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Diamonds
Since our inventory changes so often, there are no
loose diamonds listed. However we always have an extensive
inventory of rounds, princess cuts, emerald cuts, ovals,
marquise and pears on hand. We pick and choose very
carefully selecting only those stones that meet our
strict criteria spelled out below so that our customers
are assured of a product they will like and at the same
time is price competitive. Contact us or one of many
jewelers near you that carry or have our inventory at
their disposal.
Important Aspects of a Diamond
The cut, color, clarity and carat weight of a diamond
are known around the world as the four C's. The combination
of these four characteristics is what determines a stones
beauty, desirability and value. When deciding what combination
of the four C's is most important, you must keep in
mind one thing . Light and its interaction with a diamond
is what allows a stones fire, brilliance and overall
beauty to be revealed.
The largest factor that deals directly with light is
the cut of a diamond. Cut is not just the outline or
shape of a stone but its proportions. The basic idea
of a well cut diamond is to collect light so that it
will reflect and disperse it back through the top of
the stone to the viewers eye in the form of brilliance,
fire and scintillation.

A poorly cut diamond will allow most of
the collected light to leak out the bottom or sides,
resulting in a stone that may not look its size and
has a dull and lifeless appearance. While cut may not
be the most obvious of the characteristics to see in
detail it is the one thing that can be most noticed
and appreciated to the untrained eye.
The Color of a diamond is the next factor that determines
a stones desirability. A basic "A" to "Z"
scale is used to grade a diamond and give a representation
of the stones depth of color and to determine how noticeable
it is. A "D" color diamond is the highest
on the scale, and displays no color were as a "Z"
colored stone displays light yellow or brownish tone
and saturation.
Color grades are generally referred to in groups such
as D to F (colorless), (G to J) near colorless and the
K grade and beyond is considered to be (faint, very
light and light yellow). Generally stones in the near
colorless or better range are more desirable for jewelry
where the color actually enhances the brightness of
the stone. On the other end of the scale past the Z
grade or any color other than yellow or brown lies the
fancy colors. These color diamonds can be almost any
color and range from yellows to blues, red and pinks
to name a few. Fancy color diamonds are rare and more
expensive that stones in the normal color range.
The clarity of a diamond is the next factor that determines
the value and beauty of a stone. The clarity characteristics
of a diamond can range in a variety of different ways.
It is important to remember that diamond is a mineral
formed deep in the earth under extreme heat and pressure,
and what nature has left internally are the result.
They can range from trapped crystals to growth marks
and breaks in the stone. Like color, the clarity of
a stone is also graded on a scale and that grade affects
the value and beauty of a diamond. This scale ranges
from flawless to included.
A diamond may have been assigned a clarity grade by
someone, but this often does not tell the complete story.
A clarity grade is made up of separate factors. These
include the size of the flaw or flaws, the number of
them and color of the characteristics. Their location
in the stone, how visible they are and if they pose
any danger to the diamond are also considered when determining
a final clarity grade. So selecting a diamond solely
on the basis of what is printed on a piece of paper
should never be a substitute for examining the diamond
with your own eyes.
The final C is of course carat weight, which is probably
the most visible factor to see in considering the value
of a diamond. The Carat system is a weight not just
a measurement, and like pennies to a dollar there are
one hundred points in a carat. This is important again
when looking at the cut of a diamond. A stone could
weigh one carat but because it is poorly cut the stone
may look much smaller or much larger than it should
but neither will have the sparkle and brilliance of
a well proportioned stone. Diamonds are valued based
on demand and their rarity. Larger stones are much more
rare than smaller ones, so the per carat price of a
large stone is more than the per carat price of a small
stone of the same quality.
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