Buying a diamond ring can be likened to learning about cars prior to purchasing a vehicle - one knows that for a given price, one will be able to enjoy such features as sunroofs, CD changers, built-in satellite navigation, etc. And, one can always consult the blue book of cars, which reveals the wholesale prices dealers pay.

But when investigating diamonds, the criteria for excellence is slightly less obvious (than, say, for a Mercedes). What does constitute a fair price for a diamond? Why is a single small rock such a humongous investment? How do you learn to separate the wheat from the chaff? Hopefully the following paragraphs will be useful. Skip to the section on our pricing if you'd like to cut to the chase.

The 4 Cs - [ Return to Top ]
Convential diamond-buying always refers to the 4 Cs. These are as follows.

• CARAT WEIGHT
  This refers to the weight of the diamond. Each carat is divided into 100 points, thus, a half-carat has 50 points. Keep in mind that this is a measurement of weight, not size - two diamonds of 100 carats could look different in size, due to their cut and depth.

• CUT
  A diamond's cut refers to the whole diamond itself. Ever notice how some diamonds sparkle more than the Fourth of July fireworks, while others sit there rather blankly? That's because of the perfection (or lack thereof) of the cut. As with everything else in this world, a mathematical formula exists which determines the exact proportions needed to produce that ideal effect, so that light enters the facets and is reflected through the top.

• CLARITY
  The clarity of a diamond refers to the level of imperfections contained within the stone. Perfect diamonds (otherwise known as 'flawless') are quite rare. The clarity grading is done under 10 power magnification, which is why you often see jewelers examining diamonds through a loupe. Following are the clarity grades:
  . F1 - Flawless
  . IF - Internally Flawless (surface has minor imperfections)
  . V VS1 - V VS2 - Very, Very Small inclusions
  . VS1 - VS2 - Very Small inclusions
  . SI1 - SI2 - Small inclusions
  . I1 - I3 - Imperfect (naked eye can see problems)

• COLOR
  Finally, one weighs the color of the diamond for pricing considerations. The more and more color a diamond has, the more common it is. Colors are designated as follows:
  . D - F - Colorless
  . G - J - Nearless Colorless
  . K - M - Faint Yellow
  . N - R - Very Light Yellow
  . U - Z - Light Yellow

For more information from a consumer's viewpoint, be sure to check out the Engagment Ring FAQ by Peter Mlynek. It contains excellent points and straight talk about buying a ring and diamonds in general. NOTE! It was written in 1995.

Pricing - [ Return to Top ]

Because we specialize in wholesale diamonds, we can pass the savings onto you as a customer. Bring in your questions and comments, ideas and thoughts, and we'll tell you up-front the best deal we will be able to offer. Shopping around is encouraged, and please do take your time. This investment will last for a lifetime.