Comparing Diamonds

Diamonds have many classifications by which they are priced. Traditionally we look for the cut, colour, clarity and the carat weight of the diamonds as a basis for how much the diamond will cost.

Many factors will contribute to the varying prices of diamonds and many diamond buyers may not be aware of what to look for.

To ensure you are completely comfortable searching for your diamond, we have compiled a list of the most influential but lesser known factors that must be considered when pricing a diamond.

International Diamond Certification:
The majority of diamonds are internationally certified by one of three of the most reputable laboratories in the world. These are GIA, HRD and AGS. You can do a lot of research on other laboratories, which issue diamond reports, and you will always come back to the consistency of gradings offered by GIA, HRD and AGS.

On your behalf we have conducted extensive research of our own to confirm these consistencies. We purchased many diamonds and had them sent to several different laboratories and received so many different gradings. The only consistent gradings were done by GIA, HRD and AGS.

It pays to know that a diamond which carries a certificate issues by a company outside of GIA, HRD and AGS is known universally to fetch a lower price regardless of the cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. We find that most of our patrons prefer to purchase a diamond with an accurate and unbiased grading certificate.

We all know that diamonds are millions of years old. But do you know just how long our diamond has been on the market?

International diamond grading reports issues by GIA, HRD and AGS show the date the diamond was certified. This can give an indication as to how long the diamond has been in the possession of the seller. It is not uncommon for a diamond, which has been on the market for a long time, to be sold at a heavily reduced rate.

What you must consider is why this diamond has been around for so long after certification. Diamonds of higher quality, which sparkle brilliantly, tend to be sold a lot quicker than others.

Diamond Cut Grades:
A very important factor which you must take into account is the cut grade of the diamond. This does not refer to the shape; it actually refers to how well the diamond is cut. The cut affects the reflection of light through the diamond and in turn affects the sparkle of the diamond.

All of our round brilliant cut diamonds have received Excellent or Very Good cut grades. Seeing the difference between these and other diamonds has led us to believe that only these two cut grades should become part of our collection. There is a notable difference between diamonds with the same colour and clarity where one exhibits a higher cut grade than the other.

You can learn more about cut graders in our 4C's section

Fluorescence:
A comment that appears on many diamond reports and which has caused much debate is the florescence of a diamond. This is the way a diamond reacts under UV light. Florescence can rarely be seen with the naked eye. It is a phenomenon which occurs when a diamond is exposed to ultra violet light, particles in the diamond become excited by the light and can cause the diamond to glow a shade of whitish blue, orange or even brown.

In a lower coloured diamond this can be of benefit to the diamond making appear brighter. But unless your loved one is spending most of her time in her favorite night club under UV light, extreme or strong fluorescence in a diamond is not ideal.

Fluorescence can be deemed detrimental to a diamond if the diamond is of high white colour and the fluorescence is extreme. In these cases the diamond can appear cloudy and the price of the diamond is lowered. GIA present a very good debate on the subject and this can be reviewed on their web site.

Full disclosure:
A large part of pricing comes down to disclosure. Adamas Diamonds offer full disclosure on all the diamonds we hold in our collection. This means we offer copies of the full diamond report prior to purchase. It is well known that many companies offer part reports or omit sections of the report for display on the Internet. By offering full disclosure on all of the above-mentioned characteristics, you are given the best opportunity to compare and purchase your perfect diamond.

You will find that all of our diamonds are available immediately and delivery is available with immediate dispatch Australia wide or Internationally.

Adamas Diamonds is unique based on the fact that we have a physical premises as well as an online outlet. This means that we have real people working to ensure that you get the perfect selection every time. We offer a personalized service, which can only come from having the actual office front linked into our online catalogue.

If for any reason you cannot find your perfect diamond in house on online, or may have seen something elsewhere which appears to fit all your parameters, our qualified diamond graders and gemologists welcome the opportunity to discuss your options with you.