Guide to Buying Diamond Rings

The world of diamonds has its own language, with talk of certificates, grading scales, carat weight and clarity. It’s easy to be confused by the terminology, but there’s no need to feel overwhelmed! Here’s a quick overview of some of the basics of buying diamond rings. This should give you the knowledge you need before you go shopping.

If you learn nothing else before you buy diamond rings, learn the four ‘C’s – clarity, colour, cut and carat weight. There’ also another C – certificates. If you know your ‘C’s, you’ll find shopping for diamond rings much easier.

Cut is probably the most crucial, if the most challenging, of the above to understand. The cut of a diamond really does affect its shape, and it shouldn’t be confused with shape. A good cut gives diamond rings their ability to handle light, which in turn gives them their brilliance. Well cut diamonds are mesmerising because light reflects back from the jewel to the eye, poorly diamonds are not for the opposite reason.

The number, visibility and size of any inner flaws affect the diamond’s clarity. Clear jewels are more brilliant, and therefore more sought after, and more expensive.

In terms of colour, colourless jewels in diamond rings create greater brilliance or sparkle since they refract more light. Off white diamonds, conversely, are less brilliant because they absorb light. Know your grades! With diamonds graded G to I, there are almost no colours which the untrained eye can see. It is still very possible, though, to buy attractive jewels which do have some colour. One point to bear in mind is that white gold or platinum-set diamond rings probably look better with a higher colour grade than rings made of yellow gold. So if you do have a slightly coloured diamond, choosing the right ring in which to set it can really minimise the colour.

A carat is a unit of measurement used to weigh a diamond. One carat is the same as 200 milligrams. Larger diamonds are rarer and therefore more expensive. If you’re on a budget, you may have to think about sacrificing some aspects of quality, such as colour and clarity, to afford a bigger jewel.

Finally, the diamond certificate, sometimes known as a grading report, is a complete evaluation of your diamond performed by a qualified professional using gemmological instruments. Each stone has its own recognisable, unique characteristics, listed on the certificate. These documents are proof of the diamond’s quality and value.

Diamond Rings from Marlows Certified Jewellers

For more than three generations, Marlows Certified Jewellers has been trading in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter. One of the UK’s leading certificated diamond specialists, we have spectacular offers on a wide range of diamond rings. If we don’t have one you love, design your own through us. Check out our huge selection online, or give us a call for more information.