DIAMOND PRICES

How Much Is A 1Ct VSI1, E Colour Diamond?

This may seem like a reasonably easy question for someone in the jewelry industry to answer but it’s actually quite difficult if the quote is to be accurate. In the age of online shopping, you often are misled to think that all 1Ct, VS1  Clarity and E Colour are the same, yet even online we can see the same VSI1 E  diamond grading but the price on the same site is thousands of dollars apart for what seems to be the same diamond.  Here are just some of the things we don’t know:

Is the stone a Diamond or a Moissanite? 
If it's a Diamond, is it from the earth or Ethically Grown?
What type of 1ct are we talking about; a shy, full, heavy or true?
What type of VS1 are we talking about; a hard, lab, bonded, paperless, partial or split?
What type of E?  E1, E2, E3, E4 or E5?
How well proportioned is it? Class I, Class II, Class III, Class IV, Ideal, Signature, Hearts and Arrows, Eight Star, High Definition, Kaplan or Jillian? (If they use one of these titles to advertise the diamond is well-proportioned, what are the specifics in angles, percentages and ratios of that brand?) Once you know the specifics (proportions), do they give you enough measurements to determine if the crown angles and pavilion angles are universal or if the diamond is warped?

Please don’t forget about fluorescence. Is the diamond fluorescent? If it is, is it strong, medium or faint fluorescence?

Was the diamond annealed, fracture filled, bleached, assembled or laser drilled?
What equipment was used to measure the diamond?

Was the equipment calibrated before it was used?
Does the paperwork that comes with the diamond really match the stone?

Where did the diamond come from?
Is it a blood diamond?

Is it a secondary market diamond?

Finally, once you ask every last detail, how can you know what you’ve been told is factual?

At Shamin we have been in the diamond business for over 40 years now. Not only do we put our store name behind each stone but also our family name and reputation.  Each diamond is hand picked and verified before being proudly presented to you for your admiration.  

 

BASIC DIAMOND ABC's

CUT
Perhaps the most important of the 4C's.  When people think of cut, they often think it’s the shape of the diamond. But, it’s about how light is returned due to a diamond’s facets. Cut is responsible for brilliance, fire, and scintillation of a diamond.

Labs grade diamond cut from Poor to Excellent, however we always suggest using your own eyes and comparing diamonds and seeing which one jumps out to you. 

Brilliance is the combination of all of the white light reflected from the surface and the inside of the a diamond

Fire are flashes of color you see in a polished diamond

Scintillation are flashes of light you see when the diamond, the light, or the observer moves

For the best results, proportions of its facets, symmetry, the relationship of its weight to its diameter, girdle thickness, and quality of its polish have to come together in just the right way.

COLOUR

A diamond’s color is measured using the GIA® D-to-Z diamond color grading system. This system is the most widely accepted for grading. All diamonds are evaluated based on the absence of color.

No hue = higher value
This lack of color is measured in degrees based on comparisons with masterstones, made while viewing under controlled lighting and conditions. This means that regardless of where in the world the diamond is graded it will be under the same conditions and should receive the same grade. These color distinctions are in most cases invisible to the untrained eye although most people can pick out diamonds that are low in the colour scale.  Once again, trust your own eyes and compare diamonds with us in our showroom, then pick the one that is most beautiful to you. 

D colour: An absolutely colourless diamond. D is the highest colour grade given only to exceptionally rare diamonds. Set in 18k yellow gold, this diamond will pick up the colour of the gold setting. To truly appreciate a colourless diamond, it is best set in platinum or 18k white gold.

E colour: Only minute traces of colour can be detected by an expert gemologist, so it is still considered a "colourless" grade. Set in 18k yellow gold, this diamond will pick up the colour of the gold setting. To truly appreciate a colourless diamond, it is best set in platinum or 18k white gold.

F colour: This is still considered a "colourless" grade, but slight colour can be detected by an expert gemologist. This diamond may pick up the colour of an 18k yellow gold setting, so to truly appreciate the lack of colour, it is best set in platinum or 18k white gold.

G colour: The highest of the "near-colourless" grades. To the naked eye, colour may be noticeable if compared to diamonds of finer grades but this grade offers excellent value. This diamond looks beautiful set in platinum or 18k gold.

H colour: A "near-colourless" grade diamond. Colour is noticeable only when compared to diamonds of better grades. This diamond looks beautiful set in platinum or 18k gold, and offers an excellent value.

I colour: The last of the "near-colourless" grades. Colour may be only slightly detectable upon close examination. This colour grade offers an exceptional diamond value.

J colour: Colour slightly detectable to the unaided eye. This diamond can look  beautiful set in white or yellow gold, but Shamin does not stock these diamonds on a normal basis.  

K-M colour: Colour is quite evident and takes away from the beauty of the piece of jewellery. Shamin does recommend diamonds of these grades but you will find them in many other jewellery stores where you can see for yourself how they are much darker than our diamonds.  

N-Z colour: Even more Inferior grades of colour with noticeable unattractive hues. We do not carry these diamonds. 

CLARITY

Just as a diamond’s color is graded on the absence of color, the diamond’s clarity is graded on the absence of inclusions and blemishes.

Internal characteristics = Inclusions
External characteristics = blemishes

Most are smaller than can be seen by the unaided eye. And, accurate assessment is of utmost importance. So, trained diamond graders evaluate the quantity, size, relief, nature, position of these characteristics, and how they affect the appearance of the diamond.

FL, IF  Diamonds	Flawless: No internal or external flaws  Internally Flawless: No internal flaws
VVS1, VVS2  Diamonds	Very, very slightly included: Very difficult to see inclusions under 10X magnification
VS1, VS2  Diamonds	Very, slightly included: Inclusions are not typically visible to the unaided eye
SI1, SI2  Diamonds	Slightly included: Inclusions are visible under 10X magnification and may be visible with the unaided eye
I1, I2, I3  Diamonds	Included: Inclusions are visible with the unaided eye

 
 
CARAT WEIGHT

The last of the 4C's and perhaps the easiest is Carat Weight. In addition to color, cut, and clarity, carat weight directly correlates to price of the diamond. This happens because the supply is low (larger = rarer) and demand is high (larger = more popular). An important note is to remember that Carat is the weight of the diamond and not the size. We suggest to our clients to buy a diamond based on size and Cut as that is what appeals to the naked eye. A typical 1 Carat is 6.4mm. You may find lower priced 1 Carat stones but when you check the size they may be as low as 5.8mm. Keep in mind, diamonds of equal weight are not necessarily the same size. Different proportions and depths will result in different size and weight combinations. Once again, at Shamin's we strongly suggest that our clients sit down and compare diamonds for themselves and then choose the one that is most beautiful, regardless of the stats the diamond comes with.

1 Carat = 200 milligrams
1 Point = 0.01 carat = 1/100 of a carat

At Shamin we handpick our diamonds to give you the most value and beauty.  Most of our creations in our showcases are flawless to the naked eye (SI) and High Near Colourless (GH) and VG to EX Cut.  Almost 90% of our custom created pieces are with VS Clarity and D-F Colour, Ideal Excellent Cut Diamonds. 

We have thousands of diamonds from the worlds finest cutting centers at our fingertips so let us know what  your dream diamond is, and let us find it for you at a beautiful price.