Buying & Preserving Diamond Jewellery 101

By Author: Desai
Total Articles: 41
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Diamonds are a luxury, and considering how much diamond jewellery costs, it’s best to stay informed on the best practices pertaining to it – mainly buying and preserving it. While most people struggle with how to buy diamonds – price, clarity, brand etc., we’re here to help you break down the 4C Guide to buying jewellery and how you can care for them thereafter. Since we don’t buy diamond jewellery everyday, it’s best to save this for when you really need it!
The 4C Guide
So, what does the 4C Guide mean? The 4 Cs stand for
Cut
Colour
Clarity
Carat
Cut
One of the most important factors to consider when buying the best diamond jewellery is the cut of the diamond. The cut of the diamond determines the brilliance of the diamond and in a nutshell, the cut will decide how much it will sparkle, this means that the better the cut, the sparklier the diamond. If you have a budget decided, then you should opt for the best cut grade within that budget for the best diamond buying experience. When a diamond is well-cut, light enters the diamond from the table ...
... and travels to its pavilion. This will create the illusion of the diamond shining from within and reflecting light back to you. A poorly cut diamond will give the illusion of light leaking from the bottom and sides of it. It may even seem dull, even if the colour grade and clarity are top-notch. Hence, picking the best cut is the best bet.
Colour
The second most important factor while picking a diamond is the colour of the diamond. Colourless diamonds, in its essence, are the best diamonds because they allow maximum refraction of light, so the more colourless the diamond is, the better bet it is. With colourless diamonds, diamond jewellery designs stand out too, but depending on the pattern, coloured diamonds can be opted for as well. Colours of diamonds are graded on a scale of D to Z. Diamonds that fall between D and F grade are colourless and diamonds that fall between G and J are almost colourless.
Clarity
Almost all diamonds have flaws that are a product of their formation process. You will rarely find a “perfect diamond”. These flaws, the size of the flaw and how visible it is determine the clarity of a diamond. The imperfections on a diamond are sometimes called inclusions. The diamonds that have the smallest and least inclusions are the highest clarity grade diamonds. The best way to pick the diamond in this case is to go for an eye-clean diamond, which means that you cannot see inclusions with the naked eye.
Carat
The most commonly misunderstood aspect of a diamond is the carat. Most people believe that the carat is the size of the diamond, but in actuality, it is a measure of the diamond’s weight. One carat of a diamond is 1/5th of a gram. Having said that, when you buy a diamond, don’t consider its size because bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. A diamond with a superior cut, clarity and colour which is smaller is definitely better than a larger one with less-superior clarity, cut and colour.
Caring for your Diamonds
Since diamonds are one of the most precious stones in the world, they deserve to be tended to with care and caution. If not cared for well, they can lose their radiance. Here’s how you can easily but effectively care for your diamonds:
Professional cleaning
It’s very common for dust to accumulate in the edges of your diamond jewellery that cannot be cleaned at home. For this reason, professional cleaning is advisable. They use advanced technological machines like steam cleaners, agents, ultrasonic cleaners which helps eliminate the build-up of dirt easily.
Prevent scratches
Diamonds are very susceptible to scratches which means it’s important to preserve diamonds in designated jewellery boxes. While traveling too, it’s important to carry them in single boxes to keep them intact and avoid them coming in contact with anything that might damage them.
Cleaning at home
If you feel like professional cleaning is expensive then you can regularly clean your diamond jewellery at home using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a mild, non-abrasive cleaner. Use some warm water to make a fine lather and soak them for some time before scrubbing them gently to get rid of accumulated dirt and retain its natural shine.