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The Diamond You Choose Could Become An Heirloom

By: Nick Messe


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The decision to buy a diamond ring is a huge one. The commitment that you are making is enormous, and you want it to be the perfect symbol of that commitment. Getting the right ring, one that could possibly become an heirloom in your family, and be passed down through the generations, is a big decision. You need some knowledge and forethought prior to making your choice.

Getting help, if you are not familiar with with diamonds and jewelry, is the first order of business. One of the best methods to learn about gemstones and settings is the jeweler or gemologist. Online information and articles are also great means of getting educated about what constitutes the best diamonds, and where you can buy them. There are also some basic terms that you need to be familiar with when selecting that special stone.

The carat is a unit of weight that is used only for precious gems, and because diamonds are heavy, the more mass it has the more carat it has. The color scale for diamonds is a letter scale that moves from the letter D down to the letter Z. D coloration is the most desired white diamond, while Z stones are the most yellow in color. Diamonds which are yellower in color will typically cost less, while the closer to the D scale that a diamond is, the whiter, more reflective, and more costly it will be.

The price of a diamond is significantly affected by the cut of the stone. Two exact diamonds with the same weight, the same clarity and the same color may differ in pricing several times over simply because of the cut. A good cut makes the eye see a diamond as larger, more perfect, with more color and brilliance. So the more skillful the cut, the more valuable the diamond.

The most traditional setting is the solitaire diamond, which is one diamond, set singly in the center. There may also be diamond accents or gemstone accents that surround and enhance the stone. Make sure that the prongs are tightly set around the stone and that each one is sturdy and well set on the ring. There are many other settings as well, such as several stones in a row, or a cluster of gems.

The clarity of a diamond is how clear it looks when you look directly into it. There is a scale for clarity as well as for color and it ranges from flawless all the way to imperfect. Needless to say you will want to get a diamond that is as close to flawless as you can afford, especially if the goal is to see your diamond become an heirloom some day. A diamond that is imperfect will show some fluctuations in clarity and may have what looks like small floaters inside it.

The diamond certificate, which is sometimes called a grading report, is a complete evaluation of your diamond. Using special instrumentation, the certification of your diamond is done by a professional gemologist. The stones unique characteristics, color, cut, and clarity, are much like a fingerprint. All these attributes are listed on the certificate so that you know what you paid for.

A good rule of thumb is to spend about a months salary to get a ring that will make your prospective mate proud. Alternatively, simply buy the best diamond you can afford. With diamonds, the sky is the limit, but going overboard is not a sensible thing to do either. Keep in mind that a single, sparkling stone, in a classic setting, could be heirloom material.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Nick Messe is president of Lead Frog LLC. When searching for the perfect Chicago anniversary ring or any other piece of diamond jewelry be sure to check out Albert's Diamond Jewelers - engagement rings, wedding rings, anniversary rings, diamond jewelry for all occasions.

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