Diamond Math

We here at Key Largo Jewellery & Loans Ltd. want you to know the rules of the jewelry game because we want you to be an educated player and an educated shopper. Your jewelry education, particularly your diamond education, involves math. It is very important for you to understand that diamond prices are not based on a logical numerical progression.

DIAMOND SPREAD and how It Can Affect Your Cash Diet

Diamond spread; no, this is not an expensive new gourmet jam. The spread is the perceived size the diamond appears to be, based on its diameter. This can be a dangerous and misleading way to evaluate a diamond, because an optical illusion is not reality. What you think you see, is not always what you are getting. When someone says, a stone "spreads" one carat, it doesn't mean the stone is one carat; it means it looks like one carat.

Let's imagine that we have a beautiful two-carat diamond stone. We can either cut the stone with a deeper, more "north to south" cut and set it in a ring, or we can cut the same two-carat diamond, very thin and shallow, thus making the surface of the ring appear larger. The stone is still two carats, no matter which way we slice it, but the way it's sliced, affects the way you perceive its size. That's why you must find out the exact carat weight of the stone you are considering. Approximations are not acceptable when shopping for diamonds.

Authentication or How Do You Know You're getting the Real Thing?

How do you really know the diamond you paid for is a genuine diamond? The proof is in the paper you can get upon purchasing a fine, one-or-more-carat diamond. It's called a grading report or certificate and it describes the stone, as closely as a "DNA" sample describes a human being. These reports or certificates usually come from a qualified gem laboratory or the GIA (Gemological Institute of America)/Gem Trade Laboratory and attest to the diamond's value, quality and beauty. Your jeweler should be able to provide one without any problem. But even with the report in hand, take both the stone and the report to a gem appraiser or a gemologist or a gem lab: just to make sure that the paper report matches the stone you are buying.

Why is it important to have the report?

This report is crucial if you are insuring your diamond; if your diamond jewelry is stolen, you want to be sure, the "replacement" diamond the insurance company is sure to offer you, is of equal value. The report is just another tool to help you evaluate what you are really paying for, if you take the time to understand what you are reading.

What is on the report?

The date it was issued - this is important because the diamond might have been perfect when the report was written, but it might be damaged when you get it; this is especially true with antique pieces. Check the date and check the diamond and make sure the facts match.

• The name of the lab doing the report
• The exact carat weight of the stone
• The dimensions of the stone
• The identity of the diamond.
• It must say it is "a diamond grading" report and if it doesn't, it must state that it is rating a genuine diamond.

The polish, symmetry of the stone, the finish, color and clarity of the diamond The presence of fluorescence in a stone and whether it is weak to strong, yellow or bluish. The bottom line on buying diamonds that weigh more than one carat is this: shop around; ask questions; buy from a reliable source; get a report; check everything with a lab, appraiser or gemologist. Use your brain, your eyes and your heart to help you choose the diamond you deserve.