It’s hot, hot, hot. Summer is a great time to shop for diamonds. When looking to add a little sparkle to your outfit, first check out the four C’s of shopping for diamonds:
Cut
A diamond’s cut is not the same thing as its shape (such as a pear-shaped or round-shaped diamond). A cut refers to a diamond’s reflective quality. A fine cut gives a diamond greater brilliance because it reflects more light. It is determined by the angles on the surface of the diamond.
Clarity
Clarity is a measure of the visibility, number and size of flaws on and in a diamond. If the flaws are inside the diamond, they are called inclusions. If they are on the outside, they are called blemishes. Inclusions can be small cracks, air bubbles, or other minerals in the diamond. Blemishes may be scratches or small chips. To determine clarity, diamonds are magnified and rated from flawless to included 3, signifying the number and visibility of flaws inside the diamond.
Color
Color refers to the presence or absence of color in a diamond. Colorless diamonds refract more light, while off-white diamonds absorb some light and are less brilliant. So, the whiter or more transparent a diamond, the more valuable.
Carat
The carat is the weight of the diamond. One carat equals 200 milligrams, or 1/5th of a gram (0.2 gram). Diamonds range from a fraction of a carat to several carats.
All of our Best Collateral locations have a variety of diamond items, including tennis bracelets, stud earrings, engagement rings, men’s and women’s rings, and wedding bands.