Welcome to Diamonds 101!


Welcome to the University of Luxor, where your trusted jewelers are here to provide insight on all things jewelry & diamonds. The process of purchasing an engagement ring can be incredibly daunting, so we’re beginning our first lesson with the basics. Welcome to Diamonds 101! 

Get to know the 4 C's -

What are they?  The 4 Cs of a diamond are a globally accepted set of standards used to evaluate a diamond's quality. They key factors in grading diamonds, and their combination determines the diamond's overall value. When purchasing a diamond, it’s essential to balance the 4 Cs with your budget. For instance, if you prefer a larger carat size, you may need to compromise on cut, color, or clarity to stay within your price range.

 

CUT

The quality of a diamond’s sparkle. The way the facets align & interact with light.

The Cut achieves maximum fire & brightness.

Graded by how the diamond sparkles, how it was designed & on a scale of “excellent” to “good”.

*Manuk explains cut to clients by using the “restaurant example”, which is simply “have you ever seen a sparking diamond in a dimly lit restaurant?” What you’re seeing is an excellent cut. We find it the most important when buying a diamond, which is why he handpicks stones between the excellent - very good range.

 

CLARITY

The absence of inclusions and flaws.

Measures how pure of inclusions and rare a diamond is, based on the visibility of blemishes.

Grading depends on the size, relief, number, position, and nature of these characteristics and how it affects appearance.

*Talar believes we always sacrifice something. If size and color of the diamond are more important to you, then inclusions may be possible according to budget. We use the term “naked eye clear”, meaning stones with inclusions you only see with a microscope, when we pick stones for varying budgets.

 

COLOR

Based on the absence of color, and is graded on a scale from D to Z.

A pure and perfect diamond has no hue, compared to water, and is of higher value.

The GIA's D-to-Z color scale is the industry standard for grading diamonds. We only use GIA certified stones from trusted sources we’ve worked with for over 20 years.

*Manuk handpicks stones for the store and stays in the “near colorless” G-H-I-J letter range. Going for a slightly lower color grade for higher carat can help you save , but a reminder that color becomes slightly more obvious with a larger diamond.

 

CARAT

The unit of measurement for a stone’s weight and size.

Due to the nature of a stone’s shape, two stones of the same carat can appear a different size.

*Talar is one of the girls! She knows most are looking at larger carat size, and will direct unaware clients to something she would want for herself. We’ve been known around Greater Atlanta for providing the best value according to budget, and it still is a major part of our instilled mission.

 




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