You will not. You need to be an expert and use specialised equipment to make sure a diamond is real. Do not trust ideas like scratching a beer bottle (it may damage the diamond too), thermal conductivity, looking through, comparing weight, etc. If the diamond is accompanied by a certificate, you will know it is real and if it is treated artificially or not.
Round brilliant diamond has the most brilliance, and the most popular. Fancy diamonds look more elegant in larger sizes. Also, they tend to look larger than they are by virtue of their shape. The choice of shape is also governed by the shape of the hand and Diamond Colour and Diamond Clarity. Round brilliant diamond hides defects and yellow tints the best.
Most clients have a vague idea of what kind of item they are looking. It’s our job at Vees Star Diamonds and Jewelry to help our clients refine the image they may have of their dream jewelry.
OK; now that I know the terminology, what are the more important factors? The first six terms describe the geometry of the diamond. Fire and sparkle are variable characteristics that are determined by the proportions of the diamond. Modifying proportions to increase one may decrease the other! Look for a good balance of fire and sparkle. Fluorescence occurs naturally and synthetically. It is not common, so jewellers will try to command a higher price. In general, it does not change the value of the stone, but severe fluorescence gives stones an oily appearance in sunlight, and decreases its value. Naturals if not severe are not bad. Small feathers are common. Any crack that extends more than 1/3 of the way through the stone may cause structural problems.
A. On a brilliant full-cut stone, there are 58 facets; 32 facets plus the table above the girdle and 24 facets plus the culet below the girdle. Some stones with only 18 facets are refered to as “single cuts”.
The four C’s are Carat (weight), Colour, Clarity and Cut of the stone.
“Carats” represent the weight and not the physical size of the stone.Example, 1 carat diamond is physically larger than a 1 carat ruby since ruby is denser than diamond./li>
| GIA | AGS | CLARITY |
| FL | 0 | Flawless |
| IF | 1 | Internally Flawless |
| VVS1 | 1 | Very, Very slightly included |
| VVS2 | 2 | VVS1 to a less perfect degree |
| VS1 | 3 | Very slightly included |
| VS2 | 4 | VS1 to a less perfect degree |
| SI1 | 5 | Slightly included |
| SI2 | 6 | SI1 to a less perfect degree |
| I1 | 7-8 | 7-8 Included |
| I2 | 8-9 | I1 to a less perfect degree |
| I3 | 9-10 | Severely Included |
Inclusions are imperfections within the stone. Inclusions range from bits of carbon (black spots) to slight cracks (called “feathers”) within the stone. VVS1 to SI2 represent inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye.
The most desirable colour of the diamond is white. The Colour scale ranges from D to Z, where D is the whitest of the white and hence most expensive. However, colours between E to H are regarded as very white, and you cannot make out the difference in colour once a diamond is set. However, diamond colour becomes more obvious as in larger size diamonds, or in shapes other than the round brilliant. For instance, the Asscher and the emerald cuts are more see-through with large facets, and require a higher colour and clarity than other shapes. Colour is something that can be discerned with the naked eye with practice (such as looking at the engagement ring everyday. Hence, it is advisable to buy as white a diamond as you can afford in your carat range, in an eye clean or better clarity. If a diamond has slight blue fluorescence, it could render your H or J colour whiter. Also, if the stone is very well cut, it makes both the clarity and colour look better. Clarity is not a factor you can judge only by looking at the diamond under magnification. Step cut diamond shapes like emerald and Asscher cuts require a higher quality of colour and clarity as they have large see-through facets which make it easy to see any imperfections.
In India, Colour takes precedence over Cut. The order or priority for most Indian customers if Colour -> Cut -> Clarity. In Southern India, where most customers are particular about dosham (defects), clarity is the most important consideration in selecting a diamond. Here, the order of priority is Clarity -> Colour -> Cut. However, if a customer asks for a recommendation, Vees Star always advices them to prioritize Clarity / Cut and Colour . This is because diamonds up to S1 grade are “eye clean”. The inclusions are visible only under the loupe to a trained eye, and does not make any difference to the way the diamond looks.
No. They are different. The real “cut” as it is referred to deals with the quality of the final product in terms of its maximising the return of light.Four shapes of diamonds are the most popular: Round (or brilliant), Emerald, Marquis and Pear.
The “Ideal Cut” is a cut based on a specific set of proportions for a round brilliant diamond, proposed by gem cutter Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. While Tolkowsky’s original theories presented only one particular combination of proportions for creating the best balance of brilliance and dispersion, today the American Gemological Society recognizes any diamond falling within a narrow range of proportions and finish quality as being an “Ideal Cut” (also called an “AGS 0” or “AGS triple zero”). Essentially, the larger the table, the greater the brilliance at the expense of fire. A generally termed ideal cut will have a table percentage between 53% and 57% and a depth or height of 58% to 60%. Expect to pay 15%-20% more for an ideal cut stone. Avoid stones with table percentages above 70% or depths over 64% or under 57%.
Avoid the following flaws:
Yes. Well, you can tell if a stone is poorly cut by looking for the following:
One good way to see how well a stone is cut is to view it straight down on the table. The table and the four corners form a “square shape”. On well-cut stones, the sides of the square will bow in “slightly”. Sides that bow out are not ideal. A slight inward bowing may be tough to detect, so consider a seemingly perfect square to be a decent cut. Severely bowed in squares are also undesirable.
The most common is the round brilliant cut. It reflects more light back from the table, accounting for the beauty of the diamond. Due to the facets or sides, inclusions (defects) are tougher to see. Some prefer the pear or marquis. The emerald cut is less common in sizes less than 1 carat. The value of the stone is affected in some cases by shape. Shapes other than round are called “Fancies.”
A. The best shape of diamond for a ring depends on: 1. Personal preference 2. Desired brilliance (round brilliant cut has the most) 3. Weight (Fancies look more elegant in large sizes) 4. How big you want it to look (Fancies tend to look larger than white diamonds) 5. Shape and size of hand (experiment to find what is most flattering) 6. Colour and clarity of diamond (round brilliant cut hides defects and yellow tints best).
Small round diamonds are more common, easier to cut, and easier to sell than fancies. About 75 per cent of the diamonds sold in the world are round brilliant cut diamonds! For larger stones, rounds are in higher demand and the supply is limited. The only exception is the large marquis, which is can cost as much as or more than the round brilliant.
Both settings will usually work best with a diamond, though platinum is usually a little more expensive. Because platinum is a comparatively less used metal , your diamond will be safer under both the setting. The cost of platinum is about four times that of gold, but People think in comparison to the price of the ring, the difference is not much. However, if you have a very clean, good diamond, then both can make it stand out, depending on the quality of making. Gold , if used with the right alloy , can make the stone stand out . Yet, in the same situation, if you had a poorly alloyed gold setting, the gold might make the diamond look more yellow than it really is, which is not desirable. If you are looking at grades D-G and IF – VVS2, both may be a better choice.
In a brilliant cut,
Fancy colored diamonds are called Z+ diamonds. These Z+ diamonds are the rarest hence the most expensive Z+ is more expensive than D s. Yellow and pink diamonds are the most commonly sought after fancy colours, and most likely will continue to be for years to come. Of late, there has been an increased demand for orange, blue, and green coloured diamonds. As they are rare in nature, supplies are limited, and demand can shift price.
Retail pricing is generally set by observing the prices of the competition, but prices depend on several factors:
Remember that:
Should we judge the clarity of a fancy colour diamond the same way we do the clarity of a white diamond? In a white diamond, clarity can make or break the stone, and VS clarity is usually ideal. For fancy colour diamonds, clarity is not the most important factor. A fancy colour diamond that is graded SI is still what is known as “eye clean,” meaning that inclusions cannot be seen with the untrained, naked eye. Additionally, small pinpoints or feathers do not usually affect fancy colours due to the deeper colouring of the diamond. Fancy diamonds of VS or better clarity are more uncommon in nature and therefore command a greater price. Tip: If you cannot easily find inclusions under a 10 times magnification you should become suspicious; most likely it is not a real diamond. However, be aware of the fact that some gas bubbles in cubic zirconium may appear like inclusions if you do not look carefully.
A secondary undertone that enhances the color of a diamond is a plus. A secondary that detracts from the color is a negative. For instance:
The predominant hue is always expressed as a noun, such as “pink.” Any secondary colors will precede the primary hue and are usually expressed with an “ish” at the end, such as purplish pink. This means that the primary hue of the diamond is pink with some hints of purple throughout. If the grade is stated as two nouns—like “brown pink,” it means the two colors are virtually even throughout the diamond.
In coloured diamonds, the inclusions are often crystals that exhibit much the same colour as the diamonds. To the untrained eye, these crystals blend right in with a diamond’s colour and can create the appearance of more brilliance.
Champagne diamonds with a secondary pink colour are popular. When faced up, these stones display light to bold flashes of pink in their fire. Champagne diamonds are not as expensive as white diamonds. They are available in a sparkling range of champagne tones, from light to dark champagne and fancy cognac.
The bow tie effect, visible to the naked eye, is often observed in marquise, oval, pear and some heart-shaped diamonds. The bow tie looks like two triangular dark shapes joined at a point in the centre of the stone. It is caused by variations in the pavilion facet angles that are longer than wider. If prominent, it is considered a negative factor. In a well-cut diamond its appearance should be minimal or absent and certainly not a distraction.
Cubic Zirconia stones are a man-made diamond simulants with optical characteristics very close to natural diamonds. On the mohs scale of 1-10 for hardness, a CZ is 8.5 – 8.9, while a diamond is 10. Sand or dirt will not scratch a CZ or a diamond, but CZs and diamonds will both scratch glass. A CZ weighs more than a diamond, and this is a principal way to tell them apart.
Real diamonds have been created naturally through intense levels of heat and pressure deep within the ground. All natural diamonds are thought to be between 70 million and 3 billion years old. They are mined, cut and polished by highly skilled craftsmen, and are not otherwise tampered with. Synthetic or ‘cultured’ diamonds are created in the laboratory. All synthetic or ‘cultured’ diamonds must legally be declared as such. Vees Star offers only real and natural diamonds.
There exists an illegal trade in diamonds in several parts of the world, and the money is used to fund conflicts (war and other outrages). These diamonds are called conflict diamonds or blood diamonds. Vees Star is vehemently opposed to this trade in every form. We strive to assure that every diamond we sell is ‘conflict-free’.
All diamonds used in our ‘Create Your Diamond Ring’ items are accompanied by their original and unique diamond certificate. Certification for items in our ‘Diamond Jewellery Collection’ depends on the size and quantity of the diamonds contained in the item.e do, of course, assure that all our diamonds are real, natural and “conflict-free”.
Use the search option on Vees Star that searches for loose diamonds and fill in your preferred budget details. You will get a range of stones that you can sort by size. Alternately, you can first enter the size of diamond you were considering (in case you do not want to buy anything less than a carat, for instance).You can choose your diamonds from Vees Star Colossal collection if the size does matter to you. Sort the search results to see which diamond in this size suits your budget.
Since diamonds are a natural substance, most come with some small internal flaws or inclusions that are like their defining characteristics, similar to birth marks. Completely flawless diamonds are extremely rare, and usually found only with collectors. For a good idea of the inclusions in a diamond, examine its certificate for a description of these. You need to have an idea of how the clarity of a diamond is measured, to understand the relative impact of black inclusions. For instance, diamond inclusions can be characterized as Slight, Very very slight etc. Visit the section on diamond clarity, for a better understanding of this.
Yes. Buying with a certificate means that your diamond has the credentials to be recognized worldwide as a valuable item. Resale values of diamonds drop drastically when unaccompanied by a certificate. Also, a certificate makes you sure about the authenticity and purity of your diamond.
A diamond certificate is a sealed laminated document containing the vital data about the diamond, at least its carat-weight, color, clarity and cut. Any one holding the diamond can submit it for certification. It contains all the characteristics of the stone that will make up its value. Certificates do not contain any information regarding the monetary value of a diamond. Diamond certificates are granted for a fee by laboratories or gemology institutes. The most important thing about these laboratories is the fact they are impartial in their examination. This ensures the stone will get the true grade if the grader sees fit to give it. The types of certificates that are used widely in the industry are :
The point here is , self certified certs are an added complimentary service from a family jeweler where as the 3rd party certs may turn very expensive . The customer , if ready to spend , can take a call on this.
My honest answer: You can NOT!
Once an initial concept has been agreed upon we require approximately three to four weeks to have a finished product.
Here are my buying tips:
Changes can be made throughout the process, that why working with a CAD is so helpful. We can tailor the design until we’re happy with the overall picture and then start the metal work.
Everything at Vees Star Diamonds and Jewelry is made on the premises. Nothing is ever sent out. So rest assured, your family heirlooms are safe with us.
At Vees Star Diamonds and Jewelry anything is possible. We can create an item in any style that suits your taste.
Most rings, earrings and necklaces can be scaled up or down in size based on the budget.
There’s nothing that says you have to only use precious stones like diamonds or rubies in your design. Plenty of semi-precious stones, such as amethysts and peridots, can and have been worked into pieces in the past. Even stones like rose quartz or turquoise can be worked in. What matters is what they mean to you.
Copyright and trademark laws prohibit us from using specific symbols and designs in our custom jewelry. That being said, if there is some particular piece of media or popular culture that helped bring you and your future spouse together, we can certainly take inspiration from that without duplicating something already existing.