Most diamond buyers know about the 4 C’s when purchasing a diamond. The traditional method of evaluating diamonds was established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in 1957: Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat weight.
We'd like to introduce you to 6 more C’s when evaluating diamonds. Crystallinity, Country of Origin, Charisma, Care and Cost when deciding to purchase diamonds.
Crystallinity is the quality of the gem including the treatment, transparency, internal and external brilliance. No two diamonds are alike. Each diamond is unique. Even if a diamond has all the same characteristics, a lot of the time they will look different because of the crystallinity variable. A diamond can look milky or more brilliant compared to a diamond with the exactly the same Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight.
Country of Origin is about focusing on where the stone comes from. With conflict diamonds being a concern, it's important to know how and where the stone was found. Diamonds that have cache from where or how they are mined is important to many consumers. For example, Canadian white diamonds and Austrailian pink diamonds have a strong presence in the marketplace cause both those countries are known for coming from peaceful countries with conflict-free mining practices.
Charisma (in regards to diamonds) is essentially either the provenance, or history, of a gem or an "It" factor of a gem-a gem's wow factor. It can be different for anyone. It can be the outline shape, it can be from who used to wear it, or the combination of the the C's.
Care is essential. It's important how you take care of diamond. A 1 carat D Flawless compared to a 1 Carat D I1 can and should be taken care of differently. We suggest to keep a 1 carat D I in a safety deposit box and not wear it. Or you can buy insurance on it for sure if you decide to wear it.
Cost matters when buying a diamond. It's important to know your budget before looking at stones. Make a personal decision on what options are available to you. Rather than shop based on the 4C's. We think it's important to shop based on a comfortable budget, and to then see the options.
Knowledge is power when purchasing stones. We are here to help you learn so you can find the best jewelry for your needs.
