What is an ‘eye clean’ diamond?
Being ‘eye clean’ affects the clarity and quality of a diamond, which will alter the price of any stone. If a diamond is ‘eye clean’ it does not visually show any inclusions or blemishes on the surface or interior when viewed with the naked eye. The diamond may feature an impurity, but it may only be visible with the use of a microscope.
The clarity of a diamond is one of the 4 Cs – Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat - because it is one of the fundamental attributes to knowing how to judge a diamond. Clarity becomes especially important if impurities are noticeable to the naked eye in diamond jewellery or engagement rings.
Clarity refers to the level of inclusions such as scratches, blemishes, pockets of air and non-diamond material inside or on the surface of a diamond. Fewer or less obvious inclusions make diamonds rarer and more highly valued.
What imperfections can a diamond have?
Any rough diamond can suffer from interior or surface imperfections, known as inclusions or blemishes. Inclusions may be crystals of a foreign material or another diamond crystal, or the presence of structural imperfections such as tiny cracks that appear cloudy or white. Cracks are often known as fracture lines, needles or feathers depending on the mark they leave or their cause. Internal crystals or marks can appear as singular ‘pinpoints’ or as clusters known as ‘clouds’.
The low-down on diamond inclusions
Feather Inclusion - Photo courtesy of A.G.S.L
Everybody wants the perfect diamond! Unfortunately, it is extremely rare to find a diamond which does not exhibit any imperfections. Diamond inclusions are characteristics which exist inside a stone. They are most commonly referred to as flaws, because their presence creates a diamond which is not perfect. Perfect diamonds are available, but at a high price. Many of us will look at purchasing diamonds with varying types or numbers of both external and internal flaws.
Inclusions are often described to be like fingerprints, unique features which provide a unique signature. It is important to get familiar with your diamond, both inside and out, to personalise the gem, to help you identify and describe the gem, and to assess the gem’s clarity and value.
Inclusions may be crystals of a foreign material or another diamond crystal, or the prescence of structural imperfections such as tiny cracks that appear cloudy or white. The size, number, colour, relative location, orientation, and visibility of inclusions can all affect the relative clarity of a diamond. A clarity grade is assigned based on the overall appearance of the stone under 10x magnification.
Choosing a Diamond: Size v.s Quality
The term ‘rock’ is commonly used to describe a diamond of a significant size, and so along with this our intrigue over big stones has grown. Its a popular word when describing celebrity engagement rings, as their status goes hand in hand with the size of the diamond they present for their loved one. Its all very well drooling over the latest big diamond in the celebrity world, but in the real world, does size really matter?
Size and Quality
Most have a realistic budget that they work towards when they are looking to purchase a diamond, and so ‘rocks’ for the majority of people are not always practical. It is also important to remember, however, that the value of a diamond is based on the well-known ‘4 C’s’, which includes the specifics of the quality of the diamond and indeed the size as well. Furthermore, diamonds of a large carat size may not be practical for everybody during day-to-day wear, or they may just not suit your taste, and so in this option the quality is the main focus in your search.
What are the differences between diamond grading labs?
Consumers need to be aware that there are variations between different diamond labs when making a diamond purchase. Although many reputable jewellers offer uncertified diamonds with their own brand name or appraisal included, ideally a diamond should come with a grading report from a well known and reputable lab.
Most diamonds sold come with a diamond certificate or grading report which authenticate a diamond’s attributes. These reports will include features such as cut, shape, carat, colour, clarity, dimensions, etc.
There are many different diamond grading laboratories, but no across the board standards so different labs can produce different reports for the same stone.
Several renowned grading agencies in the United States and Europe have high reputations and different levels of standards:
- Gemological Institute of America (GIA): The foremost authority on diamonds. They set the standard for accuracy in grading diamonds particularly based on colour and clarity. Labs from all over the world commonly use GIA master set stones to compare colours and clarity grades when they're uncertain on a grading.
10 Steps to Choosing the Perfect Engagement Ring
Deciding on the perfect engagement ring to give to your intended is extremely challenging if you don’t know where to start. Here is a 10 step simple guide to choosing the right ring for her.
Before you start looking at jewellers
- 1) DECIDE ON A BUDGET AND KNOW HER SIZE
Your personal budget must be considered when purchasing a ring and it is better to do so before you start shopping around. It is conventionally suggested that you spend at least two months worth of your salary on a diamond engagement ring. Ring prices can begin modest, but can range quite high so you’ll need to weigh out your wallet size with her preferences. You should also make sure that at this point you have a measurement for the ring size. Read here if you want tips on finding it without her knowing!
Which Diamond Shape Will Suit Her?
So you're looking into finally getting your lady that diamond engagement ring she's been lusting after for ages, but there's so much choice that it's difficult to guess what she's going to like. Well, just like any other kind of fashion, the kind of diamond a woman prefers will most likely speak for her unique sense of style. In this article we'll explain to you the 10 main diamond shapes, a bit about their history, and what shape will suit her personality best!
Round Brilliant Diamonds for the Classic lady
Most commonly kn
own as brilliant or ‘Round Brilliant cut’ (RBC), this is the classic image of a diamond and suits a classic girl. The modern brilliant cut was born around 60 years ago - it is quite simply the best and most popular cut for diamonds. This refined shape accounts for over 75 per cent of diamonds sold today. Not all round diamonds were and are cut as Brilliants. To be a Brilliant a diamond requires 58-facets divided among its crown (top), girdle (middle-top) and pavilion (base). With a high standard cut, the consequence is a firing gem that shines with absolute brilliance.
It is easy to see why RBCs are by far the most popular diamond shape for engagement rings. Appearing clean, modern and simple it remains elegant, versatile and timeless, perfect for the classic lady who appreciates simplicity and sparkle.
10 Things To Know Before Buying a Diamond: Part One
Purchasing a diamond can seem quite daunting when confronted with all the terminology and specifications used in making a selection. However, you don’t need to be a diamond expert to make a confident and knowledgeable decision. In this article we will guide you through the 10 most important factors that you need to know in order to get the best diamond for your money. Part two will follow, here are the first five...
1. Carat Weight
Although it might seem the bigger the diamond the better, to get the best value for your money you’ll need to find a good balance between quality and size. Carat, one of the 4 C’s, is the unit of diamond weight. One carat is equal to 0.2 grams.
The carat weight will give you an idea of the size of your diamond, however twice the weight does not mean twice the size. This also works as a roundabout correlation for other diamond shapes. To get a better sense of how carat weight relates to diamond size take a look at our diamond sizing chart.
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