1) Q: What is colour in the diamond?

Video Response: – What is colour in the diamond?

A:
White diamonds are graded from D to Z. Pure diamonds are actually clear, like glass. The highest quality diamonds contain no colour, which are called D colour. The colour grading of diamonds start with D so as not to confuse with so many other grading systems of ABC. After D comes E, and so on through to Z. The differences between each colour is almost imperceptible, however, the difference between 2-3 colours is readily apparent (F to H).

The most common off-white colour of diamonds is a yellowish hue, caused by nitrogen trapped in the crystaline structure of the carbon lattice. The further you go down the alphabet the diamond will appear to have a pasty yellow hue (P, Q…). After Z the yellow becomes so bright that the diamond is called a fancy coloured yellow diamond or a canary diamond, which is worth substantially more than a D! Other fancy coloured diamonds are almost priceless like pink, blue, and red diamonds.

Individual Diamond Colour Grades Explained in Detail:

D (Colourless) – Highest colour grade your diamond can achieve. This colour emits unequalled brilliance, and is extremely rare.
E (Colourless) – Containing minute traces of colour Emits unsurpassed brilliance, and is very rare.
F (Colourless) – Minute traces of colour can only be detected by a trained diamond grader or gemologist. This is a high-quality colour grade.
G, H (Near Colourless) – Noticeable colour only when compared to higher colour grades. Excellent value, as it appears colourless to the untrained eye.
I, J (Near Colourless) – Slightly detectable colour. Excellent value, as it appears colourless to the eye.
K, L, M (Faint Yellow) – Faint colour noticeable. Even with the presence of colour, diamonds can emit fire and beauty.

Insider Advice
Compared to other shapes, brilliant round-cut diamonds – regardless of colour – look brighter, thanks to greater light dispersion.

2) Q: What is the clarity of the diamond?

Video Response: – What is the clarity of the diamond?

A:
Pure diamonds, as I mentioned are clear Like glass. However, pure diamonds are very, very expensive! Usually, the diamond will have some kind of a fingerprint or birthmark, which makes the diamond absolutely unique. These fingerprints are caused by imperfections in the crystal structure. They can come in different forms, they can be a black carbon-based inclusion, which is carbon which has not fully crystallized. Or they can be a whitish inclusion, which would be imperfections in the crystal structure, called feathers, or they could be microscopic bubbles trapped within the structure, called clouds. The size and location of the inclusion determines the clarity. The larger and more grotesque the inclusion, the lower down the clarity scale and subsequently, the cheaper the diamond.

3) Q: What is the cut of the diamond?

A:
When diamonds are mined from the earth. They are called rough diamonds. The most valuable rough diamonds are are like two pyramids, stacked on top of each other base to base, called double tetrahedrons. A lot of diamonds look like pebbles. It takes the expertise and the craftsmanship of the Diamond Polisher to produce a gem quality diamond. The Diamond Polisher takes the rough diamond and polishes it with pure diamond dust, the only material that can cut diamond, is diamond. It is the diamond polishing process that creates the different shapes in this process by creating different facet arrangements out of the original rough stone. When reading a grading certificate it is common to see different angles and proportions and different percentages of the overall proportions of the same shape. However, there is much more to knowing that your diamond is well cut than just the angles and proportions. It is important to see the Diamond in front of you, in order to see the symmetry and polishing characteristics to make sure that your diamond is really well cut.

4) Q: What is carat weight?

A:
A carat is an ancient measure of weight. Originally the seeds from the carob tree were used as weights, because of their almost identical size and weight. The modern interpretation of this is a carat, which by mass is one fifth of a gram or .20 of a gram. Carats are further divided into points. Each carat has 100 points therefor a half carat diamond or a .50 point stone are the same and are represented by math as .50 CT, which is the abbreviation of carat.

5) Q: Where are the diamonds from?

A:
Diamonds are formed, deep under the surface of the Earth. They are brought to the surface carried by magma during ancient volcanic activity. These events happened all over the world and most commonly found in Botswana, Canada, Russia and South Africa, Brazil and other parts of Africa. Through recent cooperation amongst the traders of diamonds, we can now trace diamonds from the mine to the gem with the Kimberley process. Also some individual governments have procedures in place to track the diamond as being absolutely from their country. Canada was the first country to do so.

6) Q: Do you make the rings?

A:
I do not. My service is to provide you with the best quality diamonds for very competitive prices. I also help you with the design. When it comes time to make the ring, I have several goldsmiths that I recommend and choose from, depending upon your needs and scheduling. I also provide this service for very competitive prices. Because I am making rings every month, the goldsmiths give me a wholesale rate of service, because they want my business back. When an individual walks into a store, he will be charged more because it’s considered a one-time sale.

7) Q: Are Canadian diamonds better?

A:
A diamond is a diamond is a diamond. Diamond is the purist, cleanest and strongest material produced by the Earth. Diamond is pure crystallized carbon. Therefore, a diamond from Canada is no different than a diamond from South Africa is no different than a diamond from Russia, etc. All countries produce all qualities of diamonds. One option is by buying Canadian diamonds, not only are you supporting the local industry and keeping all of your money in the country.

8 ) Q: How much is a 1 carat diamond?

A:
This is a common question I get asked a lot. However, it is impossible to answer, a one carat diamond can be worth as little as $2000, and as much as $20,000. Every diamond is unique, and every diamond has a price. The price of a weighed diamond is determined by the colour the clarity and the cut. The different combination’s of colour and clarity put each diamond into different price bracket. After that, minute differences of cut, fluorescence and proportions also affect the price. It is my feeling, that is more important to learn the characteristics of a diamond and determine which characteristics you wish your diamond to have. Once we know what type of quality, you require, I will be able to give you examples of how much each size will cost. My aim, always, is to provide you with the largest stone your budget allows.

9) Q: How much would a ring cost?

A:
Each ring I create is unique. Therefore it is very difficult to tell you how much the ring will cost until we have sat together and discussed the design that you desire. The quality of metal, the workmanship. The amount of other diamonds or smaller side stones that will be mounted on the ring. All of these factors together will determine the price.

10) Q: What are the advantages in shopping with a private jeweller like yourself?

A:
The first thing that comes to mind is the personal attentive service I provide to every one of my clients. Because I meet my clients privately, there is no ‘pressure sales’ that you would find in a regular retail environment. Also since I am creating unique custom jewellery for every client, I am not trying to sell you any one thing in particular. My service is to inform and educate you to the point where you can choose a unique diamond, and also your own design. A lot of retail environments offer a mass-produced generic design with a potentially questionable diamond in it. So in the end, after shopping with me, you’re winding up with a high-quality custom product.

11) Q: Do you make engagement ring and wedding band sets?

A:
Yes I do, during the design process, we will discuss the possibility of making the wedding band at the same time as the engagement ring. Alternatively we can make the wedding bands at a later date.

12) Q: Who makes the design?

A:
I am confident that together we can create a design that you will enjoy for a lifetime. Otherwise, if you’ve seen a design you like or can sketch your ideas down we can work with that. You can provide me with a picture that you might find on the Internet, or in a magazine. I can have one of my goldsmiths mimic any design. I can create anything you wish.

13) Q: What type of metal should I use?

A:
Generally speaking. Gold is the most common metal used in jewellery. The goldsmiths that I use also work in platinum. Yellow gold or white gold Gold is available in either 10 K gold, 14 K gold, or 18 K gold. I would love to tell you about the new 19 K white gold alloy. I would be happy to explain the differences to you in person!

14) Q: What shape of Diamond should I use?

A:
That totally depends on your personal taste. You may already know which shape you like. You could look at the different shapes on the Internet and determine which shape speaks to you. I also have a shape set in my presentation kit. That way you can see the shape in three-dimensional form in front of your eyes.

15) Q: What is the difference between an appraisal document and a grading certificate?

A:
It’s important to note that these are two different things!

The grading certificate is a certificate stating the diamond characteristics from an independent grading house. Every grading house has their own system. The diamonds that I source come from the top grading houses, so there is no concern of the diamond quality.

An appraisal document is generally completed after a piece of jewellery has been created. These certificates are created for insurance purposes. It is an opinion of an accredited appraiser as to the replacement value of your jewellery. If your jewellery is ever damaged, lost or stolen, and you have it registered with your house insurance. The appraisal document is what the insurance company uses to evaluate the worth of your piece.

16) Q: What are your credentials?

A:
I am a certified diamond grader. I trained at the centre of the diamond world in Antwerp, Belgium. The certificate I have is considered the top diamond grading accreditation in the world. With my training, I can create grading certificates.

17) Q: Where are you located?

A:
I am in downtown Vancouver. I can also travel to your neighbourhood, in order to have a consultation. Generally speaking, if you’re not referred to me, I would meet you first in a public location like a coffee shop. Once we have made our connection and discussed what it is that you need and want, we can either have the next meeting in my office or in your home or your office, your choice.

18) Q: How long does the process take?

A:
From the initial meeting, a ring could be made custom for you in as little as two weeks. However, the process generally takes 6 to 8 weeks. I can also access ready-made rings and jewellery if your needs are pressing.