Diamonds 101

When you're shopping for a diamond engagement ring, all the technical terms and decisions can become overwhelming. We're here to guide you and give you an idea of the most important elements of diamond rings. We realize that purchasing a ring is an important decision that will be part of you and your partner's life for many decades to come. We've created an easy "4 C" outline to help you make the decision right for you and your future fiancé. Read on to discover the elements of diamonds that distinguish them and make some more brilliant than others.

Carat

Many people new to engagement ring shopping have heard of carats, but are unsure what exactly these are a measurement of. Carats are a unit of weight. Larger diamonds have more carats, which makes them more valuable. In nature, diamonds weighing several carats are rare, so diamonds weighing more carats will generally cost more. However, a diamond's quality is determined by a variety of factors, which we'll outline below, so don't focus solely on carats when shopping for your ring.

Clarity

Diamonds are natural rocks, so many of them have slight imperfections. These are called inclusions, and can look cloudy, like pinpricks or feathers. These will negatively impact how diamonds reflect light, so a flawless diamonds will have no inclusions and be more valuable. We find that diamonds with better clarity to make our engagement rings look even more outstanding.

Color

Diamonds come in a variety of colors, depending upon which chemicals were present while they were being made, and based from letters D through Z. A D color diamond is the whitest diamond you will find while a Z color will have a yellow-brown color. Different-colored diamonds will look better with different types of metals. Diamonds that have more yellow are generally set in gold. You can also get rarer pink or completely yellow diamonds.

Cut

Diamonds come out of the ground with irregular proportions. It's up to diamond smiths to cut diamonds so that they refract light in the best way to make them brilliantly sparkly. Today, diamonds can be cut in a variety of ways to make their facets reflect the light that gets caught inside them. The most popular cut is the round brilliant cut. However, oval, cushion, and radiant cut are extremely popular as well. We specialize in finding diamonds with symmetry and proportions that will increase the beauty of the diamonds we use in our engagement rings and other jewelry.

When you find yourself in the market for a diamond, you want the best you can afford. A diamond makes a statement, and selecting a diamond within your budget can be a fun and exciting process. If you are thinking about buying diamonds in NYC, the first thing to do is educate yourself about the product you are investigating. You have probably heard of the four C's of diamond quality, and we want to help you understand exactly what each one means and how it plays into your purchase.

Carat

The carat weight is a measurement of the size of the diamond in question. The higher the number is, the bigger the diamond will be. While the size of your diamond is obviously important, it should not be the only factor that you take into consideration (both in how your diamond looks and how much it costs).

Color

Diamonds come in a wide variety of colors. A letter scale is used to classify diamonds based on their whiteness, with D being the whitest and Z being much more yellow. Depending on the metal used for the ring (as well as your personal preference), you can determine the best color for your situation.

Clarity

Natural diamonds generally have minor imperfections called inclusions and blemishes. The location, size, and visibility of these inclusions and blemishes all factor into its appearance and therefore its placement on the clarity scale. While almost all diamonds have these imperfections, not all of them are visible to the naked eye.

Cut

A diamond’s cut affects its ability to reflect and transmit light (also known as sparkle). Its proportions and symmetry are factored into its cut grade.

While higher-quality diamonds generally cost more, it is very possible to compare various stones and find deals within your price range. Determine where your priorities lie--if color is very important to you but clarity matters less, then you can find a beautiful, white diamond with a few inclusions that won’t break the bank. At Lauren B Jewelry, we want to help you find your perfect diamond, and we are here to help clarify any diamond questions you may have.

New York City is one of the world’s most popular locations for diamond shopping. With the Diamond District at its helm, Manhattan has every color, cut, carat, and clarity imaginable. The oval diamond is one of the more unique and underrated brilliant cuts available on the market.

The oval-cut diamond was invented in New York City in 1957. This new design was one that optimized the distinct shine and sparkle in a refined oval diamond shape. Since that time, oval diamonds have been revered as one of the more unique and striking diamond silhouettes. Like the round diamond, the oval cut can have similar clarity and shine, but has the added bonus of appearing larger than its actual size. The elongated shape gives the appearance of a bigger diamond along with a more distinctive and elegant design. New York City is the diamond destination for every man and woman.

If you want to find out more about the oval diamonds in NYC, the Diamond District is the perfect place to start. Whether you want to see the brilliant shine of this unique cut in person or want to find out more about it from a jeweler, Lauren B Jewelry is happy to help.