Not all diamonds are treated equal – Clarity
Most people know about the 4 C’s if they are shopping for diamonds. If they don’t, any honest jeweler will teach them the basics. What many jewelers won’t tell you, is that there is more to the 4 C’s than you might think. What we are going to do, is let you know the real story on the 4 C’s, so that you can feel confident when diamond shopping. We will start this series with lesson on the lesser known aspects of Clarity
A popular clarity for someone looking to save some money is SI, which stands for Slightly Included. One can choose between SI1, and the slightly inferior SI2. However, a GIA certified SI2 stone and an EGL certified SI2 stone can vary. Each has its own slighly different methods of calculating clarity. At Gale Diamonds, we only carry GIA certified diamonds, because the EGL certification is often less strict, which can make its various grades less meaningful. A stone sent to both labs will often have higher grades from EGL, and for this reason we choose to trust GIA.
Another item to consider is how exactly the clarity grade is determined. To simplify, a grader looks at the size, amount, location, and type of inclusions. Since no two diamonds are the same, among SI2’s there will be a variation in how the diamond looks. Certain types of inclusions appear black, and are the least desirable. Others may appear cloudy or whitish, making them less noticeable due to the nature of the diamond.
As they saying does “Location, location, location…” When viewing diamonds make sure the table (or top flat face) of the diamond is relatively clean. This is the most visible and important part of the diamond, especially when set in a mounting, and a diamond with a clean table will always look more brilliant. You should also note that we have used SI2 in these example since these issues are the most prominent in this class of diamonds, but they can apply to nearly all clarity grades.
Armed with this information, you can make a better decision when shopping for diamonds. If you view SI2 stones, make sure they don’t have any obvious inclusions that will hamper the beauty of the diamond. At Gale Diamonds, we always hand pick stones for exceptional clarity. You can be assured that your diamond has been viewed through the loupe at 10x magnification to ensure that it doesn’t have large black inclusions or a dirty table. We will even teach you how to view the diamonds yourself and show you the inclusions and demonstrate that we have selected an exceptional representation of its clarity grade.
Since all diamonds are not treated equal, we highly encourage buyers to “meet” their diamond before buying. In the internet age this practice is losing out to convenience, but now that you know better we hope that you find a jeweler that can meets your needs. We have been in the business for 20 years, and we have the experience to make your diamond buying process fun and easy. Your education into the fine points of selecting a diamond will also help you appreciate your purchase and feel confident that you are getting your money’s worth. If you have any other questions, or if you would like to set up an appointment, call us at 312-920-0075. You can also send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you and hope you have found this information useful.