May2015

The 4Cs
of Quality
The Gemological Institute of America created the first
standard for describing diamonds, the 4Cs of Diamond
Quality, in the mid-20th century so diamond customers
could know exactly what they were purchasing.
“You should look at the quality of diamond, the karat of gold,”
Angela Tottoli of Pompano Beach’s GV Jewelry, said.
Don’t Forget Insurance
All the hard work and research put into this investment can go
down the drain if the ring is not insured. If one possesses the
opportunity, they should purchase a ring from a reliable store.
Rings that have certificates from the Gemological Institute of
America (GIA) and Approved Trading Organizations (ATOs) are
typically easier to insure, as well as to prove that the diamond
being bought is in fact a diamond (and of the caliber that the
retailer says it is).
COLOR: The color evaluation of most gem-quality
diamonds is based on the absence of color, with D
being colorless and Z having yellow or brown hues. (A,
B, and C were used in an earlier grading scheme.)
CLARITY: The tremendous heat and pressure
deep in the earth that creates diamonds also can result
in a variety of internal characteristics called inclusions.
Diamonds range from flawless (FL) to Included (I3) with
obvious inclusions that may affect transparency and
brilliance.
CUT: People often think of a diamond’s cut as
shape (round, emerald, pear), but a diamond’s cut
grade is about how well its facets interact with light. The
ratings go from excellent to poor and include factors
such as brightness, fire, and scintillation.
CARAT WEIGHT: Diamond carat weight
is the measurement of how much the gem weighs. A
metric carat is 200 milligrams. All else being equal, a
diamond’s price increases with carat weight, because
larger diamonds are more rare and more desirable.
Source: GIA
Decide How Much to Spend
Once a style is chosen, the quality of diamond must be taken
into account. Diamonds range from a simple Tiffany style
to those with outrageous cuts like that of Mariah Carey’s
$10 million, 35-carat emerald-cut diamond. An absolutely
perfect stone can cost six times more than one with just a
little speck, and therefore it is imperative to learn the four C’s
of diamond buying (carat weight, color, cut, clarity) to ensure
that the best diamond per one’s budget is purchased. And
the quality of the precious metal surrounding the ring must be
considered as well.
“Make sure you shop around and
know what you are buying,” Berfond
said. “Education is the most important.
It’s a big purchase. It’s not a small little
purchase. And it’s something that
someone will treasure for the rest
of their lives even if they are going
to trade up. They’re always going to
cherish their first engagement ring.”
Expense Is No Guarantee
But it isn’t the size of the diamond or the expense of the ring
that makes an engagement so special. Sure, size matters, but
the engagement ring doesn’t make or break a relationship, it’s
merely the icing on the cake. According to a 2014 Huffington
Post article, “Men who spent $2,000 to $4,000 on engagement
rings were 1.3 times more likely to end up divorced
than men who spent $500 to $2,000. Women who received
expensive engagement rings also experienced higher rates
of divorce.” Therefore, an engagement ring should reflect the
means of the proposer. “Get something that you can afford,
and you can always trade up.” Berfond said.
So before saying “I do,” consider the do’s and don’ts of
engagement ring shopping to ensure the best result of the
potentially expensive investment that is a marriage proposal. P
the PARKLANDER 29