Summary: Buying antique or estate jewelry? Remember the four Cs: cut, color, clarity and carat weight and be aware of two more: cost & credibility, to be sure you're getting an antique, not just used jewelry.
When buying antique or estate jewelry, it's important to keep track of the four Cs (cut, color, clarity and carat weight ). But you've also got to know whether you're buying an actual antique or simply an estate piece. So let's add two more Cs: cost and credibility.
Cut: Cut is one of the most important considerations when buying a diamond. The way in which a gemstone is cut affects its appearance and its durability - as well as its value. Diamonds are generally cut into shapes that best accentuate clarity and brilliance. Most common shapes for diamonds are brilliant (round), baguette, marquise, oval, pear and princess (square) cuts.
Color: Diamonds range in color grades starting from D and moving straight through the alphabet to Z. While many diamonds may appear to be white (colorless), they may in fact contain traces of other elements (aside from carbon), which impart slight yellow or brown tinges. D-color diamonds are extremely rare and highly valuable. Stones as far along the scale as G are still largely clear; but the further you get from D, the deeper the coloration.
Some diamonds occur naturally in what are termed "fancy" colors: blues, bright yellows, greens, pinks and even vivid reds. These diamonds are extremely rare and are considered highly valuable.
Clarity: Clarity refers to the size and amount of inclusions in a diamond. Most are merely traces of carbon that didn't crystallize during formation, undetectable by the naked eye. The average consumer would need a microscope (and a considerable period of scrutiny) to see them.
The more inclusions in a diamond, the greater the interference with light dispersion; this diminishes the brilliance of the gem. Large or numerous inclusions will also decrease a stone's value. The converse is also true: The fewer or smaller the inclusions, the more valuable the diamond.
Diamonds are rated by clarity under 10x magnification. Diamonds rated IF contain only external flaws, which may be removed by additional polishing. Inclusions in VVS1- and VVS2-rated diamonds are "very, very slight." VS1- and VS2-rated diamonds have "very slight" inclusions. The inclusions in SI1- and SI2-rated stones are "slight"; and the I1- I2- and I3-rated stones have imperfections large enough to be visible to the unaided eye.
Carat Weight: Diamonds are measured in carats; this measurement refers to weight - not size, shape or diameter. One carat may be divided into units of 100 points; therefore, a 3/4-carat diamond is described as being 75 points or 0.75 carat. The larger the diamond, the more expensive it is, per carat; a single 1-carat diamond will cost more than two half-carat diamonds.
Cost & Credibility: The higher the quality of your chosen diamond, the more it is worth. But don't assume you're getting a valuable diamond because you're paying a lot. That's where credibility factors in. By credibility, we mean, "Are you buying this diamond from a reputable dealer?" and "Are you actually getting what the dealer says you're getting?" Is this ring being represented as an "antique" when it's actually "estate" jewelry (a fancy term for pre-owned)? The best way to know for sure is to know your jeweler. To ensure you get the best jewelry for your buying dollar, from a reputable dealer with years of experience, visit Estate Diamond Jewelry. All they do is estate and antique jewelry.
When buying antique or estate jewelry, it's important to keep track of the four Cs (cut, color, clarity and carat weight ). But you've also got to know whether you're buying an actual antique or simply an estate piece. So let's add two more Cs: cost and credibility.
Cut: Cut is one of the most important considerations when buying a diamond. The way in which a gemstone is cut affects its appearance and its durability - as well as its value. Diamonds are generally cut into shapes that best accentuate clarity and brilliance. Most common shapes for diamonds are brilliant (round), baguette, marquise, oval, pear and princess (square) cuts.
Color: Diamonds range in color grades starting from D and moving straight through the alphabet to Z. While many diamonds may appear to be white (colorless), they may in fact contain traces of other elements (aside from carbon), which impart slight yellow or brown tinges. D-color diamonds are extremely rare and highly valuable. Stones as far along the scale as G are still largely clear; but the further you get from D, the deeper the coloration.
Some diamonds occur naturally in what are termed "fancy" colors: blues, bright yellows, greens, pinks and even vivid reds. These diamonds are extremely rare and are considered highly valuable.
Clarity: Clarity refers to the size and amount of inclusions in a diamond. Most are merely traces of carbon that didn't crystallize during formation, undetectable by the naked eye. The average consumer would need a microscope (and a considerable period of scrutiny) to see them.
The more inclusions in a diamond, the greater the interference with light dispersion; this diminishes the brilliance of the gem. Large or numerous inclusions will also decrease a stone's value. The converse is also true: The fewer or smaller the inclusions, the more valuable the diamond.
Diamonds are rated by clarity under 10x magnification. Diamonds rated IF contain only external flaws, which may be removed by additional polishing. Inclusions in VVS1- and VVS2-rated diamonds are "very, very slight." VS1- and VS2-rated diamonds have "very slight" inclusions. The inclusions in SI1- and SI2-rated stones are "slight"; and the I1- I2- and I3-rated stones have imperfections large enough to be visible to the unaided eye.
Carat Weight: Diamonds are measured in carats; this measurement refers to weight - not size, shape or diameter. One carat may be divided into units of 100 points; therefore, a 3/4-carat diamond is described as being 75 points or 0.75 carat. The larger the diamond, the more expensive it is, per carat; a single 1-carat diamond will cost more than two half-carat diamonds.
Cost & Credibility: The higher the quality of your chosen diamond, the more it is worth. But don't assume you're getting a valuable diamond because you're paying a lot. That's where credibility factors in. By credibility, we mean, "Are you buying this diamond from a reputable dealer?" and "Are you actually getting what the dealer says you're getting?" Is this ring being represented as an "antique" when it's actually "estate" jewelry (a fancy term for pre-owned)? The best way to know for sure is to know your jeweler. To ensure you get the best jewelry for your buying dollar, from a reputable dealer with years of experience, visit Estate Diamond Jewelry. All they do is estate and antique jewelry.
About the Author:
For more information about Cushion Cut Diamonds go to EstateDiamondJewelry.com. We offer a complete selection of Antique Diamond Jewelry.
No comments:
Post a Comment