First, the basic knowledge of diamonds and the "4C" principle:
The mineral name of diamond is "diamond", which is recognized as the king of gems. Diamonds are cut into different shapes according to the shape of their original stones. Diamonds are natural minerals, mainly produced in South Africa, Australia and India. The United States, the Netherlands and Belgium are the bases of diamond processing and cutting. Belgium, in particular, is recognized as a diamond trading center in the world. Diamond is the hardest natural substance known to mankind at present, which is 58 times harder than the mineral whose hardness is second only to hers on the earth. Moreover, diamonds have a high degree of acid and alkali corrosion resistance, are not afraid of scratching and never wear! The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas", which means invincible, just like human love: persevere despite hardships, two of a kind.
When buying diamond jewelry, we must keep in mind the four elements of diamonds commonly used in the world, namely the "4C" standard commonly known in the jewelry industry: weight (carat weight), color (color), clarity (clarity) and cutting (cutting). They are the criteria for determining the value of diamonds.
1. incision
The cutting and grinding process of diamond has the greatest influence on the brightness of diamond. Even if this diamond has perfect color and clarity, poor cutting will make it lose its beautiful color. Professional manufacturers need first-class diamond cutting and grinding technology to make diamonds shine the brightest.
Diamond cutting-its roundness, depth, width and uniformity of cutting surface all determine the brightness of diamond. Many gemologists believe that the cutting and grinding process of a diamond is the most important diamond characteristic. Because even if a diamond has perfect color and clarity, poor cutting and polishing will make a diamond lose its dazzling brilliance.
Ideal cut: represents the standard that only 3% of first-class high-quality diamonds can reach. This cutting makes the diamond reflect almost all the light that enters the diamond. Elegant and excellent cutting. Ideal polishing, ideal symmetry, only 1% good cut diamonds can reach this standard. The highest polishing and symmetry make our diamonds have the best fire color and present eight arrows and eight hearts.
Step 2 color
Grade d: completely colorless. The highest color level is extremely rare.
Class e: colorless. Only gem experts can detect trace colors. This is a very rare diamond.
Class f: colorless. A small amount of color can only be detected by jewelry experts, but it is still considered colorless. It belongs to high quality diamonds.
G-H grade: almost colorless. Compared with higher grade diamonds, it has a slight color. But diamonds of this color still have high value.
I-J grade: almost colorless. A slight color can be detected. Higher value
Step 3 be clear
Pure diamonds are the most popular, but also the most expensive. But many diamonds have some inclusions, scratches, mineral traces or other tiny features, which will damage the pure beauty of diamonds. NGTC, GIA and HRD organizations use a series of detailed rules and standards to outline the quantity, origin, model and inclusion type of diamonds.
From high to low:
FL, IF grade diamond:
FL (defect-free)—There are no inclusions or gaps when observed under a magnifying glass of ten times.
If (there is no flaw inside)-under a magnifying glass of ten times, there is no inclusion, only a small gap.
VVS 1, VVS2 diamond:
VVS 1 (very, very small inclusions)-diamonds have tiny inclusions, which are extremely difficult to observe under a magnifying glass of ten times.
VVS2 (very, very small inclusions)-diamonds have tiny inclusions, which are difficult to observe under a magnifying glass of ten times.
VS 1, VS2 diamond:
VS 1 (very tiny inclusions)-diamonds have tiny inclusions, which are difficult to observe under a magnifying glass of ten times.
VS2 (Very Small Inclusions)-Diamonds have tiny inclusions, which can be easily observed under a magnifying glass of ten times.
SI 1 and SI2 diamonds: diamonds have obvious inclusions, and SI 1 (small inclusions) are easy to observe under a magnifying glass of ten times, while SI2 (small inclusions) are easy to observe.
Diamonds of P 1, P2 and P3: These diamonds are provided by low-end brands.
What is the best level of clarity? It is recommended that you choose diamonds whose flaw clarity is invisible to the naked eye. This kind of diamond has high value, but it is cheaper than if and fl diamonds, and it does not contain obvious flaws, which will not detract from the beauty of the diamond. If you want to choose a diamond with SI purity, you can call the jewelry consultation office to confirm that the contents of the diamond are invisible to the naked eye. However, if you want to buy diamonds with beautiful appearance first, then cleanliness, and at the same time you don't want to change your budget, you can choose diamonds with good cutting and color grade G or H.
Step 4 cut
Once you have determined the cut, color grade and clarity of the diamond, it is easy to find the diamond with the corresponding price according to your budget. The internationally accepted weight of diamonds is calculated in carats, and 1 carat is equal to 100 cents, which is equal to 0.2 grams. For example, a 0.8 carat diamond can be written as 80 cents. In the world, small diamonds are below 0.3 carat, medium diamonds are between 30 and 50 cents, and large diamonds are above 50 cents. If the diamond is less than 30 cents, other parameters, such as clarity, are not necessarily so high. The weight of a diamond is a hard indicator and the most important indicator of a diamond. One carat cut diamond can only be obtained by digging 250 tons of mineral soil, and the expensive place of diamond can be seen.
So, what is the best diamond to choose?
(1) If you have a budget in mind, you will find a series of high-quality diamonds for you to choose from.
(2) If the other person is very active or not used to wearing jewelry, she may bump or damage her new ring. You'd better consider choosing a small diamond or a ring holder that is convenient for protecting the big diamond.
(3) At the same time, you should also remember that the smaller the finger size, the bigger the diamond looks. A 1 carat diamond looks much bigger on the ring finger than on the ring finger.
(4) If you have prepared a ring holder, please make sure that the diamond you choose is suitable for this ring holder. You can check the model specifications of the diamonds you choose, or consult the jewelry consulting office to find out what kind of gems you need.
(5) If the carat weight of diamonds is very important to you, but it can't exceed the budget, it is suggested that you can choose diamonds with the clarity of Si 1-Si2, I or J, but choose VG grade when choosing the cutting time.
Second, you must have a diamond certificate to buy diamonds.
The most authoritative appraisal of diamonds, jewels and ornaments are all analyzed and graded by national appraisal institutions, such as the National Gemstone Quality Inspection Center (hereinafter referred to as the National Inspection) and international authoritative appraisal institutions, such as the Gemological Association of America (hereinafter referred to as GIA) and the Belgian Diamond High Council (hereinafter referred to as HRD), which are the most professional and authoritative appraisal institutions in the diamond industry. These assessment agencies have gained a high reputation in the global diamond industry because of the strictest, consistent and fair assessment of diamonds. Of course, there are also some local testing institutions in various provinces in China.
Certificates that can be browsed when purchasing:
GIA diamond grade certificate, issued by GIA.
HRD diamond grade certificate, issued by Belgian Diamond High Council.
AGS diamond grade certificate issued by American Gemological Association.
IGI diamond grade certificate issued by the International Gemological Association.
EGL diamond grade certificate issued by European Gemological Institute.
NGTC diamond grading certificate is issued by the National Jewelry and Jade Quality Supervision and Inspection Center.
GJC Jewelry Inspection Certificate is issued by the National Light Industry Jewelry Quality Supervision and Inspection Center.
GAC diamond grading certificate, issued by China Gemstone Association.
GTC Gem Appraisal Certificate is issued by Jewellery Testing and Research Center of Jewellery Chamber of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.
GIC mosaic diamond grading certificate issued by Dida Gemstone Testing Center of China Geo University.
Of course, there are other institutions for diamond certification, including but not limited to the above institutions.
Third, the choice of diamond inlay materials:
At present, diamond inlay materials are divided into platinum PT (PT900, PT950 and Pt 850 in some areas), K gold (mainly 18K in China) and Pd-Pd gold. 18K is an alloy containing 75% gold and 25% precious metals such as palladium, rhodium and silver. Other precious metals have different colors, commonly known as white. The standard name is white 18K gold, PT950 is an alloy containing 95% platinum and 5% rhodium and palladium, PT900 is an alloy containing 90% platinum and 10% rhodium and palladium, and so on.
Need to remind everyone that in recent years, there is a kind of Pd950 on the market, that is, palladium. The material is lighter and the price is cheaper, but the disadvantage is that it is easy to blacken after a long time, but it is still popular in some areas because of its low price.
Four, diamond maintenance:
Diamonds are the hardest substance in the world. They have unique resistance to high temperatures and scratches from any other substances. Only with another diamond can it be cut or damaged, or a very violent blow to the diamond's waist can it be broken. Putting your diamond in a protective frame and wearing it on your finger regularly can keep your diamond intact for life. In daily wear, your diamond is easy to contact with sweat stains and daily necessities, which easily leads to dull surface of your diamond. We suggest that you clean the diamonds regularly to keep their brightness. We can clean diamonds at home with chlorine aqueous solution containing 1:6. You can also gently scrub with a soft brush, which can remove most of the stains and greatly improve the brightness of the diamond. But remember not to scratch the inlay base. It is best to clean the diamonds once a year and check the safety of the base. Regarding the storage method of diamonds, when you don't wear diamond jewelry, it is suggested that you put diamonds and all kinds of jewelry in a soft cloth bag to prevent diamonds from scratching or staining other jewelry, or you can put them back in the original packaging box.
The above knowledge, I believe you are already half an expert, the rest, as long as you do it with your heart, you will certainly be able to buy her favorite diamonds!