by Michael Crane
Diamonds are a must for engagement rings, but choosing the right diamond is not as simple as picking something sparkly. Diamonds have four levels of quality known as the four c's. These are carat, cut, color and clarity. The consequent quality and how much you will pay for a diamond are based upon these features, which will in turn determine the absolute payment you will make for the engagement ring.
The American Gem Society (AGS) uses one system of grading to authorize the level of the stone's quality which are determined by specialized appraisers, and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has a different scale. Both assign grades to almost all of the characteristics of a diamond - cut, color and clarity. The AGS uses grades on a 0 to 10 scale. Lower numbers signify a higher grade of diamond. The flawless diamond would have three grades of 0 in addition to a high number for the carats which measure weight. GIA scales for color are from D to Z, clarity commencing from FL to I3 while cut is rated between poor and excellent. Many jewelers make use of either or both of the grading systems.
Both color and quality are characteristics that develop naturally within diamonds. The less color a diamond has, the lower the figure it is graded with, but for engagement rings yellow or pink diamonds are growing in their commonality. Completely colorless diamonds are given a 0 grade by the AGS scale, but the GIA's scale has letter rankings with D as a colorless diamond progressing up the alphabet to Z with deeply hued diamonds.
The clarity of a diamond refers to the quantity of marks that exist within the rock. Which also go by the name of inclusions. The quantity of these and how visible they are in the stone reflect on the diamonds GIA and AGS grades. The eleven alpha-numeric ratings for clarity used by the GIA list those diamonds as best which are FL (flawless), VVS1 (very, very slight inclusion), VVS2, VS1 (very slight inclusion), VS2, S1 (slight inclusion), S2, I1(inclusion), I2, and I3. Like the other scales used by the AGS, the grading system for clarity starts from 0 to 10 with 0 indicating a flawless rock and 10 one with many imperfections.
There are several different diamond cuts out there, but not like the color and clarity, the cut reflects directly on the skill of the artisan cutter. Since many styles of cut exist, you'll find three quality rankings for a cut diamond by the GIA to rate the stone's cut: total light if the diamond manifests (brilliance), sparkle (scintillation), along with light dispersion (fire). These comprise the the most accessible grade from the GIA: excellent, very good, good, and poor. The AGS uses a grade from 0 to 10 with 0 the best and 10 a poorly cut stone.
The diamond's carat in an engagement ring is a unit for measuring the weight of the stone. Most engagement ring diamonds weigh lower than one carat that equates to 0.2 grams. This weight is across the board hence despite which rating system the jeweler uses, the carat weight will not change. In many cases, the bigger the diamond, the more expensive the finished engagement ring will be.
Smaller diamonds can be used set in an engagement ring if accompanied by other gemstones. The preferences of the woman wearing the ring should drive your decision as diamonds might be a girl's best friend, but a few ladies care for them on their engagement ring far more than others.
This article was written by Michael Crane whom is a gem connoisseur and former lawyer. He manages an austin jewelry store where he consults clients with one of the most vital decisions in their life.
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