For centuries, diamonds have been a symbol of enduring love, because it took a billion years to make them, and no two are the same. Not only is there tremendous variety in diamonds, but their costs can also vary greatly. It is therefore important for a purchaser of a diamond to have a basic understanding of how diamonds are appraised and priced.

Diamonds, like everything else, are available on the Internet. But diamonds, no matter where you buy them from, must be purchased from someone you trust. Even a face-to-face purchase can result an in expensive mistake – despite a certificate being provided. This is because all diamond certificates are not created equal. Some certificates represent grading that is not as strict as it should be. For example, a ‘G’ colour may be passed off as an ‘F’ colour, or an ‘SI1’ clarity may be passed off as a ‘VS2’. Stittgen can provide certificates of the highest standards such as those issued by GIA.

Unless you have a jeweller you trust implicitly, it is best you acquaint yourself with the basics of diamond grading. Below you will find a brief video on each of the 4C’s.