The clarity on a diamond is a measurement under a loupe (10x magnification), of how the size, locality and type of internal inclusion affects the beauty of the diamond. Every diamond has some sort of inclusion, although some are microscopic and are therefore viewed as unimportant to the overall apperance of the stone.
The scale for diamond clarity is ascending order is: PK3-1, SI2-1, VS2-1, VVS2-1, IF. PK (with one being closest to an SI2) means that under a loupe the diamond appears heavily included, and will almost certainly have inclusions that are visible with the naked eye. IF (standing for Internally Flawless), on the other hand means that no internal inclusions are present under magnification and so of course it will not have any visible internal inclusions.
It is worthwhile to note that external problems with the diamond for example things such as 'naturals,' where a part of the rough diamond has been left over during polishing do not count towards the clarity grade because, as mentioned before, the clarity is a measure of the internal inclusions and only the internal inclusions.
The videos below explain the diamond clarity scale as well as showing comparisons between different inclusions. It also, very usefully, shows visual differences in diamonds that have been graded (by GIA in this case), as having indentical clarity grades.
Engagement Ring: Baguette Diamonds
A baguette is a loaf of bread that is narrow and long in French and that's why this rectangular shaped diamond is named that. The style is a step cut and these diamonds are very often used as the stones in the sides of a design. They can be stacked together in a line and look good in bracelets where they are usually channel-set. In rings, they are usually set in a prong setting and are used very often to flank the main diamond which could be of any shape. You could also have a ring that is channel-set with small baguettes. The stones are extremely clear and you must make a point to see that the stones are all matched perfectly - in size, colour and clarity.
You can use baguettes in your engagement ring as a channel-set design or as the side stones. Either way, they will provide a clear, dazzling look to your ring. You must be very careful to check that there are no flaws in the baguettes you buy. There are instances where there are chips within the diamond and this could show up as a bad imperfection in an otherwise clear diamond.
Engagement Rings And Insurance A Must
An engagement ring is one of the most expensive things that you spend your money on - so don't you think you should safeguard it with insurance? Especially when it is worn all the time by women and could at any point of time, get lost or stolen. Your jeweller might be able to tell you how to go about it - or talk to your insurance company about it.
There are many kinds of insurance and you might need to get one where you get the market value for your diamond engagement rings. Some insurance policies will only give you the value of the ring after depreciation so you really won't be able to get another ring with the money you get. Some, as we said, give you the market value of the ring and some others might insure the engagement ring together with all the other household items so you get a sizeable percentage of the cost. When you get that insurance, you will need to furnish certain details like the receipt for the ring, the certification and an appraisal. They will then explain the various policies to you and you can choose the one that suits you the best.
Metal Types For Engagement Rings
It is easy when buying an engagement rings to spend a disproportionate amount of time thinking about the diamond or gemstone to set in the ring. However, it is equally important to give thought to the type of metal your shank (the actual ring part) will be in the engagement ring.
There are as many options as with your diamond, because purity as well as metal type must be considered. Gold for example is measured in Karat, (commonly abbreviated to K) which unlike a diamond is not measuring weight but rather the percentage of the metal that is pure gold, as all rings are alloys. 9K Gold for example is 37.5 % Gold with others metals making up the rest; while 18K Gold is 75% of the 24 Karats that make up Gold.
Purity affects numerous properties of the ring but the most obvious is the colour, 9K Gold give a more yellowy gold, while 18K is a more metallic less dull finish.
Similarly Platinum comes in various purity levels but these are not measured in Karat but rather numerical values. For example 95% Platinum is expressed 950 Platinum (950 parts Platinum per 1000).
We generally recommend Platinum as it is harder wearing than gold and more resistant to an active life. We do not recommend Palladium, because while it is cheaper it is very difficuilt to resize, and the majority of jewellers will simply not resize it at all. This is a major issue for many customers as the idea that they will not be able to gain or loose weight without buying a new band is rather frightening.
In conclusion, make sure you discuss all your options with your jeweller and do your own research, after all your would not want to ruin your beautiful diamond engagement ring by using an innappropriate shank.
For those of you interested in a bespoke design and curious to see what sort of designs you can achieve we recommend this video from learnaboutdiamonds youtube channel that explains how a bespoke ring is made:
Engagement Ring: Little Secrets
Did you know that if you wanted you could hide away a little stone under your engagement ring's gallery? Now that is the space that is just under your diamond so no one can see it - only you will know it's there. It could be a tiny diamond that you got as a promise ring or it could be a small bit of gold with an inscription. Whatever it is, it's a great feeling to know that you have a secret hidden in there.
All lovers must have secrets that only they know about - to make them feel special and different from everyone else in the world. What better place to hide a secret than in an engagement ring? The ring itself is special as it is the symbol of a special bond between two people. It becomes doubly special when yet another secret that no one else is privy to is hidden inside it away from the eyes of the world. That little hidey-hole of a space there could house quite a few miniscule treasures so maybe you should start thinking about it if you want to make your diamond engagement ring unique.
The Bow-Tie Effect in Diamonds
The bow-tie effect is an unavoidable occurence with marquise, pear and oval cut diamonds. It is essentially a severe area of light leakage in the middle area of the diamond, which makes the diamond appear 'dead' in this spot.
While it is unavoidable, many potential consumers are turned off of fancy cuts by the bow-tie effect, and certainly were it is exceedingly poor you should not buy the diamond. However, many high quality diamond retaillers use craftsmen with such ability and experience that the bow-tie effect can reduced by significant amounts.
It is unlikely, due to the nature of fancy cut diamonds, that you will ever get the same fire, brilliance or scintillation that you could get from a excellent cut Round Brilliant. However, at the same time with a good craftsman working on your fancy cut, you can still get more than acecpetable levels.
In our opinion the unavoidable bow-tie effect should certainly have a bearing on your decision when choosing a diamond, however, you must also consider what is the most important criteria for your diamond is. If you have fallen in love with the shape of a fancy cut, then acknowledge it will be imperfect but love it all the same.
An imperfect diamond is not necessarily a useless one, and some can be even more special, because while you may have sacrificed some sparkle for a shape, you know you would not want it any other way.
Wedding Ring With Black Diamonds
Did someone say that it is only women who get pampered during the engagement and the run-up to the wedding? Don't be fooled - today's male is just as bad. Most men spends ages looking for clothes and accessories so they look good on their wedding day. No more is the bridegroom just the guy in the suit who has to be there - he also makes a fashion statement and is proud to do so. So when you hear that men's wedding rings have begun to sport diamonds, we felt it was very much along the same lines.
From diamonds to black diamonds was just one small step for men and today, they revel in the kind of wedding ring that you would never have caught them wearing, let alone looking at a few years ago. Some even have the whole wedding ring encrusted with diamonds - so much for male reticence! But black diamonds are really the way to go for men. It makes the wedding ring elegant and something that stands out. Black is incredibly beautiful and the designs can be intricate using many diamonds or just one black diamond embedded in the band.
Furthermore, with the rise in popularity of masculine metal types such as tungsten and titanium, the male wedding ring market has increased exponentially. A single black diamond set in a titanium band is not only masculine but at the same time is eye-catching and sophisicated without appearing feminine and without diverting attention too much from the wearer.
It is not even that expensive to have a diamond set in your metal of choice and being that the metal types are generally very hard-wearing the small expense now may well last the rest of your life. An excellent idea at a cheap price in our opinion, and also in a growing number of men's opinions.
Engagement Rings And Scratches
While a well worn wedding ring makes you look at it and fondly remember the years that you have worn it, an engagement ring is a bit different. You want it looking new and dazzling as long as you can. This means you have to look after it well and give it for cleaning and polishing periodically. You also need to realise that some metals are more scratch-proof than others.
Gold - whether it is yellow gold or white gold tends to be prone to a bit of scratching. Not badly but over the years, you do see scratches on engagement rings and a dulling on the surface. Not so with metals like platinum or titanium. These are tough and durable metals that resist scratches and gleam the way they did when they were slipped onto your finger for many years to come. So if you want a diamond engagement ring that keeps its looks for a long time, maybe you ought to pay a bit more attention when you choose the metal to set your diamond in.
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