Diamonds are not all the same and there are so many to choose from that it is important to make sure that the diamonds you purchase are certified diamonds. The best diamonds are certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or European Gemological Laboratory (EGL).
Each diamond should be looked at under a jeweler's loop or if purchasing online, the store should show you the diamonds using a magnified glass. Here are four things you should look for in certified loose diamonds or any others:
The Cut --there are a variety of diamond shapes to choose from with some of the most popular being round, heart, marquise, and princess. The cut of the diamond you choose should make it sparkle.
The Carat -- The carat is not a measurement of the size of the diamond, but is a measurement of its weight. They are measured on a scale of 100 so that a 25 carat diamond would weigh ¼ of a carat which is one of the smaller diamonds.
Color - the color of a diamond can go from very clear (D) to very yellow (Z). Most people look for the colorless diamond because it is rare but the ones that you will most likely find are an I or a J grade. These just distinguish the quality of the diamond's color.
Clarity -- This means that each diamond is born with tiny natural flaws that can hurt the brilliance of the way the diamond shines. On a scale of IF (Internally Flawless) to I1,2, or 3 (Imperfect) people look at diamonds to see what looks best to their eye.
Now that you know something about diamonds, you might ask why is it so important to get certified diamonds? The best way to explain this is that certified diamonds tell you that the diamond you pick, is certified to be exactly what it says it is and that you will be taking home one that is valuable.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the standard that most jewelers use to make sure they have quality diamonds. These are the top of the line certifications because of the extensive inspection the GIA certified diamonds go through.
Usually they are a little more expensive than the EGL certified diamonds because they tend to be higher cuts. When you are looking for certified loose diamonds online you will generally get a picture as shown with the specifications of the diamond and a price. This will tell you what you are getting.
When picking an EGL certified diamond some jewelers say that the standards from New York and California have better standards. Also, when picking EGL Certified Diamonds you may find that they are a little less pricey than the GIA certified diamond.
When you are looking for certified diamonds whether they are certified loose diamonds or already set in rings, the SeaOfDiamonds.com is the best choice for quality and pricing. They make sure that their diamonds are top quality and conflict free.
