The essential diamond

You wish to an engagement ring to your other half? But you don't know what to choose between a colored stone or a pretty, sparkling diamond. Long touted as eternal, diamonds are 58 times harder than any other material in existence. But it's not unbreakable either! This stone, sold all over the world, is very often associated with union and marriage, and makes the hearts of many of us tumble. And for good reason. 

But how do you choose a diamond? Discover the precise characteristics of a diamond in this article. Find out what diamonds are made of and how to recognize them.

The 4 criteria to take into account when assessing the quality of a diamond :

For each diamond, it's important to consider the following 4 evaluation criteria: carat (weight), clarity (purity), color (color) and cut (size). Each of these criteria will determine whether one diamond is of higher quality than another. It is quite possible for a large-cut diamond to be of lower quality than a smaller diamond with a higher color quality.

1. The carat

In the world of jewelry, the carat is actually a unit of measurement. It is used to determine the weight of a diamond or precious stone in general. To give you an idea, 1 carat corresponds to approximately 0.20 grams. 

In the past, the word "carat", derived from the Arabic word Qirat, referred to the carob seed used to weigh gems. However, be careful not to confuse carats, which refer to the degree of purity of gold. These two units of measurement are completely different. 

When you return your jewel to the boutique, you will be given a certificate of authenticity issued by a recognized organization such as the GIA, for any diamond over 0.50 carats. You can, of course, request a certificate for diamonds 0.30 and above. You'll find all the information you need about your diamond on this certificate. 

In short, the larger the diamond and the better its quality, the more it will cost.

2. Diamond purity

Did you know? A natural diamond or a synthetic diamond is made from a single element: carbon. However, during its natural or artificial construction, a diamond may contain defects or inclusions, whether minor or major. The GIA has therefore established a precise grading system, used worldwide, to assess the purity level of each diamond. 

This ranking is based on 12 rating levels:

- The first is FL (flawless), a diamond with no imperfections either inside or out. 

- Next comes the IF (Internally Flawless) level: the diamond has no or very few inclusions, but may have some very subtle flaws. 

- VVS level (Very Very Slightly Included) with a grade of 1 to 2: the diamond has a few inclusions, but they are not visible to the naked eye and very difficult to see even with a magnifying glass. 

- The VS (Very Slightly Included) level with a grade of 1 to 2: The diamond has inclusions and flaws, invisible to the naked eye and virtually undetectable with a magnifying glass. 

- SI level (Sloghtly Incluted) with a grade from 1 to 3: The diamond has inclusions that are easily visible with a magnifying glass, but invisible to the naked eye. 

- Level I (Included) with a grade from 1 to 3: Inclusions on the diamond are easily recognizable to the naked eye in grades from 1 to 3. 

At Paulette, we only use synthetic diamonds with a minimum VS (Very Slightly Included) purity. Their inclusions are therefore impossible to detect with the naked eye. 

3. The color of a diamond

If you're buying a diamond for an engagement ring or a piece of jewelry, it's important to know its hue. Color is one of the 4 quality criteria used to determine a diamond's value. In order to determine this value, a classification has also been drawn up by the GIA.

This scale is based on several letters ranging from D (colorless diamond) to Z (highly tinted diamond). The letter D is the highest grade your diamond can achieve, since it will be completely colorless and visually perfect.

 At Paulette, the synthetic diamonds we offer are graded from D to F, which means they have a magnificent color. For certain stones, and certain projects, we sometimes go up to G to meet our customers' budgets.

4. The size

The last criterion we're going to present to you is the cut. This is the shape of the diamond. To date, there are several possible shapes, such as pear-shaped, princess-shaped, oval, triangular...

But the best-known cut is the "round brilliant". It is composed of 57 facets and is now considered the essential diamond cut. 

In a nutshell...

To sum up, if you don't know how to choose a diamond, simply analyze these 4 main criteria. A diamond of value will be one that strikes a perfect balance between each of these criteria. 

If you'd like to know more about synthetic or natural diamonds, we've written dedicated articles that will provide you with more information. Please note, however, that there are different stone shapes as well as d'other colored stones such as garnetgarnet sapphire or tourmaline... to create your jewel or your engagement ring.

Other articles you may be interested in:

Gemology glossaryThe symbolism of stonesWhat is the meaning of an engagement ring?The solitaire ringOther types of engagement ringsThe different settingsOn which finger should I wear my engagement ring?