About Diamond Earrings

Buying and Maintaining Diamond Earrings

Diamond earrings come in a wide variety, the classics being solitaire diamond studs, and the variations moving across a range like danglers, hoops, designer, journey, cluster and many more.  Be it for yourself, or a s gift, the allure and charm of diamonds makes them highly appreciated.  When you are choosing them as a gift, you know she will wear those most often.  If you are new to buying diamonds, here are some tips to help you.

Educate yourself.  How are diamonds graded? What are the features that affect the price in a diamond?  Be aware of The Four C's.

The Four C's

The Four C's apply to every diamond.  It refers to Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight.  These four considerations enable you to make an informed choice when it comes to purchasing your diamond ring.

Diamond Cut

This one of the hardest properties to judge, plus there are a number of factors to consider.  The first one has to do with the brilliance of the gem.

The pavilion facets of the gem are intended to act as mirrors, to reflect the light entering the stone, back towards the observer.  However, the angle they are cut at has a lot to do with how effectively they work.  Don't be misled into believing that a cut refers to the shape of a diamond.  Shape merely means the outer contours of a diamond.  A good cut is intended to maximize the brilliance and fire of a diamond.

Diamond Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is determined by the size and number of inclusions inside it.  An inclusion could be another mineral, or a fracture.  An inclusion is anything that interferes with the free passage of light.
Just as with color, there are many clarity grades.  They are judged by what can be seen at 10x magnification.  The highest grade a diamond gets is Flawless.

Diamond Carat Weight

A carat equals 1/5 of a gram. Each carat is further divided into points, each point representing 1/100th of a carat.  While weight is the least important of the four Cs in determining value, it may be the easiest of the four Cs to gauge.  As diamonds increase in size, their cost increases geometrically.  Thus, a one-carat diamond may cost more than twice as much as a half carat stone of same quality.

Diamond Color

The closer a diamond is to being colorless, the greater its value.  The current system begins color grading with the letter D.  Colors D, E and F are the highest grades.  They are described as nearly colorless.

Colors G, H, I and J come next.  They are described as -white.
The colors from K to Z have tints (usually yellow or yellowish brown).  Diamonds that are just lightly tinted, K, L and M are often said to be -- set white.  It means that they are lightly tinted and they will appear white if set in yellow gold.

Highest value is accorded to colorless diamonds, unless one is moving into the category of colored diamonds, where the value relates proportionately to the intensity of color.

Other Tips

Check the grade of the gold in 14 or 18 k gold is the best option.  While platinum is hypoallergenic, the variation between white gold and platinum can make a big difference in price but not looks.

Take care of your diamond earrings.  Try to store them in a box specially designed for the purpose.  Usually these boxes come with soft lining that offer protection.  Once in a while, visit a jeweler and have your diamond earrings inspected.  This ensures whether the diamonds are securely held in their settings or have become loose.  Remember, diamond earrings must be the last thing you put on, after hair sprays, mousse and lotions.  Even the oil from your hands can make a diamond look dull.  When cleaning them, use hot or warm water and a soft cloth.  Residues are best removed this way.