Diamonds are graded based on four main criteria. The value of any diamond will be based, mostly, on these criteria:
If you are selling a GIA certified diamond, the diamond grader has performed all of the work for you and you can expect a generous valuation from us.
The information below is provide, however, in case you would like to know more.
Color
The color of diamonds used in fine jewelry often appears colorless. It does, however, have a slight tint of color. The less color that a diamond has, the more its value increases. There are many gradations of color in a diamond and very rarely are they completely without color. Hence the highest color grade of a diamond is "near colorless." This applies to all diamonds that are considered to be in the normal range, there are special diamonds that have a pronounced color, they are valued differently. If you are selling a diamond with pronounced color, we can explain the valuation of it to you.
Clarity
Clarity is an assessment of how many defects there are in a particular stone. They can be on the surface, like scratches, or they can be inside the diamond, the result of imperfections present when the diamond was formed over time. Nearly all diamonds have some imperfections, and diamonds that are graded "flawless" (i.e. no imperfections) are extremely rare. Some small
Cut
Cut can be evaluated in several ways. There are different types of cuts for diamonds, and they can go in and out of fashion. However, even between two diamonds of a similar type of cut, one can be far more valuable. A well executed cut, which increases light refraction through the crown, will display more "brilliance" than an identical cut, on a different stone, that was poorly executed.
Carat Weight
The fourth element of a diamonds value is the weight of the stone. Weight of diamonds is measured in carats. The bigger the diamond is the more it weighs and therefore is higher carats. Higher carats mean more value for selling such a diamond, but there is a catch: the relationship between carat weight and selling price is not linear. That means that a diamond that is twice the size of a smaller one will be worth more that twice as much. It selling such a large diamond will result in more than a doubling in value because the larger stone is more rare.
