
What to consider while buying your first solitaire
If you have purchased gold or silver jewellery, you’ll know what you are supposed to be looking at. The quality, pricing as well as the design of the jewellery are all of equal importance. Things are no different when it comes to buying diamond or solitaire jewellery. Especially the latter. That’s why, when you are buying your first solitaire, here are some things you should know!
What are you looking for in your first solitaire?
Some of us might want to buy a piece of jewellery while some might be just thinking about a solitaire. Either way, you need to plan. If it is the former, be sure of the design. Before you purchase something, plan it out in your head. Do you want something very elaborate? Or do you want to start with something simple?
But in the case of a solitaire or solitaire jewellery, the quality of the diamond is of utmost importance. That is what your jewellery is primarily about. And here’s how you can start a quality check on your own.
Never forget the 4Cs for your first solitaire
As a first-time solitaire jewellery buyer, you might want to do a spot of research before you go shopping. The cut, clarity, colour and carat of a diamond, together, make up its quality.
Cut: There are cut grades that determine the fire, sparkle and brilliance of the diamond. These parameters constitute the light performance of a solitaire. The grades are Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good and Ideal or Excellent.
Carat: This is not the same as the gold karat which refers to the purity of the metal. While most of us think that carat refers to the size of the solitaire. However, it is the stone’s weight and not the size.
Clarity: Nearly all diamonds have some flaws inside them as well as on the surface. These blemishes and inclusions, as they are called, are formed inside the Earth. They’re completely natural and may or may not affect the beauty of the stone.
Colour: Almost all diamonds have a slight yellowish tinge. The colour grades range from D-Z. A diamond of D colour is completely colourless. As you go down the scale, the amount of colour increases with each grade.
Got a budget to consider?
The most beautiful solitaires will be perfectly cut, completely colourless, and lack any flaws and blemishes. But such solitaires are also quite expensive. If you do not intend to spend so much on buying your first solitaire, then you can make certain adjustments.
It is advisable to never compromise on the cut of the diamond. The cut actually gives a diamond its sparkle and brilliance. However, while comparing between two cuts, you can always come down from an Ideal cut to a Very Good cut. It may not make a great difference in quality and you will also be able to maintain your budget.
Still can’t stick to your budget for your first solitaire?
In this case, you can look at the other two parameters – the clarity and the colour. Natural diamonds have some flaws in them. While choosing between two diamonds, if one has more colour than what you want, go for it. The more colour a diamond has, the chances are that it will be less expensive than a colourless one. Of course, your personal choice plays a major role here. But the presence of colour in a diamond does not necessarily taint its beauty.
The flaws and blemishes in a diamond, however, can affect its appearance. The lesser internal flaws a solitaire has, the more brilliant it is. This is because the inclusions, as they are called, hinder the reflection of light. Diamonds that have no inclusions at all are pretty expensive. So, if you’re looking for something within your budget, you can choose a solitaire with a couple of minute blemishes. These don’t make a big difference to the quality and at the same time, you can control your budget.
Why start with a smaller diamond?
If you’re buying your very first solitaire, start small. And why is that? There are some advantages to this. Firstly, smaller solitaires can hide the blemishes and flaws to some extent. Also, if you go for a higher colour, you can mask these imperfections.
Secondly, if you don’t want to spend much on your diamond, a small one will be good to start with. Many jewellers offer great upgrade options for you to get a bigger solitaire. Maybe, a few months down the line, you can exchange your solitaire for a bigger one!
Once you get the hang of buying solitaires and solitaire jewellery, you also pick up some tips along the way. So, if you’re ready for your first one, start planning for it.
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