As much as you may think you know what you are doing, guessing your partner’s finger size is one of the hardest things to do. I personally never recommend a size for clients looking to surprise their partner. It is simply too difficult for anyone other than the wearer to determine the right size. You only need to be out by a fraction of a size and the whole ring needs to be resized again. An increase of one size usually equates to 1 mm in the circumference of the circle – which, if you are not familiar, is about the thickness of a credit card. If you do choose to try to pick the ring size without your partner, my general rule is to go for a standard size – for women, this is in the range of L to M. (In Australia, as well as Ireland and the UK, ring sizes are specified using an alphabetical scale.)
The ideal tactic, however, is to take your partner in for a fitting prior to the proposal. At the fitting, your partner can keep in mind the following tips to help you pick the perfect size:
Try to make sure your partner’s fingers are a comfortable room temperature. When our hands are hot, they can generally swell up, and can be as much as a ring-size larger. Likewise, when we are cold, our fingers shrink, which usually explains why a lot of people lose their rings around water activities when the water is cold. Making sure your partner’s hands aren’t too hot or too cold will help ensure the ring size is correct. (The best way to see how hot or cold your partner’s hands are to feel their fingertips.)
Work out whether your partner’s finger changes in size from one season to the other. Some people’s hands can change as much as a full size from summer to winter. One way to find out if your partner’s hand fluctuates with the seasons is to look at the rings, they may be wearing on one of their other fingers. One of their other rings feeling tighter than normal at the time of sizing is agood indication that their hands may be at the upper end of their sizing spectrum at that time.
If your partner’s hands do change significantly when they are hot or cold, try to choose a size that is in the middle. The aim here is to avoid a ring that will be uncomfortably tight in summer and one that is falling off in winter. If having the ring too loose is a worry, you may need to consider changing the shape of the ring – covered in this section.
When sizing a hand, you want to see the ring grip the finger a little. But the ring shouldn’t be so tight that it looks like a napkin ring squeezing the napkin and making it bunch up. This can really detract from the aesthetics of the ring. The second thing is that when you turn the ring, it should grip the finger slightly and then release. The ring gripping the finger and not releasing is a good sign that the ring is too tight. Likewise, if the ring spins without grabbing the finger at all, it is too loose. When trying to work out the perfect size, it is usually a good idea to go past the size you think you are, and then go back one (just to rule the incorrect size out).
Wide rings take up a lot more surface area on the finger and, there- fore, will generally feel about half to one size tighter than a standard ring. A standard ring is usually around 3mm wide. The store your partner is having their finger sized in should have a separate set of sizing rings for rings 5mm and wider. If choosing a wider ring design, this set should be used to ensure the ring size is correct.
Thin rings are usually around 2mm in width and will feel about half to one size looser. Getting the size wrong for a thin ring will mean it will tend to flop and spin around more – which is likely to be extremely annoying to your partner. This means you may need to have the ring a little tighter if the band is super fine.
This is one of the hardest hands to size, because the ring needs to be big enough to get over the knuckle, but not so big that it will flop around when it is on. The best thing you can do here is to make sure the ring is as tight as possible when it is going on over the knuckle. If this doesn’t solve the way it sits, you may need to consider having the ring shaped or choosing a hinged ring.
This is a technique for special cases where the resizing of the ring hasn’t helped the way it sits on your partner’s finger. Changing the shape of the ring involves flaring out the bottom corners of the ring. This will make the inside shape of the ring look like a triangle, with the flat part being on the bottom of the finger. The flat bottom then helps keep the ring upright. But don’t worry, the shape will hardly be noticeable from the top, but it will certainly make a difference to the way the ring feels and looks.
Rings with inside comfort fittings need a special set of sizing rings. While the comfort fit feels more comfortable, taking the inside edge of the ring out means there is less surface area to grip the finger. Depending on the width of the ring, the comfort fit can make the ring feel half a size looser compared to a flat bottom ring, so you will want to choose a size that is a little tighter.
The trick to sizing rings with a hollowed-out head is to go more on feel than the actual size. When you put on a ring with a hollowed out top, the top part of your knuckle fills the void, making it feel bigger than you imagine. The best way to pick the correct size is to choose the ring size on the normal ring sizing set that feels the most comfortable. The jeweller should then take that sizing ring into the workshop when they are ready to start the resize, cutting out only as
much as needed to create the same feel on the finger as the sizing ring that your partner tried on.
If some of the preceding options haven’t worked, or your partner has injured their finger badly in an accident, a hinged ring may be your only other option. Much like a hinged bangle, the ring needs to be crafted with a hinge that allows it to open and close. For a hinged ring, the hinge allows the ring to open only as much as needed to get over the knuckle. The hinge can then be closed and locked in. Crafting the hinged mechanism is incredibly difficult and time-consuming, so this is usually a last resort if all other options have failed.
Tips for taking off a ring.
A chiropractor once told me that before an adjustment I should wiggle my toes. The effect of this actually has nothing to do with your feet – it just forces you to take your mind off what is happening to another part of your body. I often see the same kind of distraction tactics with clients when they are trying to take off a ring that is a little too tight. It is often quite funny to watch – it almost appears as if they are trying to pull their whole knuckle off. Twisting and turning, holding their tongue to one side and jumping on one foot are all common techniques I have seen – and all of these will prob- ably hurt your finger more than help you remove your ring.
The first simple thing to do is relax. By relaxing you allow all the tendons and muscles in your finger to go down. The second step is to bend your finger slightly. This helps remove all the excess skin from the top of your knuckle, which tends to bunch up when you straighten your finger. The third step is to push up from the bottom of the ring with your thumb. Then, using your index finger on the top of the ring, gently rock it over your knuckle as you are pushing up with your thumb.
The ring only needs to be out a fraction of a size for it to have to be resized, but almost any ring can be sized up or down three sizes. So, although the chances of you getting the size spot-on without your partner are pretty slim, getting it more than three sizes out is even more unusual. My advice is to go for an average size – between L and M for women. If their hands and fingers are particularly small, maybe go down one size to K. Likewise, if you are worried that your partner won’t be able to get the ring on during the proposal, you might want to go a little bigger to be on the safe side. From a jeweller’s perspective, going down a few sizes is a little easier than going up.
If you have spoken about getting married, but still want to maintain as much surprise as possible, have your partner go to a local jewellery store to have their finger sized. Again, depending on when you plan on proposing, try to do this as early as possible, and give away as few details as possible, so as to maintain some element of surprise.
The only ring that will be helpful in determining the engagement ring finger size would be a ring that your partner wears on the ring finger on the other hand. (If you’re still unclear, this is the finger next to the pinkie finger on the right hand.) Never use a ring that your partner wears on their two main pointer fingers, because the size of these have no correlation to the ring finger on their left hand. For most people, the two ring fingers will only be about half a size different. If she is right-handed, the right hand is usually a half size bigger, so make sure you take off half a size. If the only ring you can find is a ring that she wears on one of the two middle fingers, just stick with the standard finger size option (between L and M for women).
You can contact the team via email here and we can arrange a complimentry ring sizer to be delivered to your home or workplace. You can also call the showroom on 07 32106288 or make an appointment to chat with one of our experts here.
Buying a moissanite ring has emerged as an option for lots of couples. The question is, should you? When it comes to diamonds, a diamond is a diamond, (whether it is a mined diamond or a created diamond) anything else is a simulant. Which means it is like but not the same thing. Stones like a white sapphire, Cubic Zirconia (CZ) or moissanite are all similar looking to a diamond, but as I go into in this article are quite different.
Whether a moissanite or another simulant is right for you will come done to many factors. For some price is considerable factor, however there are others that genuinely like the look of a moissanite.
What is Moissanite?
Moissanite was first discovered in 1893 by a French scientist named Henri Moissan, who later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He discovered the gemstone in a crater created by a meteorite that fell to Earth. He initially thought that he had discovered diamonds, but later determined that the crystals were composed of silicon carbide, which is different to diamonds that are made of carbon.
Are all Moissanite natural?
Natural moissanite is incredibly rare. The moissanite found in jewellery today is laboratory-created or referred to as synthetic moissanite. Moissanite is created to give the illusion of similarity to diamonds. However visually it is quite different from a real diamond. Most notably the durability, brilliance, and colour of the two gems are quite different.
Brilliance and Fire
We refer to the amount of white light coming out of a diamond as brilliance whereas fire or dispersion is seen as the blues, reds and yellows coming out of the gemstone. Interestingly moissanite shows both, but typically has more fire or dispersion than diamond. The visual effect of this is more rainbow flashes of light (or disco ball type look) than diamond. While some people find this appealing, the downside is that it can sometimes make the stone look artificial or unnatural.
Colour
Traditionally moissanites were identifiable by a characteristic yellow/greenish tinge, which are made significantly more visible when heated with a flame. Colours that were comparable to a J – M colour of diamonds. However today they come in a range of colours that are comparable to D-F or G – I colour of diamonds. Still, moissanite can change colour based on lighting and may not always look perfectly colourless.
Still, moissanite has been known to change colour based on lighting and may not always look perfectly colourless.
Clarity
Just like with diamonds, moissanite is graded for clarity. While they are created in laboratories, moissanites still have inclusions that are often visible with a magnification lens. Moissanites are graded on a similar scale to the one used by the GIA for grading diamonds.
However, it is important to note, that most moissanites will only come with a certificate issued by the manufacturer not an independent diamond grading laboratory like the GIA.
Since moissanites are artificial, unlike natural diamonds, it is very uncommon to see moissanites with a clarity grade below the VS level for sale.
Is a diamond more durable than moissanite?
Hardness
At the end of the day there is no stone that is as hard as a diamond. A diamond is a ten on the Mohs scale, diamond is well-known as the hardest material. Nothing but a diamond can scratch another diamond. While Moissanite has a hardness of 9.25 and is the second-hardest material used a gemstone, but it is destructible. Having a hard stone helps to ensure that the daily accidental bumps and scrapes that you hardly even notice, do not gouge, and scar the surface of your beautiful ring
Budget and Size for Moissanite vs. Diamond
The one big benefit of a moissanite ring is the cost. Which can play a significant factor when choosing an engagement ring for some couples. When comparing moissanite ring vs diamond ring, moissanite has a clear advantage in this aspect.
How much does a 1ct Moissanite cost?
Typically, a 1ct equivalent size moissanite stone will be under the $1000, depending on the colour, clarity, and manufacturer.
Disadvantages of Moissanite
Value – While diamonds do not meet any of the characteristics of an asset, other than an investment in your happiness, they still have a base value that is retained over the long term. Whereas there is no retained value in a moissanite.
Not a traditional diamond – diamonds have long been associated with engagement proposals. If you are considering using a moissanite in an engagement ring, it would be an innovative idea to have that discussion with your partner prior to proposing, to see if this is something important to them.
How to tell if your stone is a moissanite?
Doubling View of the facets in Moissanite. Unlike many other types of diamond simulant, moissanite displays an optical effect called double refraction. This means that when a light ray enters the gemstone, it is slowed down, bent, and split into two light rays. Which is different to a diamond which is singularly refractive.
The best way to observe this effect is to view the gemstone at an angle from the crown (bezel) facet. By bringing a ten times loupe and focusing on the culet through the bezel facet, you can check the gemstone for a “doubling facets” effect.
Will Moissanite show up on a diamond tester as a diamond?
No, most conventional diamond testers today will differentiate between a moissanite and a diamond. Most reputable jewellers will have one of these testers.
Whether or not a moissanite ring is the right stone for you will depend on your personal circumstances, and what is right for both of you. Sometimes a moissanite can be a great alternative for right now, and one that can be upgraded at some point in the future. At Xennox Diamonds we can make any of our engagement rings with a moissanite stone. We look forward to seeing you in our showroom for one of our design consultations, which you can book here.
Thinking about lab grown diamonds? This post will give you the most comprehensive deep dive into laboratory grown diamonds, giving you more knowledge than 90% of the sales people out there and making sure you are getting the best quality diamond.
Having been in the diamond industry for over 25 years, working as a diamond grader, gemmologist and valuer and owner of a diamond boutique, I can honestly say I really love diamonds. I am often asked questions about jewellery and gems, asking me to pick my favourite cut, colour, or stone and at the end of the day, I keep coming back to a diamond.
The questions I get asked more than most right now are all about lab grown diamonds; what exactly are they? Are they all created the same? Can you tell the difference, and most importantly should I consider buying one?
For me, whether it is a lab grown diamond or a mined diamond, I love both and either can be perfect for you depending on what you are looking for in your diamond. My wife wears both mined and lab grown diamonds and the origin for the stone has not been a contributing factor for me, but I understand for some it may be.
I am a big believer in arming yourself with all the correct information before deciding between lab grown diamond and mined diamonds and where to buy from. With the size of the diamond industry combined with the extensive amount of information on the internet, you might be finding it difficult to decipher what is correct and what is misinformation on created diamonds without the marketing agenda and spin.
The first time I came across a lab grown diamond, I must confess I was quite sceptical. One of my suppliers had sent me an amazing two-carat diamond to look at. As I normally do, I checked the diamond for myself so I could grade it based on my own valuation. I looked at the colour, clarity, and the precision of the cutting, and was soon satisfied that I was indeed looking at an amazing diamond – one that would make someone incredibly happy to wear for the next 50 years. I then looked at the paperwork, and the first thing that struck me was the price. It was significantly less than what I was expecting considering the quality of the stone. I quickly rang the supplier to see if the pricing was a mistake and discovered it wasn’t. It was just the mining cost making the significant price difference.
Can an expert tell the difference? Can you?
I recently put myself to the test, to check whether I could tell the difference between a lab grown diamond and a mined diamond. I sat down, a little cocky, as the gentleman across the table from me presented 10 stones. I simply had to sort these into lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds.
I started as I always do, picking up my loop and tweezers, as familiar to me as a pair of shoes that fit perfectly. Picking up the first diamond, I noticed a dark black inclusion on the edge of the stone. This looked like a familiar graphite inclusion that I had seen 1000 times of more. Easy first one, I thought. This obviously belongs in the mined diamond group. The second diamond I picked up was completely clean, so I placed the stone back on the table, gave it a wipe with the special microfibre diamond cloth, rotated the stone and picked it up again. (A widespread practice when assessing diamonds is to rotate the stone to make sure the orientation of the inclusion isn’t hiding due to the angles of light bouncing around inside the stone.) Still nothing? Well, this must be either an incredibly clean diamond, or it must be a lab growndiamond, I thought. So, it went in the created diamond category.
Over and over, I went through this exercise until all ten stones were sorted. Announcing I was finished to my counterpart across the table with a little smile on my face, he asked me if I was sure and happy with my selection. To which my confidence slipped a little and I nervously replied, ‘Well, let me just have one quicker look.’ Having satisfied my curiosity, I decided I was happy with my selection. ‘How did I do?’ I (still somewhat nervously) asked him.
The gentleman now seemed to know something he was reluctant to share. ‘Well, the thing is,’ he said somewhat apprehensively, ‘they are all lab grown diamonds.’
What? How is this possible? I thought.
Realising that the game was up, I decided to have a look at all the diamonds I had marked as mined, scrutinising them from every angle. I had to conclude that, without sophisticate laboratory equipment, there really was no way to tell the difference between lab grown diamonds and mined diamonds, even with a 10x times magnifying lens.
At first, I wasn’t sure whether I should be happy or upset that I couldn’t tell the difference; however, what I ended up taking from the experience was that my original prejudices around the origin of creation had absolutely nothing to do with how the diamond presented and performed.
Are created diamonds better?
How could something that is created in a lab be better than something produced ‘naturally’? Well, lab grown diamonds being as good as, or better, than mined diamonds may not be as far-fetched as you think. After all, advancements in technology are happening every year, and things were previously thought impossible are now normal. We are talking about travelling to Mars and 3D printing meat, just to name but a few such innovations. So why not creating high-quality diamonds?
Aren’t all diamonds created?
When you really think about it, all diamonds are created. Some are just created by the earth, and some are created by humans. The process used to make diamonds today is essentially replicating the conditions that occurred below the ground over millions of years.
Mined diamonds are a billion years old, whereas a lab grown diamond can be anywhere from one to three months old, depending on the size and quality of the stone.
Apart from the time factor, the only real difference is that one diamond is made below the ground and the other is made above the ground. Essentially, only the origin is different for each.
Natural versus synthetic
Interestingly, in 2020 the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) removed the word ‘natural’ when talking about a mined diamond. They argued it was impossible to have a synthetic element. We are either breathing oxygen right now or we aren’t, for example. The same goes with the carbon in a diamond – it is either carbon or it isn’t. A synthetic carbon simply doesn’t exist.
The other interesting point here is that most people can tell from a considerable distance that other gemstones are the created versions – for example, synthetic sapphires look like blue glass. There is something quite distinctive about most created gemstones, and they just look fake or unnatural – and so are significantly cheaper. A lab grown diamond, on the other hand, is indistinguishable from a mined diamond.
Simulate versus created
As opposed to a lab grown diamond, a simulate is something that is like but not the same thing. In terms of diamond simulates, this refers to stones such as a cubic zirconia (CZ). At a distant glance, they might look the same as a diamond, but they don’t have the same optical or hardness properties.
What about the negatives?
As I’ve discussed, lab grown diamonds can be of such high quality it’s almost impossible to separate them from mined diamonds. And you can buy this high quality at a fraction of the price of mined diamonds. So, you might be reading this and thinking that this sounds like the best thing since sliced bread. A bigger and better-quality diamond, for less? What’s the catch?
The main possible negatives relate to resale value for the diamond and whether it will hold its value.
Resale value
The truth is every diamond in the world is graded and valued for exactly what it is. If you pay $5000 less for a lab grown diamond now, for example, then it will be consistently worth at least $5000 less than the value of a comparable mined diamond.
Holding its value over time
I am not sure about you, but my crystal ball is on the fritz now, and I think anyone who tells you they know what the future holds should be treated with caution. What I do know is that all diamonds – mined and lab grown – move up and down in price. Many contributing factors influence the price of diamonds globally. When I recently checked the wholesale price of the diamond I purchased for my wife’s engagement ring, it had fallen $3000. (Of course, as I have mentioned, this is totally irrelevant to me, because I don’t plan on selling it.)
While it might be true that products often get cheaper as technology advances, prices are still governed by the age-old forces of supply and demand. Late in 2020, for example, we did see a drop in the prices of laboratory-created diamonds. However, 2021 has seen not only a stabilising of the market rates of created diamonds, but also signs of an increase in rates as demand outstrips supply.
These shortages are being exasperated further by delays in more reactors being built, which is placing further pressures on supply.
Looking at the diverse types of lab grown diamonds
Before I get any further into the features, benefits, pros, and cons of created, understanding the two distinct types of created diamonds currently on the market is important. Check out this video that shows the two growing procesess
High pressure and high temperature lab grown diamonds
HPHT, or high pressure and high temperature, lab grown diamonds, were first invented in 1954 by General Electric and were predominately used for industrial purposes.
In this process, the diamond is created from a ‘carbon seed,’ with typically a material such as graphite being used. Here they are essentially extracting the carbon from a solvent metal, under the required conditions of pressure (over 1.5 million pounds) and high heat (over 1400 °C) to grow the diamond. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that gem-quality diamonds started to be produced.
While HPHT diamonds are created using several different processes, many of these diamonds exhibit yellowish and brownish tints due to their exposure to nitrogen when being formed. They can also contain metal-type inclusions such as iron, nickel, and cobalt. These types of inclusions area-typical in mined diamonds, and so are often something that allows experts to identify them as lab grown.
HPHT is also used as a post-growth treatment to turn diamonds that have a brownish or yellowish tint into ones in the colourless range of diamonds (that is, in the D to F range; refer to chapter 7). While the colour change produced post-growth using HPHT is permanent, it is important to be aware if the treatment has been used.
One distinguishing feature of HPHT grown diamonds is that they will often have fluorescence, and may not show up on a diamond tester as a diamond in all cases
The time frame for making a HPHT diamond is around one to two months.
Chemical vapour deposition
CVD, or chemical vapour deposition, created diamonds are different from HPHT diamonds in that the seed is an actual diamond, and the diamond is grown from a hydrocarbon gas mixture. This process is a more recent method for creating diamonds and has been used since the 1980s.
Considerably less heat (800 °C) is used, along with myriad other techniques to cause the carbon-rich gas to bond with the diamond seed crystal to allow it to grow.
The diamonds created during the CVD growth method are near colourless, attributed to the vacuum chamber in which they are created. This chamber limits the exposure to nitrogen and boron. When combined with what’s known as a Type 1a, or type 2a, diamond seed, this leads to a whiter finished diamond. (Type 1a diamonds are purely, or almost purely, carbon, and are the purest and most valuable of all – see the section ‘Under the microscope’ for more.) This means that the original creators found the most perfect diamond they could in nature and used this for the seed crystal, from which all the subsequent diamonds were created.
Another advantage of a CVD created diamond is that it will never show fluorescence – refer to chapter 7 for more on how diamonds with low or no fluorescence are graded.
In this process, the diamond seed is placed in the reactor and, over a period of one to three months, grows into the finished laboratory-grown diamond.
Checking the certificate
When buying a lab grown diamond, you need to check the comments section on the certificate to confirm the method used. Was it through HPHT or CVD? If created through CVD, does it specify that a Type IIa diamond was used?
Value of created diamonds
Creating diamonds is not like making a loaf of bread, where you put your ingredients into the mix and, if you follow the recipe, it comes out perfect every time. Creating diamonds has so many variables – relating to the required heat, pressure, time frames and growth rates – that it must be like controlling a spaceship and flying into space with Elon Musk. This variability leads to high fail rates, making the yield of the growth process incredibly unpredictable. Most created diamonds sit in the lower I to K range for colour and SI (G-K VVS-SI1) to I range for clarity (refer to chapter 7). This means that a created diamond in the D to F range for colour and in the VS range for clarity represents a small percentage of all diamonds that are created. If you’re sourcing such a diamond, you’re looking for something rare and hard to find (and so more valuable).
This, along with the millions of dollars already spent in R&D, means that the value of a created diamond falling as low as $1 is incredibly unlikely.
Under the microscope
Diamonds are almost entirely made of carbon. The type Ia diamond, for example, is made up of over 98 per cent carbon, along with trace elements of nitrogen and other minor impurities in them. The type IIa diamond is almost exclusively made up of just carbon. (These make up just 1 to 2 per cent of all mined diamonds.)
To get a better idea of the effect of trace elements on light performance, imagine you are looking through your car windscreen after having been driving for a couple of months. On the windscreen might be the general grime of pollution, putting a fine film on the surface, along the occasion bug that has hit your window and other nasties that have found their way on to your screen. All of this impairs the clean transparency of your vision. Now imagine your windscreen has been cleaned with a premium grade solution that has made it so clear you find it hard to tell there is a glass barrier there at all.
At a microscopic level, this is like the difference between the type Ia and type IIa diamond. While the difference may seem small, it makes a significant impact on your diamond’s appearance and value. The type IIa diamond just has a certain crispness to it, and this type is possible with created diamonds.
Interesting fact for the chemistry buffs on trivia night
Carbon has four covalent bonds and nitrogen only has three. As mentioned, a type Ia diamond has carbon and nitrogen. Having nitrogen in the diamond’s crystalline lattice structure means it absorbs blue light, which leaves yellow light being emitted. Therefore, the more nitrogen a diamond has, the more yellow it looks.
The type IIa diamond, on the other hand has almost no nitrogen, which leaves it facing up whiter.
Considering the Sarine Light Performance report
Along with the ‘four Cs’ of cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight (refer to chapter 7) a new measure of a diamond’s performance rates how it interacts with light – using the Sarine Light Performance rating. The highest light report ranking you can get using this system is an Ultimate3. With practice and skill, it is possible to select a stone that has the right proportions, cut, clarity and colour to achieve this ranking. However, it has been my experience that it is almost impossible for a mined diamond to reach this classification due to the quality of the crystal and the way the light travels through the crystal.
Achieving an Ultimate cut grade (which is higher than the standard GIA excellent cut – refer to chapter 7) means that you diamond will sparkle more, even when dirty. Diamonds in the Ultimate range are simply beautiful and hard to source, which makes them even more desirable. Laboratory created diamonds are more likely to achieve the Ultimate 3 ranking than mined diamonds.
Mined versus created – or taxi versus Uber
One of the things clients often say to me is that they prefer a mined diamond because they believe it to be ‘traditional’ – to which I usually ask them if they use an Uber or a taxi. Almost everyone says they use an Uber, and I then ask, ‘Why isn’t a taxi ‘traditional’?’
The funny thing about technology is that it is often first seen with sceptical eyes, before being slowly adopted, and finally accepted and seen as common place. Even something such as buying online and having your shopping delivered used to be viewed with apprehension – putting your credit card information and address into the website? What if someone fraudulently purchased something on your card? Now no-one gives it a second thought.
Are lab grown diamonds a young person diamond?
As a rule, I find the client age line for choosing a created diamond is around 45 years. While it might be said that younger people embrace technology faster than the more seasoned of us, it isn’t always the case.
I had a couple recently celebrating their 43-year wedding anniversary with a 4.6ct E VS1 round brilliant, created diamond. If they had wanted to go for a mined equivalent, they would have had to pay more than $120,000 extra.
Spend more, save more
While ‘spend more to save more’ might be a funny catchphrase aimed at getting you to spend more at the Christmas and Boxing Day sales, it really is true when it comes to diamonds. The bigger the created diamond that you choose, the more you save. At the time of writing, the average saving when purchasing a one-carat created diamond was $5000, while you could save $12,000 if purchasing a 1.5ct created diamond, and $25,000 on a two-carat one.
The conversation I often have with my clients is around what they could do with the extra money. For a lot of them, the money saved can go towards a house deposit, paying for the wedding or even a house renovation.
Clients often decide to either save the money they would have otherwise had to spend for a comparable mined diamond, or they keep their budget the same and increase the size and quality of the diamond they can afford to buy. Depending on the quality of the diamond you are looking at, for example, you can likely get around a 40 to 50 per cent bigger diamond for the same money. So, if you’re looking at a one-carat mined diamond, in a created diamond you would be looking at 1.5ct-plus size diamond, which is certainly a noticeable difference.
The other bonus factor you usually find in a created diamond is that the cost of upgrading your quality is substantially less. For example, upgrading to a diamond in the VS range for clarity from one in the SI range might cost $200 in a created diamond, but might be $1000 more in a mined diamond.
One of the joys of my profession is seeing happy clients after they have been proposed to. Usually, they come in and love to tell the story of how their partner proposed, and then proudly show off the ring their partner chose. What I have seen over the last two years is the elation that comes from their expectations being exceeded, not just in the size of the diamond, but in maximising the other three of the 4Cs – cut grade, colour, and clarity. Exceeding expectations in all areas becomes more possible when considering created diamonds.
You may already know that my wife and I have triplets (plus one). One of the questions I am often asked it is whether the triplet pregnancy was by IVF. While it wasn’t, I have had many families and friends who have had their children with the assistance of IVF.
Imagine if you were made through IVF and your partner was made through the good old-fashioned way. No-one would look at you as a synthetic human; you just had a different start in life. In the same way, you couldn’t walk down the Queen St Mall in Brisbane, for example, and pick out the IVF babies. A created diamond can be just as beautiful, regardless of its origin being from a laboratory rather than the ground.
Engagement ring versus other diamond jewellery
While initially lab grown diamonds were extremely popular with fine jewellery, such as diamond pendants, earrings and diamond tennis bracelets, the inclusion of a created diamond as the main feature in engagement rings has seen a huge increase in recent years. At the time of writing, the trend is about 70 per cent of all engagement rings have a created diamond in the centre.
Our Ready to Wear Designer Engagement Ring collection is available in both laboratory grown diamonds and man made diamonds and you can check out our range here.
Proposed with an African mined diamond
Having now helped more than 7800 couples choose their dream engagement ring, one of the things I love doing, being a romantic at heart, is to ask people when they come back in to have their ring sized and perfectly fitted is how their partner did with the proposal. They often talk about how nervous their partner was, how amazing the proposal was (especially if their partner had some proposal coaching) and how much they love the ring.
I am yet to hear a bride talk about how amazing the proposal was because of their African mined diamond. At the end of the day, your diamond engagement ring is a symbol of your commitment together, as you start out on your adventure together. Its origins don’t affect your commitment or the story of your adventure.
Frequent questions
Through this chapter I’ve covered some of the initial concerns and questions most people have about created diamonds. In the following sections, I cover some more specific questions.
Are diamonds an investment?
To my understanding of an investment asset, a diamond meets none of the standard criteria (pink diamonds from the Argyle mind excluded!) You are not buying it to sell at some point in the future and make a profit. It does not pay you any dividends or returns, and the tax department certainly doesn’t make it tax deductible. The only investment it represents is in your happiness. I am yet to meet someone who would be happy about you selling their engagement ring.
I often look at my phone in the same way. I bought it because of what it can do and the enjoyment it brings me (even when I get addicted to the many silly games that can be downloaded onto it), not because I was ever thinking of how much I might get for it at some point in the future.
Can lab grown diamonds be insured?
Insurance companies will insure your created diamond. Just make sure that you have your stone valued by a recognised valuer from the Australian National Council of Jewellery Valuers (ncjv.com.au/). The amount insured must relate to your purchase amount. For example, you can’t purchase a created diamond and insure it for the price of a mined diamond. The insurance company will just replace what it was that you originally purchased – so insuring it for more will just mean that you are paying a higher premium for no reason.
Can they be valued?
Diamonds are valued according to their ratings in terms of colour, clarity, cut grade, carat weight – and origin. So, your created diamond will be valued in the same way as a mined diamond would be, just with the relevant adjustment to bring it in line with what you paid. For example, if a mined diamond would be valued at $15,000 as a classic one-carat F-colour VS-clarity diamond (and you would have paid close to this for such a diamond), a comparable created diamond with the same stats might be valued at $8000 (and, again, you would have paid close to this).
Are they graded the same?
Lab grown diamonds are graded absolutely the same as mined diamonds, because they are a created to be the same at a molecular level. All the international diamond grading laboratories use the recognised grading system for colour, clarity, cut and carat weight. Your created diamond should come with an international grading report and be laser inscribed to authenticate your stone.
Are they cut the same?
Lab Grown diamonds have the same hardness and optical properties as mined diamonds, so they are cut in the same way. The diamond follows the same path a mined diamond would – in the way the crystal is selected, cut is plotted for inclusions and yield determined to get the best result, and right down to the shape of the diamond they choose to cut.
However, there has been an expected windfall with laboratory grown diamonds – because the rough diamond crystals created are more consistent and regular, the cutters are often able to achieve a more ideal cut, whereas the irregularity in mined diamond rough crystals leads to more variation in the cutting.
Do they have the same certification?
At the time of writing, the main diamond grading laboratory for created diamonds is the International Gemmological Institute (IGI) laboratory. While the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) laboratory was reluctant to grade created diamonds for the first year, they have now started grading created diamonds. However, their delay has meant that the IGI laboratory report is seen as the most recognised report to have when buying a created diamond.
What happens if you put it on a diamond tester?
Putting a lab grown diamond on a standard diamond tester will have it report as a diamond. Some newer diamond testers can check whether the diamond is a Type Ia or a Type IIa diamond, but this is not a conclusive test that a diamond is created. If the diamond shows up as a Type IIa crystal using this tester, further testing is then needed to confirm it is created.
What does the future look like in the diamond industry?
A lot has been made public on the topic of mined and created diamonds, and the ethics and sustainability of both. The manufacturing process for created diamonds requires enormous amounts of energy. Yes, some diamond producers use renewable energy to create their diamonds, but now this isn’t across the whole industry. What is undisputed is that they are not digging a massive hole in the planet that can be seen from space. The large volume of water associated with mining isn’t required with created diamonds either.
Several diamond growers are also leading the industry in their attempts to be more transparent and sustainable – for example, in the following areas:
· Verified origin traceability
· Ethical stewardship
· Climate neutrality
· Sustainable production practices
· Sustainable community and planetary investments.
What these means is that a shift is occurring in the industry. It is no longer just about producing beautiful gems, but also about doing the right thing for the planet and the future generations.
Origin traceability involves using state of the art traceability to track the diamond throughout its whole journey – from the diamond seed, through its international certification, right to the point where it is placed in a piece of jewellery you can have the enjoyment of wearing.
Ethical stewardship involves companies meeting a set of 12 strict ethical principles to ensure that everyone in the supply chain is looked after from a human rights point of view.
Climate neutrality means that a company must be climate neutral, not just in its current production, but also from the circumstances prior to the manufacturing becoming possible.
Sustainability production can only be achieved by offsetting the environmental and health impacts.
Sustainability investments are all about the role business can play in uplifting the vulnerable communities around them, and investing in protecting the climate, purifying the air, and protecting the waterways.
Sustainably is a factor
I would say that 70 per cent of clients I show a created diamond to choose it because of the 50 per cent size boost, while the other 30 per cent of clients choose it for the ethical, sustainability and environmentally friendly reasons. (I am sure a reasonable percentage of clients choose it for both reasons.)
The laboratory grown diamond industry is escalating their sustainability developments with a focus on sustainability across the entire process, and their innovations are fast becoming an attractive aspect for today’s modern consumer.
Concluding thoughts
So, in conclusion, created diamonds are here to stay. The growth rate and acceptance rate of created diamonds is increasing at an exponential rate. Some stores in the US are now selling created diamonds exclusively.
Whether or not you decide if a created diamond is a right for you will come down to where you see the value, because both options are beautiful. One has a story that some find appealing and the other has certain advantages, as outlined in this chapter.
For me, as with most things in life, I find the best answer comes in seeing them for myself firsthand. An intellectual understanding is a great first step, but this is no substitute for seeing a mined diamond and a created one side by side. After all, you or your partner will be wearing this for an exceptionally long time, so it is important to make sure you make the right choice.
From my perspective, the joy many of my clients’ experience in receiving a diamond that is beyond their wildest dreams is undeniable – and this they can often add the satisfaction of still having the money they need for the necessities of life, where they are right now.
If you want to learn more we also offer free diamond masterclasses, where you can come along in a relaxed setting and get to know more about diamonds than 90% of sales people put there!
There is more pressure now than ever before to have it all. That beautiful home, healthy and happy kids, marriage and of course the perfect engagement ring and the dream wedding.
It can be hard for young couples to find the right monetary balance. Life would certainly be a whole lot easier if we started our journey with money in reverse. Imagine starting your adult life with the means to purchase those big-ticket investments, rather than having to wait until later when you don’t need it as much.
So often I’ll get asked things like: “Can I finance my engagement ring?” or “what are your payment plan options?”
Gone are the days of a traditional in store 3-month laybys. Today there is an extensive selection of providers offering credit solutions for your jewellery purchases. But are they all the same, and are they the best option for you?
When looking at jewellery store payment plans, it is important to consider what their selection criteria are. By convention, most credit providers will have a credit check to see what your credit rating is. Every time this happens it leaves a mark on your record. Get too many marks within a period of time, and it will make it harder when you start applying for things like a home loan. Not to mention what it will do to your credit rating if you ever get knocked back.
While a lot of the payment plans might advertise and promote that they are interest free, most have at least an annual fee and some may have a monthly fee as well. Annual fees can range from $79 – $99.
Let’s be honest, as much as we know there is fine print to read and we should probably look at every single paragraph in detail, the truth is most of us never will. But there could be some nasty surprises in the small details. Things such as the annual fee must be paid in full within 90 days or it will attract interest or, if you fail to pay a fixed monthly instalment, interest, (charged at the Expired Promotional Rate) is payable on that outstanding amount. That could leave a really bad taste in your mouth if you go outside of the guidelines.
What if a jewellery store wasn’t interested in profiting from the credit terms, and genuinely wanted to help couples get engaged with the ring they really wanted rather than settling? I believe that most clients will do the right thing if given the opportunity. I think there is always a way to help couples get engaged no matter what their personal circumstances are.
What if it was possible for couples to get engaged for the price of a couple of coffees a week? So, I came up with an idea that had never been done before. What if I let our clients take home their dream engagement ring and pay it off over three years with Xennox? There would be no banks, credit unions or finance companies involved, so there would be no need for a credit check.
You might be wondering how this is possible? The truth is we are crazy passionate about helping couples get engaged with a quality diamond engagement ring. As a 43-year-old second generation family business with a flagship store in the Queen St Mall we will do just about anything to make that dream proposal moment become a reality. Having helped more than 6700 couples get engaged, we know that there are a lot more couples that would like to get engaged, if it was financially possible.
Simply choose the engagement ring you want here, pay a 50% deposit, then we will make the ring for you and we will let you pay the other 50% over three years with us, with no credit checks or collateral. It’s just an agreement between you and us. An agreement, that if we look after you by helping you get engaged faster, then you will look after us, by honouring your agreement with the weekly payments for 3 years (156 payments). They are some of our most classic and popular designs and can be customised in white gold, yellow gold or rose gold, with a .50ct, .70ct or a 1ct diamond. All of these rings still come with our lifetime manufacturing warranty, and lifetime professional cleaning and stone tightening as standard so you have complete peace of mind. We decided to spread it out over three years so the weekly payments could be as little as $14.42 a week. So maybe you need to give up Netflix for a while or cut back on the coffees. But at least you will be engaged closer to saying your “I do’s”.
Sure, there are risks involved, but they are solely on my side, and they are risks I am willing to take as I believe that everyone deserves to wear a beautiful, quality diamond engagement ring. I have seen too many couples who couldn’t afford the engagement ring they really wanted and settled or simply didn’t engaged at all. Your engagement ring is something you get to wear for the longest period of your life, and it should be something that you look at, love and adore every day you wear it. Not look down at it with regret.
All the fine print is written in plain English for you to read in a section on our site here. There are no surprises and no hidden fees. You can pay it off at any time if you want, and there is even the opportunity to add to it when you want to add your wedding rings.
One client that I have personally known since I was at school, some 25 years ago, yes it does seem like a lifetime ago! This client has been with his partner for twenty years and they have four beautiful children. She desperately wants to get engaged. Every time there is an engagement ring promotion, she tags him and would love nothing more than to make it official.
But, like anyone with children there are always bills to pay and the engagement ring slides down the list of priorities. While they are incredibly happy together, and have made a wonderful life and have a happy home, it is still an unresolved issue (probably more for her than it is for him) I think at my core, I just love making people happy, and I get such a thrill out of seeing a couple go on their journey from a Will you marry me to I do.
Ultimately, we want to help you choose the ring you want without any penalties for paying it off over time. You can deal directly with us, and not worrying about being put through a third-party provider. That way it leaves more in your pocket now, for all the things you might also need, like buying or moving into a new place, home renovations or new additions to the family.
So, what are you waiting for? Talk to us now about how we can help you get the ring you deserve without breaking the bank. Simply Click Here to book an appointment.
Seriously, why wait any longer? If you have been thinking about popping the question, this is the new way to buy an engagement ring.
To celebrate Altr created diamonds coming to Australia, we are giving couples looking to propose a $500 gift card to use towards their Altr created diamond engagement ring, when they place an order before 30th December 2018.
Altr created diamonds have the identical physical, chemical, optical and molecular structure of a traditional mined diamond. By utilising the latest technology to replicate the natural conditions of heat and pressure of the earth, results in a saving of 30%-40% to the price of the standard engagement ring.
Email us at Altr@xennoxdiamonds.com.au to claim your $500 gift card.
You can read more about how the Altr created diamonds are grown here and some FAQ about the Altr created diamonds here.
Are you a little bit of a techno geek like me? Do you love the anticipation of getting your hands on the latest trend in technology? If you are then I bet you can’t wait for the newest Apple product to land (Yes, I am a diehard follower – sorry to all the Android lovers)
That’s why I was so excited to see the latest development in the diamond world, ALTR lab created diamonds. The idea that man can create a diamond absolutely blows my mind. It reminds me of the old cartoon The Jetsons, about a futuristic family who lived in the sky travelling around in hovercraft spaceships. Anything they wanted could be printed through a magic printing machine. Isn’t it funny how so many things from science fiction become reality?
Are lab created diamonds new?
While it might seem new, the concept of lab created diamonds has been around for over 60 years. It is just in recent years that they have perfected the art of crafting these stunning stones into gem-quality diamonds. But diamonds for personal use are just a small portion of what the future holds when it comes to creating diamonds. There are so many applications for having a transparent substance that is also incredibly strong. Can you imagine in the future having your iPhone glass face made up of diamond? No more replacing screens because you dropped your iPhone.
Now, in the beginning, I was just as sceptical as the next person, I mean lab created diamonds? What changed my mind was a test given to me by the creators of these amazing diamonds. The creators placed 10 diamonds in front of me and asked me to separate them into mined vs created. I spent a great deal of time looking at each diamond, from the front, upside down and even in different lights. What I found though, was while I thought I could tell the difference between the two, the truth is I failed miserably. Considering I am a diamond expert and I look at diamonds every day, I found this quite shocking. The only way to tell the difference with a 10-x magnifying lens was by looking at the girdle where it is inscribed that it is a lab created diamond.
If you would like to learn more about how these amazing gems are created, check out my blog about ALTR lab created diamonds here. If you take the method of creation out of the picture ultimately what you are left is with a beautiful gem that sparkles brilliantly. I think deep down what everyone wants is to make their partner happy and give them the diamond they deserve and desire. In a perfect world, we could all afford to get the largest diamond possible for our partners. But in the real world, we all have expenses that we need to balance out. What I have seen over the last month with the clients I have shown the ALTR lab created diamonds to has been nothing short of amazing. Clients have been able to give their partners the diamond that will make their heart skip a beat.
While I know some of you are saying, it’s the thought that counts and your partner should be happy with whatever size their partner gives them. What I have come to see over the last 22 years and helping more than 6800 clients choose their engagement ring, is exactly 0% of them have come back in 6 months’ time and asked for a smaller diamond. Further, as we get older, we only want nicer and bigger things not smaller. So, the bigger diamond that you choose now, will undoubtedly last you longer, before you start thinking of upgrading.
I strongly believe in the power of storytelling through jewellery. Whenever I ask someone to tell me the story of how they were proposed to, they can often recant in detail where they were and what their partner said. Never have I heard them say, they proposed to me with a 1ct F VS diamond engagement ring. For me, the sentiment and story behind the giving of a diamond is the same with a created diamond as it is for a mined diamond. What is important is that you have chosen it for your partner and that he plans a romantic proposal, in a way that his partner wants to receive it.
I would say for most of the clients I have served, the size is one of the most contributing factors. I mean who doesn’t love a bit of extra bling. When I got engaged 17 years ago, the average size of a diamond engagement ring was a half a carat. Today the most popular diamond size that we sell is a one-carat diamond. Even now we are starting to see that size increase with some brides looking at the 1.10ct – 1.20ct diamond sizes. So, my usual advice to the guys out there is to propose quickly, because I think we will be at a 2ct diamond size before you know it. At this point in time, it is hard to go past the ALTR lab created diamonds from a value for money standpoint.
The second benefit that often resonates with the clients I speak to is the environmental benefits and minimal carbon footprint associated with created diamonds. Today I think we all realise that we share the same planet and it is the only one that we have, so it’s up to us to look after it. Most people don’t realise that they need to dig up over 1000 tonnes of earth, not to mention using over 100 gallons of water just to find a 1ct diamond. Whereas the ALTR lab created diamonds have their own wind turbines to power the presses that create these diamonds and use a fraction of the water to yield the same 1ct diamond. So not only can you give your partner the diamond you know they want but look after the planet as well. And with every diamond being able to be traced back to the specific lab that it was created in, you can be sure that your diamonds are 100% conflict free.
The final question that I am often asked is, ‘would you buy an ALTR lab created diamond for your own wife?”. My answer is YES!!! Currently, I am looking for a set of matching .75ct diamonds to create stunning diamond studs for her. After all, they have the same physical, optical and molecular structure as a mined diamond, and according to the FTC, they are a diamond in every sense of the word. So, the only question you need to ask yourself is whether you are ready to join the future of diamonds with me?
In recent times almost every industry has either gone through or is about to go through massive disruption, on a scale never seen before. The diamond industry is by no means immune to the changes that are coming with man made diamonds.
We have seen a marked increase in the enquires around created diamonds in the last month. Some is general curiosity, but most are as a genuine interest in purchasing a man made diamond. Up until recently, there has been little information about them to give a client the complete confidence in their purchase choice. The important thing to remember is that is exactly what it is – a choice. I honestly don’t believe that one will replace the other, just as Uber hasn’t completely replaced Taxis. If you are making an informed decision, you can be comfortable with whichever choice you go for.
Before going into the characteristics of laboratory created diamonds, it is important to understand that there are two main ways to create a man made diamond. High Pressure / High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapour Disposition (CVD). HPHT process mimics the high pressure that created diamonds in the earth crust. It uses a metal catalyst (graphite/carbon) to dissolve the carbon onto a diamond seed, essentially drawing the carbon out of ferrous metals. Whereas the CVD process in contrast uses low pressure but employs a vacuum which is fuelled with hydrogen and methane. Which means that it derives its carbon source from a vapour. The CVD method starts with a diamond seed crystal to grow the diamond, much the same way you might have grown crystals as a child at school in your science experiment.
You can watch how an Altr created diamond is grown here.
Born of Fire, Born Perfect : The making of a Type IIa ALTR Created Diamond from ALTR Created Diamonds on Vimeo.
Diamonds naturally occur in nature as either a Type 1 (a/b) or Type 2 (a/b) crystal. The most purist and transparent form of Carbon crystal in the world is the Type 2a crystal, it has almost no impurities which leads to the colourlessness and only accounts for 1.8% of the world’s supply and is a rare quality gem.
Every Altr created diamond begins with a Type 2a seed crystal and is guaranteed to be only a CVD diamond, so it’s quality can be assured. Type 2a diamonds have much less nitrogen so they face up looking whiter and crisper, which is in line with their “Shine Brighter” campaign.
So that is most of the technical information out of the way. The simplest take way is that Altr created diamonds have;
When I am showing a client an Altr created diamond, the first thing I will say is one was created below the ground, the other was created above the ground. That is essentially the only difference. Just like if you had two siblings, one was made by IVF and the other through the traditional way, you wouldn’t look at your sibling and call them a synthetic human. They just had a different start, but they are identical to you as a human in every way.
A man made diamond is a very different stone to a Cubic Zirconia or a Moissanite stone, both of which are softer and have different optical properties. Both a cubic and a moissanite are known as stimulants, which means that they are like a diamond, but not the same.
The first thing to look out when shopping for a Laboratory created diamond is whether there is accurate disclosure around the way that it was created. Cheaper versions are made through either straight HPHT, or a combination of HPHT and CVD. If the stone you are looking at purchasing can’t guarantee the method of its creation, then it is most likely a cheaper combination creation stone.
The second thing to look out is for where the diamond was certified. If it is certified by IGI (International Gemmological Institute) it will be a cheaper stone, as the grading parameters for IGI are not as strict as the GCAL (Gem Certification and Assurance Lab). An IGI laboratory has been known to be a colour &/or clarity grade out compared to that of a GIA laboratory. Also, an IGI cert won’t tell you whether your diamond was created through HPHT or CVD.
As mentioned previously the GCAL is one of the strictest grading laboratories’ in the world and completely stands behind their grading. A GCAL cert in addition to the normal 4C’s information also has several additional features
Man Made diamonds GCAL certificateAll Altr created diamond presses are powered by the earth’s natural wind cycles through the power of wind turbines. This renewable energy source creates the power required to form these amazing gems, ensuring that there is minimal impact on the environment.
Because HPHT created diamonds derive their carbon from a metallic source like iron, the inclusions found in them are often metallic in nature. These inclusions are often easily distinguishable and can even result in the diamond having a magnetic attraction to a magnet.
At the end of the day whether you choose a mined diamond, or a laboratory created diamond, will just come down to your own personal preference. Ultimately the choice will come down to whether it is more important to you that the diamond was created below the ground or whether you would rather have a larger diamond for the same budget. At the end of the day, the best way for you to decide is to compare them side by side and make the choice for yourself. So why not book an appointment and see the diamonds first hand and see if you can tell the difference.
We even have a special promotion on at the moment to celebrate the launch of the Altr created diamonds. You can WIN a .50ct F Colour VS clarity Altr created valued at $2900. All you need to do is book an appointment to come in and see them, to go in the draw to win this amazing diamond.
man made diamond promotion
Confused by the diamond certificate?Have you ever looked at a diamond certificate and had no idea what all the numbers and percentages mean? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Starting out can be a bit daunting, not only do you have to find the ring that she likes but you need to make sure the rock you are putting your hard earned cash into is going to be worth it. The first thing that you are probably familiar with, if you have been paying attention to her subtle hints or done even just a little research is this thing called the 4C’s. They are Cut, Colour, Clarity and Cut Grade. The big question is which one is the most important? You can see my short video series here.
Is only talking about how well the diamond is cut – which ultimately means how much it is going to sparkle. It is that twinkle that her friends will see from across the room. Tip – Aim for an Excellent cut grade. Diamonds like a Passion8 diamond sit in the top 1% for diamond cut and will outsparkle normal excellent cut grade diamonds.
Is only talking about how white the diamond is. This is talking about the body colour of the stone and has nothing to do with the colour. The colour grade starts at D and goes down to Z. Tip – Aim for the top 3 colour grades – D, E, F. Any colour that is G in colour or lower will pull a lot of yellow.
Is only talking about the natural inclusions you can see with a 10x magnifying lens. Tip – Aim for eye Clean SI clarity. As everyone’s eyesight is different make sure you look at the diamond with a lens before purchasing it. Looking at the plot on the diamond certificate will not tell you how good or bad the inclusion is.
Is only talking about the physical size that you see. While this might seem like the most important to some ladies, it isn’t if it is coming at the expense of quality. Smaller more perfectly cut diamonds will actually have the same diameter as larger average cut diamond. Tip – Always go for a diamond that is slightly smaller of better quality. After all, do you want a diamond that looks better or one that weighs more? So now that we have that sorted, let’s look at what all the percentages mean. I wish it was as simple as looking at an excellent cut grade. The truth is the goal posts have widened significantly in the last 5 years. Today more and more diamonds are falling into the excellent category than ever before. 
In a recent price comparison on diamond certificates, I found as much as a 28% price difference between two identical diamonds (based on their paperwork). Both stones had been graded as a triple excellent cut grade. So it is vital to make sure you have a cut specialist look over your diamond. Just like going to a heart surgeon instead of a GP when you need specialist surgery, a diamond cut specialist will be able to show you where your diamond sits in the cut spectrum. Tip – Aim for a 57% table percentage – It will give the diamond more dispersion. (The blues, reds and yellows) If you want to make the best-informed decision on how to pick a stunning diamond and design a ring that will really blow her away – you can learn more about how to choose the perfect diamond by getting a free copy of the international award winning book and Amazon best seller – Rock Her World here.
The question of “How much does a 1ct diamond cost?” is something that I get asked often. Because there are so many factors that make up a diamonds price and quality. The usual answer here is how long is a piece of string. It is a common question that most men ask as they are about to embark on purchasing a new engagement ring.
At this point in time with the current exchange rate around the .82 cents. A beautiful 1ct F colour, SI clarity excellent cut grade diamond will typically cost around the $13000 all made up in a classic solitaire.
The rough rule of thumb is that under a carat the price will move about a $1000 for every ten points within a particular quality. So a 0.90ct F SI excellent cut grade round brilliant diamond will be approximately $11500 – $12000. The smaller the diamond the smaller the variation in price for the 10 points. Changing the size of a diamond always has a much bigger result on the price, than changing the colour or clarity of a diamond.
Are the difference between all the grades priced the same?
In nature anything that is rarer is also more valuable. So a pure white stone is going to carry more of a premium than a yellower diamond. Likewise a diamond that is flawless. Whenever you move to the top on any given scale the jump in price is going to be greater as that given stone becomes more rare and valuable. So while a jump in price from a G – F may be $300, going from an F to an E colour may be $350, and $400 to the top D colour
How much does the price change when changing the clarity of a diamond?
In todays market, changing the clarity of a diamond will have a bigger effect on the price of a given diamond than changing the colour.
For example moving from an SI2 to a VS2 may have roughly the same affect as changing the size by ten points. Depending on the size of the diamond, this could be as much as $800
How much does the price change for changing the colour of a diamond?
While changing this characteristic has the least impact on the price, the visual effect on the diamond can not be underestimated. Changing from a .50ct (half a carat) G to F will actually only cost around the $200 – $300. Which in my experience is well worth it, as most clients are able to tell the difference with their eyes.
The bigger the size of the diamond the larger the difference in colour is. Anyone who has been to a hardware store and had to pick out a colour for a wall will know this. Looking at colour as a postage paid stamp is much harder to visualise that looking at an A4 piece of paper. Diamonds are no different. The colour difference in a 1ct diamond is easier to see than a .50ct diamond. The difference in price however, because of the rarity will be more. Usually you can expect to pay around the $500 -$800 more for a jump in colour.
Always happy to help, if you would like to know “How much does a 1ct diamond cost” or another particular diamond size. Please email me, if you would like to compare the price of a particular diamond that you have been looking at.
