds: What are Certified Diamonds

A diamond is definitely a woman's best friend! And it's also the most elusive. But before you make that important purchase, there are loads of things you need to delve into. These sparkling objects have been the center of attention and envy for years. And even today, diamonds enjoy a high social status amongst the privileged few.

Few things to consider before you buy a diamond:

Shape:
There are eight cuts of the diamond; the round shape being the most popular. Apart from the round shape, the emerald, pear, oval, marquise, princess, heart and trillion are also available. There are always trendy new shapes being promoted by leading jewelry designers. But it is often seen that 95% of the hot selling designs always make use of the round shaped diamonds.

Color:
A diamond is most valuable when it is practically colorless. Most often, diamonds have subtle color changes. This factor may not necessarily be determinable by the naked eye. Most diamonds appear white and the diamond's color is measured in terms of the degree of colorlessness it offers.

Cut:
The manner in which a diamond may be cut also adds to the price of a diamond. The cut of the diamond also defines the amount of light that will reflect and refract from the piece. If the cut of the diamond is too shallow or too deep, it allows a lot of light to escape from the other areas. A well cut diamond will add to the fiery sparkle of a diamond. To maximize this effect, the diamond cutter has to have accurate geometric calculations.

Carat Weight:
The carat weight determines the value of the diamond. The higher the carat, the higher is the price of the diamond. Carat refers to the weight and not to the size of the diamond. A diamond of 1 carat would differ from a 1carat sapphire.

Clarity:
Every diamond has certain inclusions for e.g. clouds, lines etc. A flawless diamond is said to have no inclusions within it. Inclusions are traces of the leftover carbon on the diamond. The fewer the number of these imperfections, the better the value of the diamond which also appears "cleaner" to the eye or loupe. This will in turn enhance the brilliance of the light passing through the diamond.

Certification:
One must always ensure that the diamonds purchased are always certified. It is obligatory for your jeweler to always give you a certificate with your purchase. This certificate originates from an independent testing library. The certificate must contain the measurements, weight, color, inclusions, polish, symmetry and such other detailed information about the diamonds. This also gives you the assurance that the diamond has undergone a professional examination. A certificate gives you the guarantee that your purchase is authentic. The professional team evaluates, measure and examines the diamond using the jeweler's loupe, microscope and their own expert knowledge. A diamond grading report gives you that stamp of approval to make the purchase as it provides a true and accurate statement of the characteristics of the diamond.

So unless you are an expert on the subject of diamonds, my advice to you, would always remain, to go in for certified diamonds so that you get what you are paying for. Ensure this sparkling, fiery piece tells a true story.