The phrase once sung by Marilyn Monroe, that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” remains relevant to this day. Today, many different products are shown in the market or catalogs – from individual certified diamonds and gemstones to diamond jewelry intended for both investment and stone setting.
After all, every lady dreams of having at least one little diamond or a piece of diamond jewelry in her jewelry box, right? A wide selection of products allows everyone to find the right option according to their needs and possibilities. Sometimes, fulfilling this dream is hindered by the opinion that diamond prices are very high. We can partially refute this position because the prices of these stones fluctuate within very wide ranges and do not necessarily reach extreme heights. So let’s discuss what diamonds are, how much they cost, what aspects determine their price, and mention more interesting facts about these friends of women.
History of Diamonds: Do you know where diamonds came from?
Looking through the selection of diamonds and the variety of jewelry with them, we rarely stop to think: what is the origin of these stones, when did they appear, and why are they so valued. And their history is quite interesting.
Back then, they were found in very small quantities in Brazil and India. At that time, Indians believed that these were the only sources of diamonds, which – not surprisingly – were exhausted, and the quantity found in Brazil was also not enough to meet the world’s needs.
Everything turned around a bit, and today the largest suppliers of diamonds are none other than African countries. A boy found a giant gemstone here back in 1867, weighing more than 21 carats, but he had no idea of the value of his find and simply sold it. A diamond is one of the most valuable types of gemstone, often used in jewelry creation and considered an investment.
Later, it was also revealed that to see the true charm of diamonds, they need to be cut and processed accordingly – only then do they become as magnificent as those we see set in various pieces of jewelry.
When talking about the history of diamonds, it must be mentioned that even back then, magical powers were attributed to these stones.
Diamond and Brilliant: Are they the same thing?
A diamond is the hardest mineral that can be found naturally in nature. All gemstones are valued by hardness on a ten-point scale, and the diamond gets the highest – 10 – points. However, despite this, a diamond is fragile. Diamonds differ not only in their hardness but also in properties such as color or shape. Perhaps the most fascinating thing is the uniqueness of these stones – finding two identical ones is an impossible mission.
Meanwhile, we call a processed diamond a “brilliant” (round cut diamond), so when talking about whether these two words are synonyms, the answer is very well revealed by the saying that “every brilliant is a diamond, but not every diamond is a brilliant.”
Most Popular Shapes (diamond shape)
First – the shape. In this context, it is appropriate to mention round brilliants (round cut (shape) diamonds) – these have 57–58 facets, and only they are called brilliants. Their price is usually 30% higher than other diamond shapes. Round shapes account for 75% of all diamonds sold. By the way, these also stand out because they reflect light the most.
Other diamond shapes, also known as fancy shapes, can be: square (princess), marquise (marquise shape), heart shape (hearts shape), pear shape (pear shape), cushion shape, oval (oval shape), rectangle (emerald shape), as well as square or rectangle with cut corners (asscher or radiant shape). Diamonds of any of these shapes will be sold cheaper than round brilliants. Importantly, such diamonds (non-round!) do not have a mandatory number of facets. It must be counted every time, as there are as many as can be made.
An interesting fact is that if we compare a 1 ct round brilliant and a 1 ct square diamond, the round one would always look larger due to its smaller “tail.” Regardless of the chosen shape, it is worth choosing certified diamonds, as this ensures their quality and authenticity.
Use of Diamonds: Not just jewelry
A diamond is not only a luxurious piece of jewelry but also an exceptional investment, a special gift, and a symbol of eternal love. This unique stone fascinates not only with its brilliance but also with the meaning it acquires in various life situations. You can choose diamonds according to your needs – from subtle everyday jewelry to exclusive, luxurious gemstones whose price depends on color, clarity, shape, and weight.
Diamonds are often chosen as a gift for special occasions – engagements, weddings, anniversaries, or even birthdays. They symbolize not only love but also loyalty, success, and happiness. Wedding rings with diamonds have become an integral part of modern marriage traditions because the diamond is a sign of eternal love and strong relationships. In addition, diamonds are a timeless investment – their value remains stable and can be passed down from generation to generation, making it not only a beautiful but also a meaningful choice.
When choosing diamonds, you can consider your wishes and budget – from simpler to extremely luxurious options. Every diamond is unique, so every piece of jewelry or gift with this stone becomes special and personal. The price of diamonds depends on many factors, but their value – both material and emotional – remains high at all times.
If you are buying a diamond…
For those buying a diamond separately or a piece of jewelry with inlaid diamonds, it is important to know that you need to evaluate not only the well-known carats reflecting the diamond’s weight but also the extremely important criteria called the 4Cs (established in 1940): carat, color, clarity, and cut, which shows how well the diamond’s facets reflect light.
Nowadays, there are even more indicators when choosing diamonds, for example: symmetry, polish, fluorescence, proportions, and, of course, a very important aspect – the laboratory that issued the certificate. Why is this so important? Because the characteristics of the same diamond will be different in different laboratories. One of the most famous and reliable laboratories is GIA (Gemological Institute of America), whose certificates are considered the gold standard in the diamond market. It happens that attempts are made to profit by faking or improving a stone’s characteristics. Therefore, it is extremely important to know the reliability rating of laboratories.
Diamond Color
Colors are classified in descending alphabetical order from D to Z, where D is colorless and Z has a light yellow tint. The most expensive, of course, are colorless diamonds marked with the letter D.
Diamond Processing
The light transmission of a diamond depends on the faceting. Brilliants (round diamonds) have 57 or 58 facets, while fancy shape diamonds do not have facet standards or the same level of remarkable light reflection. When faceting a diamond, it is easy to make a mistake, and light transmission will be poor, which significantly reduces the price of the stone, but also its ability to reflect light, which is its quality.
What determines diamond prices?
When talking about brilliants, one of the most important aspects discussed is always the price of diamonds. Naturally, it is relevant and interests many – not only the price itself but also the quality of the diamond that determines it.
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Diamond Price: What is it?
We have already mentioned that several factors influence the price of diamonds. Small diamonds are grouped by faceting technology in addition to color, clarity, and weight. In this context, faceting is very important, determining how the diamond will reflect light. Belgian companies have the highest processing technology, hence the name “Belgian cut.” Although such stones are the most expensive, compared to brilliants faceted elsewhere, the difference is obvious.
Therefore, let’s talk only about Belgian-cut brilliants. Small ones (0.01 ct (carat)), ideally suited for a diamond band, high-quality diamonds can cost as little as 10 euros. So it’s easy to calculate: if you use, for example, 30 brilliants for an engagement or wedding ring or a diamond band, they will cost only about 300 euros – just don’t forget to add the price for labor and gold.
Investment Diamonds: Is it worth investing?
Investment diamonds are exclusive stones characterized by the highest quality, excellent color, clarity, and weight from 1 carat. This is not only a luxurious piece of jewelry but also a reliable investment that maintains its value even during economic fluctuations. When choosing investment diamonds, it is important to pay attention to the certificate that confirms the stone’s authenticity and quality, as well as the number of carats, color (D–F color diamonds are most valued), and clarity (VVS1–VS1).
Such diamonds usually have a high price but are a long-term investment that you can pass on to your children or grandchildren. Diamonds are a unique choice for those looking for both material and symbolic value. You can choose diamonds according to your budget – from lower quality to extremely expensive, exclusive stones. It is important to know that the shape and cut of diamonds determine their brilliance and sparkle – round brilliants are the most popular for investment because they reflect light best and maintain value.
Investment diamonds are a good investment if you buy them from a reliable company with all the necessary certificates and licenses. This is not only a financial decision but also an opportunity to own a unique, timeless gemstone that will remain valuable for many years.
Can you save money when buying diamonds?
Although the price of a diamond varies over a wide range, they are still among the most valuable gemstones, so naturally, you certainly won’t buy a large and high-quality stone for a few euros. Well, at least not a real one, not a fake. Therefore, it is understandable that many wonder if we can buy real diamonds cheaper. So here are a few tips that can help you purchase this wonderful stone at an attractive price.
- Many people choose based on weight. Naturally, the higher the weight of the stone, the more it will cost. Therefore, if instead of the desired 0.50 ct (carats) you buy one weighing slightly less, for example, 0.45 ct, it will hardly differ visually but will cost significantly less.
- It is important to understand that carats are not directly related to the size of the diamond, so more carats won’t necessarily mean a larger stone. For example, a 0.85 ct diamond can visually look exactly like a 1 ct one, but the price difference will be obvious. So if you want a larger stone but also want to pay a bit less, choose one with fewer carats.
- Speaking of jewelry, the diamond setting is also a very important aspect. It is a true art to set, for example, a 0.30 ct brilliant so that it looks like half a carat! By finding such an option, you will acquire a piece of jewelry with a visually larger diamond, but its price will be lower than it might seem at first glance.
- We know that faceting has a major impact on the price of diamonds, so by choosing “Very Good” instead of “Ideal,” which will be a quite great option, you will feel a significant price difference.
- If you want the diamond price to be lower, consider the shape. Round ones cost the most because demand is high and much weight is lost during processing, so the price is usually significantly higher than other diamond shapes.
Saving is good, and by considering these aspects, you can buy this wonderful gemstone much cheaper. But remember that even when wanting to pay less, a very important aspect is the certificate, which will confirm that you are purchasing a real diamond. Also, when buying diamonds online or from abroad, it is necessary to inquire about delivery conditions and duration, as delivery can affect the final price and the purchasing experience.
Price of Jewelry with Diamonds
One of the most common choices in this category is wedding rings with brilliants. But some newlyweds don’t even let themselves dream of such beauty simply because they think such rings will cost a lot. So we hasten to reassure and provide more positivity – wedding rings with brilliant accents can be affordable for many newlyweds!
Naturally, if you want to see high-weight and extremely high-quality diamonds in your rings, the price can certainly make you gasp. But such gemstones aren’t even suitable for wedding rings. For wedding rings, choose a few slightly larger ones or more tiny stones. A great option would be brilliants up to 0.25 ct. One example is a subtle, minimalist, yet extremely elegant diamond band, which can contain about 28–35 pieces of 0.01–0.015 carat brilliants.
The price of a diamond affects engagement ring prices quite differently: usually, as much as 75% of the value of an engagement ring consists of the diamond itself, while the remaining 25% is for the ring’s production and the gold used.
