The first thing people look for in diamond quality is color.
The scale, from the best color D to the worst color Z, is easy to understand, and most salespeople will immediately refer to a color grade when showing diamonds.
Color is the natural body color visible in a diamond and is the one C determined completely by nature, not man. As a rule, the closer a diamond is to colorless, the more valuable and beautiful it is.
D: Absolutely colorless. The highest color grade.
E: Colorless. Only minute traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist.
F: Colorless. Slight color detected by an expert gemologist, but still considered a "colorless" grade.
G-H: Near-colorless. Color noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades, but these grades offer excellent value.
I-J: Near-colorless. Color slightly detectable.
Diamonds graded better than H are colorless or near-colorless and their color is typically undetectable to the unaided eye. I and J colors usually have faint yellow color, especially if you place them into white gold or platinum.
Acting as a prism, a diamond can divide light into a spectrum of colors and reflect this light as colorful flashes called fire. Just as when looking through colored glass, color in a diamond will act as a filter, and will diminish the spectrum of color emitted. The less color in a diamond, the more colorful the fire, and the better the color grade.
Words of caution; lower color diamonds are often made to seem to be superior quality by salespeople by focusing on the clarity ? meaning the imperfections in a diamond. It is always advisable to get the highest color you can afford, with a combination of Si1 or Si2 clarity diamond. (Of course, of all the C?s, CUT is the most important- releasing the brilliance of the diamond.)
UPDATE ? the Logo Pendant Elsa designed for Cancer Care was a huge hit. We have 2 other charities we are considering doing similar projects for.
About the Expert: Stefan and Elsa Deutsch are two of the top designers of wedding and engagement rings in the US today. The company sells their designs nationally and internationally, both wholesale and retail. Working out of their beautiful Long Island showroom, they have personally helped over 20,000 couples find their perfect ring. Original designs or more traditional, antique or contemporary, the selection in their showroom is unbelievable. Working with GIA stones they have taken on even internet giants like Blue Nile when it comes to price. To visit the showroom appointments are suggested. At Elsa they like to pamper each bride and groom. Elsa Jewelry is located at 2263 Route 110
Farmingdale, NY 11735 (Corner of Smith Street).
You can also visit their beautiful Web sites at http://www.elsarings.com, drop an email to stefan@elsarings.com or call 631-293-4500.
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