Diamond Knowledge:

Diamonds are the ultimate symbol of love. More than 500 years ago Maxmillian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgandy to seal their marriage. Maximillian put the ring on the third finger of Mary’s left hand. “The Vein of Love” runs from the third finger of the left hand directly to the heart, thus the symbol of eternal love. We at Trent Jewelers believe in educating the consumer. It takes a trained eye to recognize and grade a diamond according to the Gemological Institute of America’s standards. Here is a brief description of the FOUR C’s and the role they play in diamond grading and diamond cost.

THE GIA's FOUR C's

COLOR: color grading scale runs from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). Color is critical, the less color the diamond has the more valuable it is. This is a perfect example of where “less is more.” A single increase in color grade can boost the diamond’s value by thousands of dollars depending on the stone’s size.

CLARITY: Most diamonds contain inclusions. Inclusions are natural and are created when the diamond is being formed. These inclusions are referred to as non-crystallized carbon, feathers and clouds. Inclusions range from dark to light. The amount of inclusions in a diamond determines the grade of clarity, which the diamond receives according to GIA standards. The scale for clarity grades runs from flawless (FL) to Inclusions 3 (I3). The fewer inclusions a diamond has the more valuable the diamond is.

CARAT WEIGHT: Carat weight is the term used to determine the weight of the diamond, 100 points totals a carat. If your diamond is referred to as .25, it is a quarter carat, .50 is half carat, etc. A “carat” is the gemologist’s standard measurement for diamond weight. CUT The cut of the diamond determines the fire and brilliance in which the diamond reflects light. This is important because the angles in which the diamond is cut act as light dispersing mirrors and should be in exact geometric relation to one another. Sometimes the diamond is cut too deep and light escapes through the opposite side of the bottom of the stone. If the cut is too shallow, light escapes through the bottom before it can be reflected both resulting poor reflection of light.

TRENT JEWELERS’ FIFTH C: Confidence When you are ready to purchase your diamond, please see a jeweler you have confidence in. We suggest that your diamond be independently appraised from Gemological Institute of America or the European Gemological Laboratories. These are independent laboratories which grade diamonds. These laboratories have no connection to any jewelry store. It is beneficial to have an independent certificate stating exactly what the diamond is. An independently appraised diamond (GIA or EGL) commands more money because the grading is not influenced by the jeweler.

DECIDING ON HOW MUCH TO SPEND: A guideline concerning how much to spend on an engagement ring is approximately one to three month’s salary, but ultimately it is up to you. Diamonds are available in such a huge range of prices that you will be sure to find one to fit your budget. Remember, most purchases you make for yourself will depreciate in value as they are used over the years, however your diamond, like love, can grow more precious with time, this is an important reason to invest in the best quality you can afford.

DIAMOND DON’TS: Don’t let your diamond come in to contact with chlorine bleach. This won’t hurt the diamond but it will affect the mounting. This also applies to hot tubs where the chlorine levels are very high. This can weaken and discolor the mounting. Don’t wear your diamond when you’re doing rough work (i.e. moving boxes or house cleaning). Even though a diamond is durable, it can be chipped by a hard knock along its grain. Don’t jumble your diamonds in a drawer or jewelry case because diamonds can scratch each other and also scratch other jewelry. DO take your diamonds to us for a “check-up” at least once a year, we will check for loose settings and signs of wear.