What to look for when buying antique or estate diamond jewelry

A free article on Fashion

By: Afshin Shaddaie

Summary: When buying antique or estate jewelry, it's important to keep in mind the all-important four Cs but you should also be aware of whether you're buying a true antique or just a piece of estate jewelry.

Buying antique or estate jewelry? Be sure you keep in mind the all-important four Cs (cut, color, clarity and carat weight ). But, you've got to know whether you're getting a real antique or simply a piece of pre-owned jewelry. That said, you'll want to consider two more Cs: cost and credibility.

Cut: Cut is one of the most important considerations when buying a diamond. The way in which a gemstone is cut affects its appearance and its durability - as well as its value. Diamonds are generally cut into shapes that best accentuate clarity and brilliance. Most common shapes for diamonds are brilliant (round), baguette, marquise, oval, pear and princess (square) cuts.

Color: Diamonds range in color grades starting from D through to Z. Many diamonds appear to be white (or colorless), but they may contain traces of other elements that impart slight yellowish or brownish tints. Color variants among diamonds in the D-F range are often very slight. Stones as far along the scale as G are still largely clear; but the further you get from a D rating, the deeper the color concentration.

Some diamonds occur naturally in what are termed "fancy" colors: blues, bright yellows, greens, pinks and even vivid reds. These diamonds are extremely rare and are considered highly valuable.

Clarity: Clarity refers to the size and amount of inclusions in a diamond. Most are merely traces of carbon that didn't crystallize during formation, undetectable by the naked eye. The average consumer would need a microscope (and a considerable period of scrutiny) to see them.

The larger and more numerous the inclusions, the greater the chance of light-dispersion interference - which diminishes the diamond's brilliance. The greater the number and size of the inclusions, the less valuable the diamond; the converse is true as well: The fewer and smaller the inclusions, the more valuable the diamond.

Diamonds are rated according to their clarity under 10x magnification. Diamonds rated IF contain only minor external flaws, which may be removed by polishing. Diamonds rated VVS1 and VVS2 are "very, very slight." VS1- and VS2-rated diamonds have "very slight" inclusions. Inclusions in SI1- and SI2-rated stones are "slight"; and the I1- I2- and I3-rated stones contain imperfections large enough to be visible to the unaided eye.

Carat Weight: Diamonds are weighed in carats; this doesn't refer to size, shape or diameter. One carat may be divided into units of 100 points; therefore, a -carat diamond is described as being 50 points or 0.50 carat. The larger the diamond, the more expensive it is, per carat; a one-carat diamond costs more than two half-carat diamonds of like cut and clarity.

Cost and Credibility: The better the quality of your diamond, the more it is worth. But don't assume you're getting a valuable diamond because it's pricy. This is where credibility is crucial. Are you buying this diamond from a reputable dealer? Are you really getting what the dealer says you're getting? Is this ring an "antique" or is it really just "estate" (a fancy term for pre-owned) jewelry? The best way to know for sure is by knowing your jeweler. To get the best quality for your dollar - from a trustworthy dealer with years of experience - visit Estate Diamond Jewelry. All they do is estate and antique jewelry.