From explanation above and the sample prices, the 2 diamonds with same size, same clarity grade but
one is D color($20,900) and another one is G color($12,400). The D color diamond is almost 70%
more expensive than the G color diamond. Both of them will be the same looking by face up view.
So if you want to spend less money but you can get the diamond look like the more expensive one,
I would recommend the G color. But if you want to keep the best quality diamond and you don’t mind
to pay more then I recommend the D color because it is more rare and also keeping diamonds as
investment, most people would prefer the D color diamond.
CLARITY:
- FL and IF – are no inclusions and much more expensive than the other clarity grades. They are also very rare to find.
- From the clarity chart above; VVS1, VVS2, VS1, and VS2 are no eye-visible inclusions except VS2, but very rare to get VS2 as eye-visible inclusions. Even SI1 and SI2 are also often no eye-visible inclusions.
| Diamond prices from Rapaport (Nov 25, 2011)
-1 carat, D color, IF: $28,900/carat
-1 carat, D color, VVS1: $20,900/carat -1 carat, D color, VVS2: $18,400/carat -1 carat, D color, VS1: $14,300/carat -1 carat, D color, VS2: $11,900/carat -1 carat, D color, SI1: $8,400/carat |
Same idea as I explain in color grade, in this case the 2 diamonds with all factors are same but
clarity grade are different "1 ct, D color, VVS1 ($20,900)” is 75% more expensive than "1 ct,
D color, VS2 ($11,900).”
If you don’t mind to get diamonds with some inclusions just no eye-visible inclusions then
I would recommend VS1 or VS2 because these clarity grades are a lot lower price than
VVS1 or VVS2 as you can see from sample diamond prices above.
Actually the diamonds with SI1 are also common to be no eye-visible inclusions you can also
choose this grade for lower price.
As the D color is the best and the rarest color grade, the FL and IF are the best and the rarest
clarity grades, so these grades are better idea for somebody who want the best diamonds and
also using as investment. |
CUT:
- The cut is the factor that easily effect to the beauty of diamonds. As a retail buyer you can usually know the quality of the diamond cut from the lab report. Many lab reports today will mention the cut grade as excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor.
- From picture above you can see the different of beauty in diamonds with varies cut grades. Normally I would recommend excellent or very good cut grade because the cut grade fair and poor are easily to see the less beauty in diamonds.
- If you are going to choose the good cut grade diamonds, keep in mind that one level of the grade is the range you may get high level in good cut grade diamond which is almost to be very good cut grade or if you choose the wrong one you may get the low level in good cut grade which is nearly to be the fair cut grade.
- In rapaport, you will not see the price related to the cut grades. The diamond dealers do set the higher price for better cut grades.
- If you don’t have experience in judging the cut grade and you are going to buy diamonds without the certificate, there is an easy way to find out the cut grade by filling the diamond proportions (table size%, crown angle, total depth%, etc.) in the program GIA FACETWARE in www.diamondcut.gia.edu it is free. Then you will get the cut grade from the program.
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CARAT WEIGHT:
Samples of "magic sizes”:
- half carat
- three-quarter carat
- one carat
- 1.50 carats
- 2.00 carats
- 3.00 carats, etc.
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CARAT: The unit of measurement for gem weight. One carat equals 1/5 of a gram (0.2 g.)
POINT: 1/100 of a carat (0.01 ct.)
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Some example diamond prices from Rapaport (Nov 25, 2011)
1. D, VVS1, 0.99 ct price per carat is $13,500, total price = $13,365
2. D, VVS1, 1.00 ct price per carat is $20,900, total price = $20,900
3. D, VVS1, 1.49 cts price per carat is $20,900, total price = $31,141
4. D, VVS1, 1.50 cts price per carat is $25,900, total price = $38,850
5. D, VVS1, 1.99 cts price per carat is $25,900, total price = $51,541
6. D, VVS1, 2.00 cts price per carat is $40,000, total price = $80,000
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From the sample prices above;
- the diamond no. 1 (0.99 ct) and no. 2 (1.00 ct) are almost the same size but the no. 2 is almost 55% more expensive than the no. 1
- No. 4 is about 24% more expensive than no. 3
- No. 6 is about 55% more expensive than no. 5
Understanding how the magic sizes related to prices can help you choose the lower price diamonds with similar looking in size.
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CONCLUSION:
In each 4 Cs, theslightly different in some grades can cause big different in prices. There are many diamonds in the market look almost the same but very huge different in prices.
Understanding the 4 Cs and the diamond prices system can help you choose the best diamond that matches your desire.
These are the two example diamonds with almost the same looking to unaided eyes:
1. Diamond 1.00 ct, D,VVS1 total price is $20,900
2. Diamond 0.99 ct, G,VS1 total price is $ 7,128
(the prices base on Rapaport 25 Nov, 2011)
In case of you want to spend less money the no. 2 diamond is the better choice but if you want the better quality diamond I would recommend the no. 1
The questions you can ask yourself before choosing diamonds:
- Who would you buy a diamond for?
- How much do you have the budget for a diamond?
- Do you want the best color grade or just colorless in face-up view to most people eyes?
- Do you want the best clarity grade or just no eye-visible inclusions to most people eyes?
- Do you want the excellent, very good, or good cut grade?
Besides choosing diamonds for you, knowing these information can also protect yourself from overprice or misleading words from some sale persons.
For example: The sale person says "This is the 1 carat G color diamond ring.”
- You have to be sure the 1 carat is for the only one piece of diamond or 1 carat of many diamonds in the ring (total gems weight) together.
- What is the clarity grade and cut grade for the G color diamond in the ring? Don’t forget, the other Cs can cause a big different in diamond prices.
Finally, if you have any more questions you can ask us in this blog or "contact us.” We would be honor to answer your questions.
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