Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes
A diamond adds instant beauty to a piece of jewellery, but don’t be hasty in choosing its setting. With a jeweller’s help, it’s easier than ever to create the piece of jewellery that’s just what you have in mind – and entirely unique. Remember that the diamond itself is the most important and expensive component of your piece of jewellery, so give some careful thought to choosing just what you want.
When choosing a diamond, it’s important to remember the four Cs: colour, cut, clarity, and carats. Colourless diamonds are the purest and most expensive, but keep in mind that they do come in a variety of colours that might appeal to you. Carats are the unit of weight of the diamond – a carat is about 200mg. The more carats, the bigger the diamond, and the more it costs. Diamond clarity is about whether the diamond has any defects (blemishes) or internal irregularities (inclusions).
Probably the most important thing to consider when buying a diamond is its cut. The term “cut” doesn’t refer so much to a diamond’s overall shape – it’s about all of the facets of the diamond, and how it has been cut to best display its brilliance. If a diamond is cut too deep it will appear dark, while a shallow-cut diamond will look lifeless. A good cut shows off the diamond to its best advantage, allowing it to really sparkle and look good. The classic Princess cut – a square shape – is an elegant and timeless look, while a round cut is a popular modern choice for its simplicity and how easily it complements the jewellery around it and its wearer.
A jeweller will be able to provide a number of options for setting your stone, and a good jeweller will be able to make any of these settings skilfully enough to keep your diamond safe and secure. A classic prong setting is the best way to emphasise your diamond and make it look bigger, but you might want something subtler. Consider bezel, flush, pav, cluster and ballerina settings to create a piece as classic or as contemporary as you like.
When constructing diamond jewellery, gold, white gold, or platinum should be used, as these are the high quality metals that will be able to last as long as your diamond does. Which one of the three you choose depends a lot on your personal preference – what looks good on you – but may also be dictated by budget: platinum, while harder-wearing, can cost around twice the price of white gold.
Whether it’s a wedding or engagement ring, a gift for someone you love, or something that you’re buying just because it’s beautiful, diamond jewellery will be treasured for a lifetime. Make a choice that complements the wearer’s looks, that won’t go quickly out of fashion, and that has real quality rather than flashy appeal. Make sure you love it, so that you’ll feel the same about it in thirty years time as on the day you buy it.
