After deciding on your budget, the next step is to decide on the diamond shape. The majority of diamond engagement rings today are set with round cut. However, there are other shapes that are equally as beautiful. Budget conscious shoppers should consider fancy shapes because they tend to be less expensive than round cut diamonds. Also, while a round, brilliant-cut diamond is popular as it exhibits maximum brilliance, the round stone normally looks smaller than diamonds of other shapes that are of equal carat weight.
Use the links below to view different shapes of a 1-carat diamond set in a classic solitaire ring.
Round Cut
Princess Cut
Radiant Cut
Emerald Cut
Oval Shape
Marquise Cut
Pear Shape
Cushion Cut
Choose your diamond size
The diamond’s carat refers to the diamond’s weight. The carat weight of a diamond is the unit mass of the diamond. Since larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds, the diamond's value rises with carat weight. Diamonds are priced on a per carat basis and the cost increases significantly when it reaches the full carat mark and for each carat thereafter. So if you choose a 95 point diamond (0.95ct), the difference in size between it and a full carat diamond would be insignificant, but you'll enjoy a big savings in cost. Furthermore, the carat weight alone does not accurately reflect a diamond’s size, it is important to consider the carat weight along with the diamond’s measurements and cut grade. For example, the diamond weight could be hide in the base of the diamond (pavilion) and by that diamond will look smaller seeing it from the top. To make sure that the weight of the diamond is distributed correctly it’s very important to choose the right cut. Since we look at the face-up of the diamond it will be easier to see the right cut using the measurements of the diamond.
Size 1
Size 2
Size 3
Size 4
Choose your diamond cut
The cut refers to the angles and proportions of the diamond – so it’s not the shape of the diamond, but how well that shape was executed. A high quality cut (comprised of balanced proportions, perfect angles, symmetrical facets and well polished surface) enhances the innate beauty of a diamond and increases its value. Simply put, the better the cut, the more brilliant and beautiful the diamond is. The Very Good and Good cut grades offer great quality stones at a more reasonable price as compared to the Ideal/Excellent cut grade diamonds. Tiffany Jones Designs offer the largest selection of ideal cut diamonds. We do not carry diamonds with cut grades lower than fair, which are generally either too shallow or too deep to present an acceptable amount of brilliance.
Choose your diamond color
Color measures the degree to which a diamond lacks color. Color grading for white diamonds involves deciding how closely a stone's color approaches colorlessness. If you are looking at buying a round brilliant diamond, color grades F – I will provide good value for money. But if you are looking at buying a fancy shaped diamond such as a marquise, pear or princess (in which color is highlighted in the corners) or emerald cut diamond (in which color and clarity are more pronounced), choose from higher color grades E - H.
Choose your diamond clarity
The term clarity refers to the purity of the diamond. Because diamonds are created by nature with millions of years of intense heat and pressure, imperfections or "inclusions" are often formed in the process. The Very Slightly Included (VS1, VS2) and Slightly Included (SI1, SI2) grades represent stones that have a fine balance of quality and cost, making these stones a value for money purchase. A common term in the diamond business is “eye-clean” or “clean to the naked-eye”. This refers to a diamond that has no inclusions visible to the unaided eye. They are of excellent value, as they are significantly less expensive than diamonds of IF or FL grade but do not contain visible inclusions that detract from the beauty of the diamond. Clarity Enhanced Diamond also considers being “eye-clean”, the process that applied on diamonds simply make the inclusion that in the diamond less visible to the naked eye.
Get more for your money?
One of the biggest clarity enhanced diamond advantages are the size, it give you the opportunity to get a 50% larger diamond without compromising on quality. For example:
After deciding on your budget, the next step is to decide on the diamond shape. The majority of diamond engagement rings today are set with round cut. However, there are other shapes that are equally as beautiful. Budget conscious shoppers should consider fancy shapes because they tend to be less expensive than round cut diamonds. Also, while a round, brilliant-cut diamond is popular as it exhibits maximum brilliance, the round stone normally looks smaller than diamonds of other shapes that are of equal carat weight.
The diamond’s carat refers to the diamond’s weight.
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