Diamond Grading For normal People

This section of our web sight is designed to help you make some sense of our terminology, introduce you to the essentials of diamond grading, and familiarize you with our market. It's not a gemological course, and should not be interpreted as such, but it's a whole lot more than you're going to find in any pamphlet or get from a "mall" store… Most of the information contained in this explanation of grading practices is derived from course material from the Graduate Gemologist Program offered by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), but hopefully we've deciphered in into useable English for you.

A diamond is probably the most precious, yet obscure object that you will ever see.   Unfortunately, a few disreputable "jewelry stores" have made purchasing a diamond one of the most challenging investments you will ever make.  Did you know that a one carat diamond weighs about one-fifth the weight of the average paper clip, and yet some cost as much as a luxury automobile.  Subtle factors which affect the grade and market value of a diamond do not necessarily affect its attractiveness and this is where the average consumer gets frustrated.

How is it possible that one store can advertise one-carat engagement rings for sixteen hundred dollars while another store just a few doors down sells its one-carat diamond rings for ten thousand dollars?  And what is all of this VVS-D, SI¹ - F, and I¹ - M, stuff really mean?  What is a "certified diamond" and what does it mean when a jeweler says that diamond grading is subjective?  We hope to provide the answers to all of these questions in the sections on diamond grading that follow this page.

Most of our industry relies on the diamond grading system developed by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America).  This grading system is based on a diamonds cut, color, clarity, and carat weight, and is commonly referred to as the 4C's. Unfortunately, most of the store pamphlets gloss over the 4C's and will leave most of your questions unanswered.  A reputable jeweler, that's where we come in, should take the time to explain the basics of diamond grading to you and teach you to inspect a diamond for yourself, we offer this to all our purchasers but many times it's never offered.  The best thing is for you to learn the basics of diamond grading so that you can make an educated decision based on your wants, needs, and of course budget.

If you're purchasing a diamond for personal enjoyment, such as an engagement ring, you should focus your efforts on finding a diamond that is brilliant and not worry so much about making sure that the diamond meets the GIA text book definition of it's given grade... Some people really lose touch of reality and get caught up in the quest for the perfect diamond.  Remember...  this is suppose to be a fun and exciting purchase, not the biggest migraine you've ever gotten! A basic understanding of the GIA grading system will ensure that you get the most for your money and don't get taken advantage of while keeping you from going bananas.