by
Choosing your diamond is a very exciting and personal experience. A diamond is a symbol of love whether it’s for a romantic partner, family member or friends, it is a promise that is forever. At Cathy Stephens Jewellery, it is our job to make this experience special and to make sure you’re getting the best value for your budget.
When purchasing your diamond it is important to consider the 4 C’s; cut, clarity, colour and carat.
We are certified diamond identifiers and graders here at Cathy Stephens Jewellery.
How a diamond sparkles is dependent on how it has been cut; the angles and placements of the facets have been perfected over many years to achieve the best sparkle and maximum yield. Today’s most popular shapes are brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, emerald and heart.
Inclusions are naturally forming marks that can be seen inside the diamond an experienced diamond grader chooses where a diamond will sit on the chart. The scale ranges from IF (internal flawless) where there are no marks seen under 10x magnification to I3 (included 3) where marks can be seen with the naked eye.
The best colour for a diamond is no colour. The scale ranges from D to Z, D being the best and gradually becoming more yellow as you go further down the scale. Natural coloured diamonds are also an option, the intensity of the colour will determine its value.
The carat is the unit of weight for diamonds and there are 100 points in each carat. Bigger isn’t always better, a diamonds size does not necessarily mean quality. You should consider the cut, clarity and colour before picking the right size.
Now that you have chosen your perfect diamond, what follows will be to set it into the best metal in an item of jewellery that you will cherish. Visit us at our Groby or Nottingham store to begin your journey.