THE ULTIMATE DIAMOND GUIDE
WELCOME TO THE ULTIMATE DIAMOND GUIDE
Let me introduce myself, I’m Richard Scott, certified diamontologist and gemologist. I’ve had over 30 years of experience in diamonds, selling, training and management. I’ve written 2 wonderful books on the subject: How to buy an engagement ring, and 101 ways to save money on diamonds. My goal is to educate you about diamonds.
The more you learn about diamonds, the better off you’ll be when it comes to choosing the right diamond for the right price; especially if you’re in the market for a diamond engagement ring.
This guide will not only teach you about the 4C’s, but go much deeper into symmetry, polish, fluorescence, cutting style, and price.
Welcome to the best diamond guide on the net!
THE 4 C’S
The first thing you need to learn about diamonds are the basics: cut, color, clarity and carat weight. These categories pretty much determine the price of a diamond. The more you know about them, the less likely you’ll be ripped off or scammed. Enjoy the articles.
DIAMOND COLOR
Diamond color is a pretty easy concept to understand. People can generally see the difference between a white diamond, a yellow diamond or even a brown diamond. The funny thing is, most diamonds are NOT white and most people don’t even know it. Learn more…
DIAMOND CUT
Cut is by far the hardest topic to learn when it comes to diamonds. There is so much information to delve into. Things like culet, girdle, depth, table diameter, percentages, facets, cutting styles… Take a look…
DIAMOND SYMMETRY & SHAPE
When most people think about the cut of a diamond, they often think about shape. Shape is a part of the cut, but it’s more about proportions. Proportions allow light to enter a stone, reflect across the pavilion and bounce back out in a thousand flashes of brilliance and fire. The better a diamond is cut, the more beauty your diamond will have. It’s all about sparkle and scintillation! Read more…
DIAMOND CLARITY
It’s fun to look at clarity under a microscope and view inclusions and flaws. Every diamond in nature has some degree of flaws or fingerprints. Clarity is the size, shape, visibility and frequency of these flaws…
- Diamond Clarity
- Real Diamond Clarity Pictures
- What Clarity Sparkles the Most?
- Is Flawless really Flawless?
- Diamond Clarity Test
- VS Clarity Diamonds
- SI1 Clarity Diamonds
- SI3 Clarity Diamonds
- I2 Clarity Diamonds
- I1 Clarity Diamond Meaing
- Different SI Clarity Diamonds
- Does Clarity affect Beauty?
- Fun Facts about Clarity
- Diamond Plotting Symbols
DIAMOND CARAT WEIGHT
Carat weight is the actual weight of the diamond, not the MM width or the depth. Carat weight began when diamonds were weighed with carob seeds back in the day before the digital diamond scale. The bigger the carat weight, the more a diamond can command price. Big diamonds are rare, but there are some tricks you can do to maximize the size of your stone. One carats are to die for! See all the wonderful beauties here… Plus, convert all of those millimeter measurements into carat weights (which by no means is an easy task to do, and the list goes on and on.) You end up with some very cool stuff. Take a look at these posts and see for yourself…
DIAMOND INCLUSIONS
I am in love with diamonds in the microscope. I can look at diamonds and flaws all day. Customers really enjoy seeing the differences between SI clarity and VS too. And they are also blown away with I clarity stones! Those are a sight to see…
PLOTS & LOUPES
Understanding clarity is one thing, but being able to tell what the real clarity of a diamond is, is another. Luckily there are some great learning tools to help you, like the diamond plot. A diamond plot is the diagram of a diamond drawn out with all the inclusions and flaws shown. It’s like a map that allows you to see where those imperfections fall. See more…
DIAMOND PRICES
Let’s talk about the price of diamonds. They aren’t cheap! How much should you spend on a diamond engagement ring? How much is the average cost? Should you really spend 2 months salary? Find out…
LOOSE DIAMONDS
Buying loose diamonds is not an easy thing. Where do you buy it? Who can you trust? How do you pick the right stone? Should you buy it pre-mounted or buy the stone loose? Is shopping online safe? These are all great questions and I have the answers that will help you make the right decision. GIA… AGS??? Find out…
DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING
Let’s talk about engagement ring mountings, designs and styles. There are a ton to choose from. The most classic style is the Tiffany style… Nothing shows off a diamond off better. But there are many awesome choices. Learn more…
DIAMOND FACTS
Diamonds are awesome! They are some of the smallest and most wealthiest objects on Earth. Things like fluorescence and hardness intrigue me. I love learning about them and looking at them under a microscope. What else is there to learn? What will you get if you sell your diamond? How hard are diamonds? Learn some very cool facts about diamonds (there really is no 5th C), plus way more than you ever bargained for…
DIAMOND BUYING ADVICE
I have worked in the diamond and jewelry industry for over 30 years, and I have a lot of experience and knowledge to pass on. I treat my customers like my friends and tell them the truth about diamond quality and what to watch out for. Are certified diamonds the ultimate purchase? How do you know if a jeweler is honest or not? What is grade bumping? What should you really know about diamonds? Where do you get educated? How do you become a diamontologist? Take a peek…
- GIA does NOT Certify Diamonds
- Great Diamond Ring Advice
- Is That Diamond a Good Deal?
- Average Diamond Engagement Ring
- How to read a GIA Diamond Report
- Should All Diamonds be Certified?
- Grade Bumping Diamonds
- Don’t Shop There
- The Most Important Diamond Aspect
- Bought the Diamond? Now What?
- What does an $8,000 ring look like?
- Why Diamonds Look Foggy
- My Diamond Was Switched!
- James Allen Diamond Search Tip!
- Buying the Perfect Diamond?
- Save $3,000 on a Diamond Ring
- Comparing $6,000 Diamonds
- Sorry, that Diamond is SOLD
- Certified Diamond Myths
- View your Diamond from the Side
- Top Diamontology Schools in the USA
- Check your Girdle Thickness
- Is this a Good Diamond?
- Viewing Different Laser Inscriptions
BROKEN & CHIPPED DIAMONDS
Questions and concerns about chipped diamonds come up all the time. In fact, it’s probably the number one question I get asked. Why do diamonds break? How do they break? How can diamonds be protected? What happens if you have a broken stone? What do you do if the jeweler chipped your diamond? How can you tell? Who do you turn to? Who replaces the stone? Insurance? What does insurance pay? Learn more in the articles below…
DIAMOND Q & A
I get a lot of questions from people wanting to know more about purchasing diamonds or previous purchases they’ve made. I get so many that I set up a Diamond Q&A to help people with burning questions (ASK HERE!). Do you need help or advice? I’ll do what I can to help you and steer you in the right direction. Just like I did with these great questions submitted by readers below. Do you have a diamond question for me? Send me an email, you may see your answer here…
LOOSE DIAMOND DEALS
I love a good diamond deal… Like this diamond deal of the day! If you know what to look for, you can get a great looking diamond for less. That’s where I come in. :) When I run across a loose diamond in my quest to bring you knowledge here, I put up a post about it. These diamonds are generally hundreds, if not thousands of dollars less. It could be because of color, cut, clarity or carat weight, but I pick these, because they are too good to pass up. If you want a bargain, don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, then keep your eyes peeled for these loose diamond deals…
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