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Discount Diamond Jewelry

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Discount Diamond Jewelry

High quality diamonds are a rare and beautiful thing. Diamonds come in many different shapes, sizes, colors, and clarity and can range in price from under one hundred dollars to millions of dollars depending on the quality of the color, cut, clarity, and on the size of the stone. The size of a diamond, measured in weight or carat, is a major factor in the value and rarity of the stone but the other elements of quality are equally important. A large stone with a poor cut may be valued considerably less than a smaller stone of high quality. Discount diamond jewelry generally consists of lesser quality diamonds but it doesn't mean that the jewelry isn't still beautiful.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) along with other organizations have established their own grading systems for the purpose of adding a value to each stone sold on the commercial market. GIA has established a system, that is commonly used by jewelry stores, called the 4Cs, which represent the cut, color, clarity, and carat weight of each diamond. The carat weight of a diamond is represented by points a one carat diamond is the equivelent of 100 points.

How the Quality of a Diamond is Determined

The 4Cs of Diamonds

The Carat, Color, Cut, and Clarity of diamonds are graded differently by the major institutions including the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the American Gemological Society (AGS), the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL), and the International Gemological Laboratory (IG"). The 4Cs of diamond grading represent the system used by GIA.

The cut of diamonds not only represents its shape but also the number of facets it has, the depth of the cut and other factors that affect the stones brilliance and ability to refract entering light back out the top of the diamond.

The color of diamonds varies from nearly colorless to yellow or brown to bright or intense yellows and browns.

The carat weight of a diamond is representative of its size which is measured in points where 100 points represents a one carat diamond and 1 point is 1/100th of a carat. Smaller diamonds, under 10 points, are often referred to a chips by consumers but even in discount diamond jewelry they are faceted stones. Some smaller diamonds are single cut meaning they possess fewer facets than the larger diamonds.

The clarity of diamonds represents its lack of inclusions that impair its brilliance. A cloudy diamond or one with natural inclusions is less expensive than diamonds with no inclusions. The degree of inclusions is determined by a skilled gemologist through the use of a 10 power magnifier. Many professionals will begin their examination of the clarity with a larger power scope to locate any impurities and then use a 10 power scope to determine if the imperfections are still visible.

The Gemological Institute of American

Diamond Grading System Explained

This is a fabulous video by GIA describing their process of grading diamonds.

The Quality of Diamonds: In Discount Diamond Jewelry

Jewelry Doesn't Have to be Expensive to be Beautiful

While the size of a diamond has no bearing on its quality, it is common for smaller stones to be of less quality because the imperfections are more difficult for the naked eye to see do to the small size. In discount diamond jewelry you will likely find a cluster of smaller diamonds that are of lesser quality but give the illusion of a single but larger and nicer looking diamond.

Unless you are in the market for an engagement ring, the idea of spending less but getting more stones is quite desirable to many consumers.