Are you looking to purchase a loose diamond for your engagement, or a custom designed bespoke commission?
We supply certified, conflict free diamonds. Our concierge service is able to source the diamond of your dreams based on the criteria that is important to you.
The Four C’s
The Four C’s is the universal method for assessing the quality of a diamond. It wasn’t until the middle of the 20th century that there was a standard for determining the quality of diamonds. The Gemological Institute of America came up with the Four C’s- Carat, Cut, Color, and Clarity as the standard for grading the quality of the diamond.
The unit of measure used to weigh diamonds are carats. One carat equals 200 milligrams. The size of a diamond is sometimes referred to points. One carat is divided into 100 points, so the weight can be measured to 1/100th. A four pointer diamond is 0.4 carats. The price of a diamond is influenced by how much it weighs. A two carat diamond costs more than two one carat diamonds.
While diamonds are available in a wide variety of shapes, such as round, pear, heart, oval, rose, the cut of a diamond has nothing to do with what shape a diamond is. The cut refers to how well the diamond is cut, polished, and its symmetry. The cut is the only variable in a diamond that is controlled by man. How the diamond is cut is imperative to the diamonds value and ultimately, how beautiful it can be. The proportions of the facets on a diamond enable the diamond to transmit light more vividly. Diamond graders consider the following things when grading a diamond’s cut:
| Brightness | internal and external white light reflected from a diamond |
| Fire | scattering of white light into all the colors of the rainbow |
| Scintillation | The amount of sparkle a diamond produces |
| Polish | The finishing of the stone where all scratches have been removed. |
| Symmetry | How symmetrical the cut is |
Hearts and Arrows is the term coined to a brilliant cut diamond that is perfectly symmetrical. When looking at the diamond with the table side down, the facets on the culet look like hearts. If looking at a diamond with the table side up, there will be arrows pointing in every direction. The hearts and arrows should be identical, meaning the diamond is perfectly symmetrical. Hearts and arrows will be listed on your certificate if it is an excellent brilliant cut diamond.
Triple Excellent diamonds refer to the grade on your certificate. The three parts that contribute to a triple excellent diamond are the Cut grade, Polish and Symmetry. These three things combined are almost more valuable than the clarity and color of the diamond itself. These things are controlled by man and ultimately, bring the diamond into all its glory.
Diamonds are also evaluated on their color. GIA’s color grading scale is used worldwide. A perfect and pure diamond has no color at all and is as clear as a drop of water. This type of diamond is graded as a D- completely colorless. The grading scale descends from the Latin alphabet.
| Colorless | D-E-F |
| Near Colorless | G-H-I-J |
| Faint | K-L-M |
| Very Light | N-O-P-Q-R |
| Light | S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z |
Fluorescence is something to consider when looking at a diamonds color. Fluorescence effects what the diamond looks like under ultra-violent light. A diamond can have very light fluorescence to very strong fluorescence. The UV light can make diamonds with strong fluorescence look blue in color. A diamond with strong fluorescence can look hazy and sparkle less in natural daylight. Blue and yellow are complimentary colors, so a diamond with a more yellow color, and lower color grade, can appear to look whiter in UV light. A diamond with a colorless grade but with strong fluorescence, is lusterless in UV light.
The last factor that determines the value of a diamond is the clarity. When carbon is under enormous amounts of pressure and heat, well beneath the earth’s surface, a diamond is formed. Due to the nature of the process, blemishes and inclusions are found in the structure of the diamond. A diamond is graded on the size, position, and frequency a blemish or inclusion is found within its structure. The purer a diamond is, the more expensive it is.
| Flawless (FL) | No inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification. |
| Internally Flawless (IF) | No inclusions visible under 10x magnification. |
| Very, very slightly included (VVS1 and VVS2) | Inclusions so minor, they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification. |
| Very slightly included (VS1 and VS2) | Inclusions are lightly visible under 10x magnification, but can be characterized as minor. |
| Slightly included (Si1 and Si2) | Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification. |
| Included (I1, I2 and I3) | Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification which may affect transparency and brilliance. |
Diamonds come in all shapes and sizes
The quality of a cut allows a diamond to sparkle more vividly, while the shape of a diamond is what the overall form of a diamond looks like. Diamonds come in all different shapes. Ace Jewelers is able to source a customized diamond with your preference of carat weight, cut, color, clarity and shape.
| Brilliant | The most popular cut. A round diamond with 58 facets (57 if there is no culet) to ensure fire and scintillation. An ideal brilliant cut diamond will have hearts and arrows. |
| Marquise | A marquise diamond has two rounded edges with two acute corners. Symmetry is of utmost importance in a marquise cut diamond. |
| Pear | A pear shape diamond is a mix between a round and a marquise shape diamond. The pear shape is also known as a tear drop diamond. Symmetry is also very important in a pear shape diamond. |
| Oval | The Oval is cut in the brilliant style but with an oval form. |
| Royal Asscher | Royal Asscher cut diamonds feature a high crown and 74 facets and are completely symmetrical. A true Royal Asscher cut is laser engraved with the logo and identification number of the diamond. A Royal Asscher cut is not to be confused with the original Asscher cut, or a square emerald cut, which has only 58 facets. The Royal Asscher cut has a worldwide patent to ensure the excellence that goes along with the Royal Asscher name. |
| Heart | The heart shape diamond looks exactly how it sounds. It is important to get a heart shape diamond that has a high quality cut to ensure symmetry. |
| Cushion | The cushion shape diamond is like a mix between a round and square diamond. The corners are rounded and the crown is domed, just like a cushion. This cut is also known as a pillow cut. |
| Emerald | The Emerald is similar to an Asscher cut, but it has a rectangular form. Symmetry in an Emerald cut is also important. The lines should be perfectly parallel to each other. |
Confidence
Confidence is known as the fifth C, and that is exactly what you have when diamond shopping with Ace Jewelers. All Ace Jewelers diamonds are sold with a certificate with the diamond grading report. Ace Jewelers sources their diamonds from 100% conflict free sources from all over the world. The diamond grading report certifies the diamonds shape, measurements, carat weight, color grade, clarity grade, cut grade including hearts and arrows, and/or triple excellent. If the diamond has extra We only supply diamonds with either GIA, HRD, Or IGI certificates.
GIA certificates are from the Gemological Institute of America. GIA was the first to begin grading a diamond based on their cut, clarity, carat and color in the 1940’s, which set the standard for gemstone grading worldwide.
HRD Antwerp is the largest diamond lab in the world that issues diamond certificates which adhere to the rules of polished diamonds set by the International Diamond Council. The rules set by IDC have been approved by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association.
IGI, or International Gemological Institute, provides a comprehensive analysis of the quality of a diamond including its gemological make up, and finished quality.
Ace Jewelers only sources their diamonds from 100% conflict free suppliers. The suppliers Ace Jewelers works with must adhere to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the System of Warranties. The Kimberley Process is mandated by the United Nations and endorsed by the Security Council, in addition to being enshrined in the national law of all participating countries. Ace Jewelers and all other members of the industry are obliged to trade only with sellers that use the System of Warranties. The CEO of Ace Jewelers is a member of the Dutch Diamond Trade “Vereniging Beurs van den Diamanthandel,” founded in 1890, which is the oldest diamond bourse in the world. Ace Jewelers is therefore, also a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses. You can buy diamonds from Ace Jewelers with confidence knowing that they are members of these organizations.
Vereniging Beurs van den Diamanthandel registration number: VBVD203.
For more information: http://www.diamantbeurs.eu
Ace Concierge Service
The Ace Jewelers Concierge Service is able to source a certified diamond that meets your criteria. Our team of designers and master goldsmiths can create a bespoke commission to set the diamond of your dreams. Please contact service@acejewelers.com to discuss all of the possibilities!