Naturally, diamonds are crystals of different sizes and shapes that formed in the Earth, millions of years ago. The diamond cutter’s art is what transforms these crystals into the beautiful and dazzling precious stones named diamonds. Diamond cutters are the artisans whose skills allow them to reveal the potential of the raw crystals transforming them in sparkling gems of enchanting beauty and brilliance.
Diamond shapes are punctiliously and mathematically cut to enhance each stone’s features, and they range from the classic round brilliant, which is the most popular diamond shape, to the sophisticated Marquise cut.
Round Brilliant Cut. This is the most popular diamond shape, being over 50% of the diamonds available of this shape. This cut results in the most brilliant diamond shape possible; for this reason, round brilliant cut diamonds are frequently chosen for solitaire rings, displaying and enhancing their unique brilliance. A round cut diamond has 58 facets, 33 of them on the crown or top and 25 on the pavilion or bottom.
Round Brilliant Cut. This is the most popular diamond shape, being over 50% of the diamonds available of this shape. This cut results in the most brilliant diamond shape possible; for this reason, round brilliant cut diamonds are frequently chosen for solitaire rings, displaying and enhancing their unique brilliance. A round cut diamond has 58 facets, 33 of them on the crown or top and 25 on the pavilion or bottom.
Princess . After the round brilliant, princess cut diamonds are the secondly most demanded, even though this shape does not permit maximum brilliance due to its four corners which leak out light. It is preferred because it is an undeniably elegant cut, that though classic has a touch of modernity with its acute corners.
Oval. The oval cut results in an elongated classical and stylish diamond that produces a strong visual impact. It is common to find this shape in three-stone rings, being the oval the central piece. It has 58 facets that maximizes carat weight, since its shape makes it look larger than round cut diamonds of same weight.
Emerald. The emerald cut diamond has only 25 facets, therefore it has fewer surfaces to reflect light off and makes inclusions easily detectable by the eye. It is mandatory to choose a better clarity and higher color grade when buying an emerald cut diamond. This shape was one of the first cuts used in jewelry, and it is one of the most glamorous and charming shapes.
Asscher. This diamond cut is also a rectangular shape, somehow similar to the emerald cut. It is also known as Hall of Mirrors due to the astonishing optical illusion and brilliance. This is the cut of the largest known diamond, the Cullinan Diamond, an unrivaled 3,205 carat diamond that belonged to British King Edward VII.
What makes the Asscher diamond shape unique is that there are not set numbers or strict guides to follow when cutting the stone. It depends on the cutter’s art to maximize the beauty and light performance of this squared diamond shape of 50 or 58 facets.
Radiant. The radiant shape refers to a square or rectangular diamond shape that blends the brilliance of the round cut with the style and distinction of the emerald and princess cuts. It consists of 70 facets smartly cut in order to enhance the magnificence and light performance of the precious stone.
Pear. Pear shaped diamonds are hybrids that combine the best properties of the marquise and oval shapes. Its teardrop sparkling shape makes the pear shape optimal for the design of sumptuous and elegant pendants.
Cushion. Cushion cut refers to a particular square or rectangular shape with rounded corners. Its shape resembles precisely the shape of a pillow or cushion. This shape counts with large facets, that permit enhanced light dispersion and results in an enchanting scintillating stone.
Heart. The heart shape is one of the most delicate diamond’s shape and definitely the most romantic choice. It is usually made of 56 or 58 facets, and the number of the pavilion facets can vary. Precise symmetry is essential for the beauty and gorgeousness of the resulting diamond.
Marquise. The marquise diamond shape, also known as navette shape is the fanciest diamond shape and the choice of the royalty. It is an elongated shape that when properly cut will result in a diamond of utmost style and brilliance. Typically, it is comprised of 58 facets, 33 of them on the crown and 25 on the pavilion. The marquise shape is a great choice to maximize the carat weight of the stone, since it makes diamonds look larger than others of similar size and weight.
There are several factors that influence the beauty and price of a diamond. One of the most relevant features to consider is the cut.
The cut implies the proportions and angles that are created when the professional cutter takes the rough stone and transforms it into the polished sparkling final diamond. It is precisely the cut what will determine the brilliance of your diamond; it is what will allow the light to reflect from one facet to the other, and on the top of it.
Dedicated workmanship and art are crucial to come up with a diamond of the right proportions, symmetry and polish so that it can deliver the most possible light.
Commonly, people assume that cut and shape have the same meaning. However, this is not correct. The diamond cut involves the shape and number of facets, as well as the quality of the cut itself, which requires proportionality and finishing.
For example, the most common diamond shape is the round brilliant. To evaluate the cut grade of it, the GIA scale considers the proportions of it’s facets to determine how they interact with the light and which final visual effects they produce. These effects include:
Brightness- How external and internal white light reflect from the stone Fire- The white light scatters into all colors Scintillation- The sparkling of the diamond and the light and dark zones within the stone.
Given all these considerations, there is a GIA Diamond Cut Scale, which is applied to standard round brilliant diamonds within the D to Z color range. This Diamond Cut Scale classifies the cut as:
Excellent. Practically all light that enters the diamond ends up reflected through the top. Produces an exceptional brilliance.
Very Good. Most of the entering light is reflected through the top of the diamond and produces a high brilliance.
Good. These diamonds do not produce the brilliance of those within first ranges. However, they are very bright.
Fair. Imperfections of the cut make these diamonds lose some light; therefore, they are perceptibly duller.
Poor. Too shallow or too deep cuts make these diamonds lose a lot of the light they can reflect, and their brilliance is noticeably poor.
The only reliable diamond buyers in NYC are those who will thoroughly evaluate your precious stone considering all the aspects that contribute to the beauty and price of your diamond, being diamond cut one that plays a major role on these.
Contact DiamondBuyerNC, and a professional of our staff will kindly assist you and clarify all your doubts.
The color of a diamond measures its level of transparency and influences in its beauty and price.
The whiter a diamond is, the more amount of light it can receive. The light that enters through the diamond, when reflected on its facets go back out in the form of brightness and reflections. An uncolored diamond receives more light, it looks more vivid than others with higher color intensity. Uncolored diamonds are harder to find, which increases their price and makes them more attractive.
Transparent and colorless diamonds are considered the purest ones.
Most diamonds exhibit a light yellow to a light brown color, which is within the normal color range. Yellow diamonds or intense brown diamonds are known as “fancy color” diamonds.
The GIA developed a scale to measure the diamonds within the normal color range. This scale goes from D (absolutely uncolored) to Z (yellow or light brown) . Diamonds beyond Z fall in the “fancy” category.
From D to F on the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) diamonds are classified as “colorless”. G to J comprises the “near colorless” diamonds, K to M refer to “faint” category, N to R include the “very light” colored diamonds, and S to Z includes the “light” colored diamonds.
Fancy diamonds beyond Z, can also be divided into fancy light, fancy, fancy intense and fancy vivid.
The GIA also published the Colored Diamond Grading Report, which describes the diamonds that are not included on the normal color scale. They use a list of 27 sub-gradings that cover the full spectrum. The tone and saturation is described using 9 descriptive terms: faint,very light, light, fancy light, fancy, fancy intense, fancy dark, fancy deep, and fancy vivid.
The diamonds that fall into the GIA scale are graded according to their transparency, being the ones on the most uncolored range of such scale the most valuable ones.
However, fancy colored diamonds, are valued in a different manner. The criteria to apply is the rarity of the color and its intensity or color saturation. Diamonds with an unusual intense color are the most expensive ones.
At DiamondBuyerNC, we will pleased to assist you on how to sell a diamond ring, and how to the right price for it. Selling diamonds in New York can be confusing, so please do not be afraid to enlist the professional advice from one of our diamond experts.
Diamonds are formed in the deep soil. The extreme heat and huge pressure that help to form them, can also create certain imperfections. These imperfections can be both internal (named inclusions) or external and are considered the birth marks of each diamond. In most cases, these can only be noticed under a potent microscope and do not affect the appearance or beauty of the precious stone.
When a professional gemologist evaluates or classifies the clarity of a diamond, represents these “inclusions” or “external blemishes” in a graphic way, so as to create the diamond’s unique “finger print”. Plotting the imperfections is what justifies the clarity grade of the stone and what allows identifying it at any future moment. The expert determines the number, type and position of these unique features and how it affects the overall appearance of the diamond.
There is no perfect diamond, but when a diamond has minimal and tough to detect imperfections, its clarity and value will be higher.
The Diamond Clarity Scale of the GIA classifies diamonds in 11 grades which are:
1. Flawless. No inclusions or blemishes seen under a 10x magnification
2. Internally Flawless. No inclusions can be seen under 10x magnification
3. Very Very Slightly Included (VVS 1 and 2). Inclusions very hard to detect under 10x magnification
4. Very Slightly Included.(VS1 and 2) Minor inclusions which are hard to observe under 10x magnification.
5. Slightly Included.(SI 1 and 2) Inclusions are visible under 10x augmentation.
6. Included.(I1, 2 and 3) Evident inclusions under 10x amplification, that may impact on the clarity and brilliance of the stone.
The five factors that determine how inclusions are considered and are used to grade its clarity are: nature, size, location, number and relief.
The human eye can not differentiate a VS1 from an SI 2 diamond, but this difference affects the total quality and price of the diamond, therefore, a professional should determine the clarity level of the diamonds.
Diamond buyers in NYC as well as those that know where to sell a diamond ring in New York always seek for the professional and reliable evaluation of reputable professionals. We are proud to count with the expertise of experienced gemologists that will thoroughly evaluate and classify the grading and value of your precious stone. Do not hesitate contacting us, we will treat your jewel as a treasure.
Diamond’s carat is a weight unit, frequently confused with size. Originally, diamond traders used the carob seed to measure the diamonds, and that is the origin of the term carat, and of the erroneous popular idea that carat refers to size. Another common mistake is confusing diamond’s carat weight
with the karat’s gold purity measure. A carat equals to 0.2 grams.
Diamonds are sold by carats. However, two diamonds with the same carat weight can have totally dissimilar prices depending on the other value determinant factors: clarity, cut and color.
Carats are divided into 100. Each fraction is called point, which means that, for instance, a 40 point stone weights 0.40 carats. A single point or carat fraction can have a noticeable difference in the value of the diamond, and diamonds heavier than one carat are uttered in carats and decimals.
The importance of the carat of a diamond is fundamental to know its value, and the larger the weight of the diamond, the noticeably huger the price. This value variation increases at exponential rates since larger diamonds are much rarely found. Therefore, a 3 Ct diamond does not triplicate the price of a 1Ct diamond; the difference is much higher. So, for example, if you own a ring with various small diamonds that together total one carat weight (TW)and you also have a solitaire ring with a single one carat diamond, the second one is definitely the more expensive of them.
If you intent to cash for diamonds in New York, you should make sure to find a professional and reliable diamond dealer that will thoroughly and responsibly evaluate your precious stone to give you an accurate price. There are several factors to consider and only experienced professionals can do that.
DiamondBuyerNYC counts with reputable and experienced experts that would be pleased to assist you to determine the real value of your diamonds.
Are you thinking of buying diamonds in NYC? Do you want to buy diamonds in Manhattan and don’t know how to ensure you are purchasing quality diamonds?
To know what you are buying, and granting that you are paying a fair price for the diamond quality you are buying, you have to require a diamond certificate or grading report.
At DiamondBuyerNYC, every single diamond is thoroughly evaluated by GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL) qualified professionals.
All aspects that influence in the diamond’s quality, purity, beauty and price are examined in detail.
We provide our buyers with a complete certificate which includes clarity, polish, color, symmetry and even cut grade. This certification adds value to the stone while grants buyers that they are getting what they are paying for.
If you want a certain diamond at DiamondBuyerNYC, you are entitled to view its certificate while shopping. In case a particular certificate is not available to be viewed on the site at that moment, you can contact one of our diamond experts at Info@diamondbuyernyc.com or 855-289-3769.