How do I know if I'm getting a good diamond for my money?

The answer to that question is extremely complicated since prices for the same diamond can vary widely from jeweler to jeweler. Traditionally the best prices could be found in small jewelry shops off the beaten path or from a trusted friend or relative in the jewelry business.

Diamonds and Gold, Inc. has positioned itself to provide low prices for high quality jewelry on the Web. We keep our overhead low and pass this savings on to you.

What factors contribute to determining the price?

"The four C's"

Carat

Cut

Clarity

Color

The carat weight of a diamond stands for the physical weight of the diamond. The carat weight of a diamond can also be determined by the dimensions, mainly the diameter, and the depth of the diamond. Carat weight is much like pennies in a dollar bill. There are 100 pennies to the dollar bill as well as 100 points in a 1.00 carat diamond. The carat weight for a 1/2 carat ranges from .48ct to .55ct or points.

CTW stands for the Carat Total Weight and equals the combined weight of all the diamonds in a piece of jewelry, a pair of diamond earrings, or pendant.

Cut generally refers to the shape of the diamond. There are seven different cuts of diamonds that are primarily used: Round Brillant, Oval, Marquise, Pear, Heart, Emerald, and Princess cut. A well cut diamond is designed to maximize the brilliance of the diamond.

GIA Diamond Clarity Grading Scale:

The following is the diamond grading scale used to determine the quality of a diamond. F stands for flawless (no inclusions): VVS1 and VVS2 stands for very few inclusions that are very small and only visible under 10X; VS1 and VS2 stands for very small inclusions only visible under 10X; SI1 and SI2 stands for small inclusions only visible under 10X; I1, I2, and I3 are inclusions visible to the naked eye.

GIA Diamond Color Grading Scale:

The color of the diamond is the overall hue of the diamond typically seen through the back of the diamond.