How To Choose A Diamond

Buying a new piece of diamond jewelry for yourself or someone else can be absolutely exhilarating. When you’re comparing all the various styles of bracelets and earrings and dissecting aspects of different rings to make the best decision, one thing to keep in mind is the occasion. Maybe you’re on the hunt for an engagement ring or want to find a bracelet that goes with a pair of earrings that the giftee already owns. No matter what, you want the piece to be absolutely perfect!

Once you’ve selected the piece of jewelry, you have to make a decision about the diamond that goes in it. You may be able to look at a variety of diamonds, but do you really know how to choose a diamond that is perfect for the piece you have in mind? 

Here at Roman Malakov, we are passionate about educating our Diamond District patrons about all aspects of jewelry, from metals to settings to stones and more. As with any piece of diamond jewelry, the diamond is the star, so research and explore your options to ensure you’re selecting the very best one.

how to choose a diamond

 

What to Consider When Choosing a Diamond

Diamonds come in many different shapes and sizes, and when you include the details you can’t readily see with your eyes, there is even more involved in picking a diamond. 

When you’re exploring how to choose a diamond for a specific piece of jewelry, you must consider the person who will be wearing it. What is her lifestyle like? Does she love to hike and camp and be outdoors, or is she a city girl through and through who rarely comes in contact with dirt or grease of any kind? Does she live an extremely active lifestyle in which a very ornate piece of jewelry could easily get lost or broken? 

You must also consider her personality when you’re learning how to pick a diamond. Does she like bold and ornate statement pieces, or does she prefer simple, minimalistic jewelry? What is her personal style like? Does she love to dress up and accessorize on a daily basis, or is she more of a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl? All of these factors must be taken into consideration when choosing a diamond.

How to Tell the Quality of a Diamond

As you learn how to select the perfect diamond, you will likely ask yourself how to tell the quality of the diamond. Rather than just one thing affecting the quality, the four C’s (Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat) create the overall quality and value of a diamond. You may find two diamonds with very different characteristics at a similar price point, and that is because the combination of those four Cs resulted in a similar quality. As you learn how to tell the quality of a diamond and aim to pick the best one for you, consider which of the four Cs is most important to you.

Step-by-Step Guide and Top Tips on How to Choose a Diamond

If you don’t know what to look for in a diamond or if you’re stuck with the details of how to choose a diamond, rest assured that Roman Malakov is here to help. Using the four Cs as our ground rules, here are our top tips in our step-by-step guide on how to pick a diamond.

Step 1: Set a Budget 

Be sure to complete this step first. You want to be realistic in selecting a diamond within a price range you’re comfortable with. Also, be specific with your budget. You may have an overall number in mind, but that doesn’t mean you can spend that much on the diamond itself. Ensure you allocate enough for the setting and other customizations. In fact, you may need to set two separate budgets: one for the stone itself and another for the remainder of the jewelry.

Step 2: Pick the Shape 

The shape of the diamond may be limited based on the jewelry piece it will go into. Shape options include round, emerald, oval, and so on. Keep in mind that round diamonds are at least 15% more expensive than all the other shapes. Don’t be afraid to opt for a fancy-shaped diamond or use multiple diamonds of different shapes in the same piece. Just be sure that whatever you select will be loved by the recipient. 

Step 3: Select the Carat Weight 

Although this is based on weight, this is basically the overall size of the diamond. Only look at carat weights within your budget that make sense for the diamond shape you chose. Remember that if you want a larger diamond but still want to stick to your budget, you will have to sacrifice elements associated with the color, clarity, or cut. If you’re set on a larger stone, look for shapes that maximize size appearance, such as oval, pear, and marquise. 

Step 4: Choose the Color 

Set a minimum color on the scale or opt for a unique yellow or other colored diamond. On average, D-I color is considered “white” or in the colorless / near-colorless range. Experts agree, however, that you don’t need the highest grade on the color scale in order to have a beautiful diamond. Take into consideration the type of metal the stone will be set in and compare it to other color grades side by side to see if you can tell the difference. 

Step 5: Pick the Clarity

Look at diamonds with different clarity grades to determine if the difference in clarity grade is worth investing more money. As a rule of thumb, anything equal to or above SI1 is typically “eye clean” or has no visible inclusions to the naked eye. Flawless or VVS diamonds, on average, are not more beautiful; they have premium prices because they are significantly rarer!

Step 6: Select the Cut

While this step may not seem as important as the other items in the 4Cs of diamonds, it impacts the overall look of a diamond a great deal. Most reputable jewelers only have beautifully cut stones, so it may be quite simple for you to select a gorgeous one. But based on how you’re choosing to balance your budget, you should explore different cuts to see how they impact the overall look of the diamond.

Step 7: Rank the Diamonds

Look at all of your options in person and choose the diamonds that speak to you or that you consider very beautiful. Pay close attention to what details matter the most to you as you compare them side by side, and note what features you may be willing to compromise on in order to stick to your budget. Also, be sure to consider the metal the diamonds will be placed in, as this can play a big role in their overall look. 

Step 8: Select the Perfect Diamond 

As you narrow down your options, you may have a few early favorites and some that you can quickly rule out. Hold the diamonds in question next to the piece of jewelry you want it in. It should look like the two go together, and you should get excited seeing the piece closer to completion. At the end of the day, remember that this piece of jewelry is going to be gorgeous and special no matter what you decide, so go with your gut and select the perfect diamond for you.

Still Stumped on How to Pick a Diamond? Trust Roman Malakov to Help

The experts at Roman Malakov are highly trained and very experienced when it comes to picking out a diamond for a specific piece of jewelry, and they would love to assist you in your quest for the perfect diamond. Not only will they teach you all the ins and outs of how to pick a good diamond, but they’ll give you expert advice and fact-based recommendations for selecting a diamond for your jewelry.

Roman Malakov has a beautiful selection of high-quality, handcrafted diamond jewelry that you are sure to love. Shop online now or visit the store in NYC’s Diamond District. You can also book an appointment for an online or in-person consultation to learn more about choosing the best diamond.