For a good reason, diamonds are indeed a girl’s best friend. Choosing the best diamond within your budget can be a daunting task. You want to get the most out of your money, but you don’t want to sacrifice quality.
While there are numerous aspects to consider when shopping for diamonds, knowing where to start is vital. Here’s a quick guide on how to choose the best diamond for your budget:
1. Know The Types Of Diamond
Diamonds are the most famous gemstone of all time, and it’s easy to see why. They’re beautiful, hard, and durable and they never lose their sparkle. Here are the two basic types of diamonds:
- Natural Diamonds: These diamonds have been formed for millions of years under extreme heat and pressure deep within the Earth’s crust. The process begins with carbon atoms subjected to high temperatures and pressures over millions of years until they form diamond crystals.
- Lab Grown Diamonds: Lab grown diamond is artificial, but it’s very similar to natural ones. These diamonds are made by placing carbon under high heat and pressure until it forms into a diamond crystal. They have the same chemical composition and physical properties. This means they’re cut in different shapes and sizes to suit different styles, just like their natural counterparts.
2. Understand The 4C’s
The 4C’s of a diamond are the four characteristics that affect the value of a diamond. They’re the cut, color, clarity, and carat. These four characteristics have been used for years to determine the value of a diamond.
- Cut: The cut refers to the shape and proportions of a diamond. The cut affects how light is refracted through the diamond and helps determine its sparkle. There are many different types of cuts you can choose from. The most popular diamond cuts are round, oval, princess, and pear.
- Color: The color of a diamond refers to how light is absorbed by it. When a diamond absorbs no light, it appears white. As a diamond absorbs more light, it appears darker in color with shades of yellow, brown, or grey. A perfectly clear diamond will appear colorless, but this is very rare and expensive because only 1 in 10 million diamonds are considered flawless.
- Clarity: The clarity grading of a diamond refers to how flawless a stone appears. A flawless diamond will be free of any blemishes or imperfections that would otherwise reduce its beauty and make it less valuable than other stones with higher clarity ratings. Clarity can also refer to internal imperfections such as fractures that may affect the value of a particular stone.
- Carat: Carats have been used to measure the weight of diamonds since ancient times. A carat is equal to 0.2 grams, according to the International Gem Society (IGS). A diamond with a weight of 1 carat weighs 0.2 grams, while a 2-carat diamond weighs 0.4 grams, a 3-carat diamond weighs 0.6 grams, and so on.
Each of these attributes plays an essential role in the overall value of the diamond. So, it’s important to know what each one means when shopping for a gemstone you can use for an engagement ring.
3. Set A Budget
When choosing the best diamond, it’s essential to set a budget. If you have a limited budget, you may want to consider buying a smaller diamond. A smaller diamond can last for decades and still be beautiful.
Knowing how much money you can spend on a diamond is important before you begin shopping. Setting a budget will help you narrow down your search for diamonds that meet your desire and budget. If budget is not an issue, you’ll have more options for choosing a high-quality diamond. You can choose from larger diamonds that’ll last longer and look better over time.
4. Certification
Choosing a diamond that fits your budget is important, but ensuring it’s certified is even more essential. There are several things to remember when buying diamonds, and certification is one of the biggest factors to consider.
Diamond certification is an assessment of the quality and authenticity of a diamond. Diamond certificates are issued by independent and trusted organizations and are used by retailers and consumers to determine the value of a diamond.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it—a list of tips for choosing the best diamond for your budget. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but they don’t have to break the bank. With this information, you’ll be able to choose a diamond that fits your budget and style.
