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High Quality Diamond Pendant Jewelry - Save Money and Get Great Quality With These 4 Keys

By: Mary Kay Jones


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Okay, so you've got this special event approaching such as a birthday, anniversary, or Christmas and you desire to get the wonderful girl in your life a gift? Jewelry has always been a great option with diamond pendant jewelry being the perfect choice. So you head to the department store looking for the ideal one. The customer service clerk brings you over to the jewelry case and unveils to you the inventory. All of the designs look like superb options but the prices range from very little to very costly.

Question...which one will you pick? It may look okay to you but is it top notch quality? And just because you're willing to lay down $499, is the diamond caliber worth it? And what about the metal casing that holds the diamonds and the necklace that may come with it? Is it silver, gold, platinum, or something else?

These are all good questions. And clearly the answers to those questions not only influence the cost of the diamond pendant jewelry but they also play a big part in the jewelry you choose. So to help you find the premium piece of jewelry for your special gal AND your checking account, here are 3 things to look for in high quality diamond pendant jewelry.

First you need to know the 4 Cs of diamonds which are carat weight, color, clarity, and cut. And the good news is that a degree in gemology isn't necessary to find out what you need to know about the 4 Cs either. Check for these things in each category.

o Carat weight is essentially the weight of the gem. In the olden days the weight was figured using carob seeds. A one carat stone was equal to one carob seed in weight. The rest is broken down fractionally from there but don't worry, you don't need to be a math whiz. Just look at a diamond in relation to a dollar bill. A one carat diamond is equal to one dollar. .5 carat is like 50 cents and a 1/4 carat or .25 carats is like a quarter. Of course you can have a 4 carat...and that's just plain one huge rock.
o Color simply relates the color of the diamond. Opposite of popular belief, there are multiple colors to a diamond and the Gemologist Institute of America (G.I.A.) came up with a range to identify those colors. It goes from D-Z. There is even a Z+ for complex colors like the Hope Diamond...but since that price far exceeds what most can afford to pay, we'll save that instruction for another time. The optimal color range is D-F, the most brilliant of diamonds as they are void of any color. The next group down the list is G-J. And while G and H are identified as fine white, they are an exquisite color to have in a diamond. I and J are on the lower end of the colorless scale and where you begin to get a hint of yellow. And from K through Z the color quality goes downhill. When buying high quality diamonds, it's best to at least stay in the G and H range for color.
o Clarity simply put is the amount of flaws or defects in a diamond. How many lines or cracks does it have? Are there any black spots? Does it have any pits, inclusions, or fractures? And this only covers a few of the potential defects a diamond can have. The GIA came up with a grading guide for clarity as well that covers 6 categories. F is flawless, IF is internally flawless, VVS1 & VVS2 indicate small inclusions but they can't be seen unless you use 10X plus magnification on a microscope, VS1 & VS2 is still tiny inclusions but easier to see using a microscope, SI1 & SI2 for slightly included and easily seen inclusions under a microscope, and I1, I2, and I3 depicted as imperfect and while not advisable for a wedding ring works well for earrings or pendants since the flaws are not that easily seen.
o Cut refers to more than the form of the diamond. In fact it covers a multitude of details in comparison to the other Cs and actually may be the most significant factor in the price paid when purchasing high quality diamonds. Cut refers more to the ratios and finishes of the stone, angles and evenness of the facets, cutlet size, girdle thickness, and surface polishing. All of these issues will be the greatest indicator of the diamond's shine AND cost. Don't minimize this component simply because it is at the end of this list.

When looking at buying high quality diamonds you need keep in mind the 4 Cs to help you determine the best diamond for the price you're willing to pay. Apply them in this order of significance: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight and you'll never be guessing again if the rock you purchased was worth it.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

This guide will help you find high quality diamond pendant jewelry such as this diamond floating heart pendant. This is a gorgeous pendant that any lady would love plus it provides the high quality diamond grades identified by the 4Cs. To learn more about this piece go to www.squidoo.com/diamondfloatingheartpendant.

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