Quality and price of diamonds:
So, you've decided to give the woman in your life a diamond ring as a symbol of your commitment and love. Or perhaps you want to buy yourself a precious stone as a reward after years of hard work or maybe you just want to make a statement.
This sparkling piece of jewellery can be quite pricey.
It can cost you a few months' worth or a lifetime of savings. Therefore, a word of advice from the experts: Don't be pressured into spending more than you can afford. Before you hit the shops, it's highly recommended that you orientate yourself with the factors that affect the value of a diamond.
This way, you will have an idea of what kind of diamond ring to look for, and what specific piece will suit your budget.
The quality and price of a diamond is primarily determined by four Cs: cut, carat, clarity and colour.
Iyad Almadi, in charge of the Damas boutique in Dubai Mall, says the carat alone or the colour, cut or clarity does not determine the value of a diamond.
It is the interrelationship of the four Cs that sets the final price.
"The first thing you have to do is set the budget. For example you set aside Dh30,000 to buy a diamond. You can go for one carat with a good colour, say H, and a higher clarity grade like VS (very slightly included). If you want a higher carat size for the same budget, you can go for 1.5, but go for lower colour and clarity grades. Another option is to go for less than a carat, but you can get a higher colour grade," adds Almadi.
Cut determines the brilliance of a diamond. It refers to the shape, polish and proportions of each piece. How a diamond is cut determines the amount of light that will be reflected on the facets. The most expensive cut is the round brilliant, which has 57 to 58 facets and is very popular among jewellery lovers.
"The second most popular is the princess or square cut ... [similar to] the round brilliant diamond, the princess cut has 53 to 57 facets. Some people prefer this instead of the round one. There are other cuts like the radiant, oval, baguette, heart and many more," says Almadi.
Another factor to consider is the colour of the diamond which can typically range from colourless or white to light yellow. They're represented by letters starting from D to Z. The most sought-after and expensive diamond is the one in the colourless category, which starts at D and runs to I. "Normally, those in the D to F bracket are the most pricey. Starting from G, the price gets lower, but you really can't see the difference in colour through your naked eyes," Almadi explains.
She adds: "You need to use some special tools to see the difference. But if there's a huge gap in the colour grade, say you compare D colour with N colour, you will be able to see the difference because N belongs to what they call very light yellow grade."
Another factor that affects the price point is clarity, or the purity, size and number of inclusions and external imperfections that a diamond has. The highly priced pieces are those that are clear and free from blemishes and inclusions, as they create more brilliance. They are categorized in different grades that come with symbols like ‘F' for flawless, ‘IF' for internally flawless and VVS1 for very very slightly included #1), among many others.
"The F grade is the most expensive because of its quality. One of the least expensive you can find in the market could be the SI or slightly included, which is good if you're looking for a small diamond. The good thing is, the inclusions in this type of diamond are not really visible through your naked eyes, yet you can pay a lower price for this," Almadi explains.
Carat refers to the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. If you choose a higher carat, you are likely to pay a higher price, but the other Cs have to be taken into account as well.
— Cleofe Maceda, Staff Reporter
