WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHEN CHOOSING A DIAMOND
Choosing a diamond is not an easy task. To appreciate its value,
you first need to know know how to appraise it.
Diamond evaluation criteria
There are four main criteria to consider when buying a diamond: the 4Cs.
The appreciation of color is a determining factor in the appraisal of a stone, and explains the differences in price from one diamond to another.
As a general rule, diamond colors range from bluish-white to yellowish; other colors are called fancy colors. We distinguish between blue, green, yellow (but only when it’s canary yellow), and brown (when it’s intense). Light brown and champagne tones are less valuable, and their value varies according to demand. Pink is highly sought-after; it’s usually very pale, but when it’s intense, its value is priceless. Yellowish and brown diamonds are the least valued. Very poor qualities are used mainly in industry.
Determining diamond color unambiguously, eliminating subjectivity as far as possible, has always been a necessary step in the diamond trade.
A scale has been set up to classify the color of diamonds: it starts at D (snow white) and ends at Z (deep yellow):
To get an initial idea of the diamond’s color, place it on a sheet of white bristol board, folded in the middle, with the stone’s culet facing upwards, as this is where the color is most apparent.
The examination is performed by bringing the box as close as possible to a cool, white light source, eliminating all other external light influences. It can also be done in daylight, facing north (never in sunlight), on a clear day.
An ancient procedure involved fogging the stone with one’s own breath: it was found that colors were more easily detected as the fog disappeared from the stone.
We recommend considering each diamond in its entirety, the 4Cs as a whole, rather than looking at the criteria individually. The key to choosing the right quality criteria is to define the priorities that best suit you.
VISUALIZE THE SIZE OF
DIFFERENT DIAMOND CARATS
Diamond purchase security
When choosing your diamond, it’s best to use a lamp that produces a light as close to daylight as possible. In most jewelry stores, yellow-spectrum lamps are used; they enhance the diamond’s brilliance, but artificially; once outside, facing daylight, the diamond’s brilliance is suddenly much less good!!! It’s essential to select your diamond using a “cold” light that reproduces the outside luminosity that comes from the North between 12 and 2 p.m.
The certificate must accompany your diamond. This gemological report lists all the diamond’s main characteristics, and is a veritable identity card for your stone. We recommend the following laboratories: G.I.A., H.R.D. and I.G.I.
Laser engraving of the certificate number on the diamond’s rondiste (circumference) is a “must”. It allows complete traceability of your diamond. You’ll learn to recognize your stone by yourself, thanks to a 20x magnifying glass.
Beware of treated and HTHP stones. You’ll only find natural diamonds with us; the certificates will confirm it.
Clarity-enhanced or color-enhanced diamonds have been artificially modified (purity or color); the price of such a diamond drops sharply (-70 to -80%).
If you buy a diamond without a certificate, you run the risk of unknowingly buying a treated stone!
DISCOVER OUR CATALOGUE
OF CERTIFIED DIAMONDS
Our tips for choosing a diamond
We advise you to choose diamonds with purity between IF (pure) and VS2 and color between D and F if you opt for an “investment diamond”. A VVS or Pure diamond will be more valuable financially than one with VS or SI clarity. If you are looking for a diamond to be worn on a daily basis as part of a “pleasure” purchase, a clarity between VS2 and SI2 is suitable.
As for color, stick to the D, E, F or G colors if the diamond is to be set in white gold or platinum. For yellow gold, the H or I colors are correct, as yellow gold makes the stones appear whiter than they really are.
It’s also important to buy diamonds at market price. There is a price list of cut diamonds available by subscription for professionals, called the “Rapaport Diamond Report”. This list gives the price of all diamonds from 0.01 carat to 10 carats, according to weight, color, purity and cut shape. It is used daily by diamond dealers and traders worldwide in their transactions. It is the diamond price.
We recommend considering each diamond in its entirety, the 4Cs as a whole, rather than looking at the criteria individually. The key to choosing the right quality criteria is to define the priorities that best suit you
PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US FOR
ANY REQUEST FOR AN APPOINTMENT
Our offices in Paris and Antwerp are open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm without interruption.