Choosing a Diamond
At Ciara, our first interest is for the customer’s happiness. Shop with confidence, knowing that Ciara only carries high quality diamonds backed by our Three-year Insurance Guarantee.
To purchase your diamond, it’s important to know what factors affect its beauty (and value). With this understanding, you will be able to make informed choices and find the diamond she’s been dreaming of. Here, we clearly explain diamond qualities and why they matter.
The Right Diamond Shape
The most popular diamond shape for engagement rings, by far, is round. The Princess cut diamond has become more popular in recent years, as well. Both are simple, beautiful shapes that are sure-fire choices. If you are looking for something more extravagant, there are plenty of other statement-making shapes to consider: Oval, Emerald-cut, Asscher-cut, Marquise-cut, Radiant-cut, Pear-shaped, and, for the true romantic, Heart-shaped. [more]
The chart below illustrates the different diamond shapes.
[chart]
The Right Diamond Size
The size of the diamond you choose affects the price more than any other feature. However, there are still plenty of choices to make within a given budget. For instance, you may choose a 2-carat diamond, with a lesser grade of Clarity or Color. Or perhaps you’ll prefer a 1-carat diamond that is closer to flawless in every other way.
But first, find a diamond size that best suits your budget by browsing the chart below. Later, we will refine your choice of carat weight, with the diamond’s other features.
((nick, all of the numbers below were lifted directly from BN)
Diamond Size
0.5 carat (4.91 – 5.30) mm diameter>Starting at $1,200
0.75 carat (5.76 – 6.07) mm diameter>Starting at $2,600
1.00 carat (5.98 – 6.66) mm diameter>Starting at $3,500
1.5 carat (7.04 – 7.63) mm diameter>Starting at $7,300
2.0 carat (7.77 – 8.35) mm diameter>Starting at $9,700
Price comparison: D–J color, FL–SI2 clarity, Ideal–Fair cut. Prices and measurements are approximate.
The Four Cs
We at Ciara are dedicated to delivering great service and beautiful diamonds. An important part of what we do is education. Now that you have an idea of what shape and size diamond you want, it’s time to look at the specific features that make a diamond beautiful and give it value. These features are commonly known as the 4 C’s–Carat weight, Cut, Clarity and Color.
- Carat weight has the most affect on a diamond’s value. Larger diamonds are far more rare than smaller diamonds. Therefore a 2-carat diamond is worth more than twice a 1-carat diamond with a similar cut, color and clarity. More >>
- Cut is what gives diamonds brilliance. The wrong cut can cloud the gem, while the right cut allows the diamond to sparkle. More >>
- Color is what you are looking to avoid when choosing a diamond. A diamond that has no noticeable color–those diamonds graded D-J offer the best value. More >>
- Clarity is a prized feature among diamonds. Gems found to have no internal flaws, known as Inclusions, are the most rare and the most valuable. For the best value, Ciara recommends choosing a diamond whose inclusions are invisible to the naked eye. More >>