If you love fine jewellery then you will surely be a fan of diamonds. These amazing precious gemstones offer fantastic variety and you will need to do your research before you consider investing in them. This will help you to make sure you get the fine jewellery you want at the right prices.
Shape
One of the most important decisions to make when buying diamonds is the shape of the gem. Round diamonds are the most commonly available but there is also a selection of other more unusual shapes on the market:
Princess – This traditional shape is square or rectangle and has pointed corners. This is a popular choice for engagement rings.
Emerald – This is more complex shape uses rectangle cuts to create a distinctive optical effect. This opens the diamond up and highlights its clarity so is typically used with high grade diamonds.
Asscher – This is similar to the Emerald in that rectangular cuts are used to highlight clarity but has a square shape.
Oval – This offers good brilliance to diamonds and is an attractive fine jewellery choice that can accentuate the slenderness of the finger.
Teardrop – This is also known as a pear shape and has a rounded end and single point.
Heart – Diamonds cut into heart shapes are a popular choice for wedding and engagement rings.
Carat
Diamonds are measured in carats and so this will be an important factor when choosing fine jewellery. The higher the carat the higher the price in most cases. Carat is not related to size so you could have a 1 carat diamond that is larger than a 2 carat one but much cheaper in price.
The most popular carat sizes are 0.50ct through to 2.00ct. Emphasis is placed on clarity and brilliance these days so you might choose a smaller carat if you feel the finish is more desirable.
Colour
Diamonds are available in a vast spectrum of colours. The colour scale is measured in letters (GIA scale) from D through to Z (the yellow end of the spectrum). Colourless white diamonds are quite rare and fetch some good prices. Yellow tones are popular for fine jewellery brooches, bracelets and necklaces. Pink tones are popular for engagement and wedding rings.
Fine jewellery can be a wonderful investment. Diamonds and other precious gemstones hold their prices well and offer stunning pieces for all occasions.
