Buyers Guide
Diamond Guide
Diamonds are a timeless treasure, each one unique and special so it's worth taking the time to find the diamond that is right for you. This guide gives you the information you'll need when choosing diamonds.
Diamonds were formed millions of years ago and are the hardest known natural material on earth. Named after the Greek word "adamas" meaning unconquerable or indestructible, diamonds are recognised as the ultimate symbol of love.
The most common characteristics to consider when choosing a diamond are:
Carat
The term 'carat' refers to the weight of a diamond and is derived from the word 'carob'. In ancient times carob seeds were used to measure the weight of gemstones. 1 carob seed equaled 1 carat. These days a carat is defined as one fifth of a gram (200 milligrams) or, using the point unit, 100 'points'. For example a 0.50 carat diamond is the same as a 50 point diamond or a half carat diamond.
Sometimes you will see TDW used to describe the weight of diamonds. TDW stands for Total Diamond Weight and is used to describe the total weight of the diamonds in a piece of jewellery when more than one diamond is used. For example a ring made up of four .25ct diamonds has a TDW of 1ct.
Whilst size is the most common factor in determining the value of a diamond it is the combination of all 4Cs, carat, clarity, colour and cut that will give a diamond its value.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the presence of inclusions in a diamond. Just as humans have fingerprints or birthmarks so do diamonds, in the form of inclusions. Inclusions are natural identifying characteristics such as minerals or fractures which appear while diamonds are being formed in the earth.
The number, size and location of inclusions can disrupt the flow of light through a diamond and as a result may diminish the brilliance or sparkle of a diamond. Therefore, the fewer the inclusions, the greater the clarity, the rarer and more valuable the diamond.
Diamonds are graded on a scale ranging from flawless to imperfect based on the inclusions in the diamond. Inclusions that are visible to the naked eye are graded I1 - I3. Rare diamonds with no inclusions are called flawless (FL) or internally flawless (IF). Those with very very small inclusions are graded VVS1 - VVS2, those with very small inclusions are graded VS1 - VS2, those with small inclusions are graded SI1 - SI2 and finally diamonds whose inclusions are visible to the naked eye are graded I1 - I3.
Colour
Although many diamonds appear colourless, most contain subtle tones of yellow or brown. Thus diamonds can be graded on a colour scale ranging from D, colourless and rare, through to Z.
In general the more colourless a diamond the more valuable it is however, diamonds of other intense colours, such as pink, blue and red are also considered very valuable and command high prices due to their extreme rarity. These unusual or intensely coloured diamonds are sometimes referred to as 'coloured fancy diamonds'.
Cut
The cut of a diamond, the only diamond characteristic not determined by nature, refers to the angles, proportions and symmetry of the facets of a diamond which are created by a skilled craftsman. The cut affects the amount of light that is dispersed and reflected through a diamond affecting its sparkle and brilliance. If a diamond is cut too shallow or too deep, light escapes from the diamond resulting in less sparkle. A well cut diamond on the other hand allows the greatest amount of light to be dispersed and reflected through the diamond enhancing its sparkle and brilliance therefore making the diamond more valuable.
Cut also refers to the shape of the diamond. The most popular shape is round although non-round shaped diamonds, known as fancy shapes, such as emerald, oval, princess, marquise, pear and heart shaped diamonds are also very popular. Ultimately the shape of a diamond comes down to personal taste.
Gold Guide
Gold, first discovered in ancient times, has long been considered as one of the most precious metals on earth and, due to its rarity and beauty, has symbolised wealth and power. It has been used to create jewellery and ornaments for over 6000 years and today gold is still used to make precious jewellery pieces.
The word gold is derived from the Indo-European word for 'yellow' most obviously because of the yellow colouration of pure gold. Other metals, however, can be combined with gold to create various colours such as white gold or rose gold.
Rose gold is created by mixing pure gold with copper which gives the gold the reddish colour. The more copper added the more red the gold will become. White gold on the other hand is created by mixing pure gold with metals such as silver or palladium and then the white may be enhanced with rhodium plating to give the gold a highly reflective white surface. However over time, the rhodium plating will wear off and the white gold will lose its brightness, which is natural particularly if it is worn on a regular basis. In order for the gold to regain its shine you may need to get it re-rhodium plated. At Stewart Dawsons we can arrange for your white gold jewellery to be re-rhodium plated so just visit or contact your nearest Stewart Dawsons store for details.
An alternative to white gold is platinum, a brilliant white coloured metal that is denser than gold and more valuable due in part to its rarity and ability to retain its white lustre without fading or tarnishing. Although we do not stock platinum jewellery we can arrange for certain styles to be created in platinum by our manufacturers. See your local Stewart Dawsons store for more information.
Just as gold comes in various colours it also comes in different purities. Gold is measured in caratage (Carat/ct) which is the term used to describe how pure the gold metal is Ð Be careful not to confuse this with diamond carats. Pure gold (100% gold) is 24 carats and is very soft therefore generally unsuitable to create jewellery. As a result other metals are added to pure gold to create a gold alloy thus strengthening it. The carat indicates how many parts, out of 24 parts, in the gold alloy are gold. For example an 18ct gold chain is 18/24 parts pure gold and 6/24 parts other metal. The more alternative metals added to pure gold the lower the carat. At Stewart Dawsons the majority of jewellery is available in 9ct gold however we also stock jewellery set in 18ct gold.
Visit your nearest Stewart Dawsons store to view our extensive range of gold jewellery.
