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 Diamond
Education |
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Before you start diamond
shopping, you want to have an understanding of what you're
buying. This guide simplifies the four Cs of diamonds — cut,
color, clarity, and carat weight, so you can select your diamond
based on the same criteria jewelers use to grade them. After
reading through this guide, you'll be ready to choose the
diamond that's right for you.
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Shape
It's fairly common to confuse
a diamond's cut with its shape. The cut describes a
diamond's light performance, dimensions and finish. Shape
refers to the overall outline of the diamond when viewed
from the top. Round is far and away the most popular diamond
shape, followed by squared shapes such as princess, Asscher,
and emerald.
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Cut
The cut of a diamond has the
most effect on its sparkle, or brilliance. Even if the
diamond has perfect color and clarity, a poor cut can make a
diamond look dull. Learn how to choose
the right diamond cut with the most brilliance for your
budget.
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Color
Diamonds with very little
color are the most highly valued and are priced accordingly.
A little color can diminish a diamond's brilliance. To help
you choose the most brilliant diamond with no color
noticeable to the unaided eye. read
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Clarity
Diamonds with few flaws, or
inclusions,
are very rare and highly valued. Clarity is graded based on
the number, location, size, and type of the inclusions found
in a diamond. Learn how to choose the right grade of clarity
for your diamond.
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Carat
Weight
The weight of a diamond is
measured in carats. Since larger diamonds are more rare than
smaller diamonds, diamond value tends to rise exponentially
with carat weight. Read more about carat weight and learn
how to balance diamond quality with the size of your
diamond.
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Care
Many people think diamonds are
indestructible, but they do require care. Read how to keep
your diamond sparkling, and securely set in your ring.
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~ photo courtesy of
Tonesha Housen
Diamond Education courtesy of Blue Nile
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