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The shopper should always determine how much they can afford to spend before they go diamond shopping and end up with a diamond that costs too much. When you use our Diamond Search tool to view diamonds, you will find that you need a basic understanding of the characteristics and how they affect price in order to find the diamonds that fit your needs and your budget.

The price of a diamond is based on its characteristics including the color grade and weight. Although some diamonds have a lower color grade than others, they may appear similar to the naked eye. This allows you to get a larger diamond for about the same price as a smaller one with a higher color grade. These higher grades include those with a D, E or F rating which is also considered “colorless.” However, those with a color grade of G, H, and I are almost colorless and available at a lower price.

The size of the individual diamonds for sale will determine value. Groups of smaller diamonds are less expensive than a single stone that is equivalent in weight. In other words, four diamonds that are .25 in carat weight will be much less expensive than a single diamond with a carat weight of 1 carat.

Inclusions, or flaws, are present in most diamonds but they are only important if they can be seen with the naked eye. If they aren’t, then a diamond that has a lower clarity grade will be less expensive and just as visually appealing.

Compare different diamonds that have the same carat weight and shape but with different cuts. Those that are somewhat shallow will be larger in width and length. The type of setting these diamonds are placed in may also change your perception of their size and the price. If you purchase a white gold setting, it will probably be about one-third the price of a similar setting made from platinum. Also, when diamonds have pave or bezel around the setting they will appear larger.

One of the most popular shapes purchased in diamonds is round brilliant, and you will find many of these when looking to buy diamonds online. The high degree of brilliance and fire account for these diamonds making up 75% of all those purchased. An oval diamond has a greater surface area that makes them appear larger than their actual size. They are available in symmetrical designs and are often preferred by women with shorter fingers and/or small hands in order to create an elongated look.

Princess cut diamonds are shaped like an inverted pyramid shape and are the smallest of all the diamond shapes due to their weight being on the bottom. This shape is a favorite for use in solitaires. Marquise diamonds, on the other hand, appear larger than their actual weight. The elongated shape has points on each end. When the points are nearly excised, the style is considered to have a French tip and is another great option when using a diamond in a solitaire.

Another choice in cut is the Emerald. These diamonds are rectangular and have cut corners. The shape resembles a staircase and is also known as a step cut. The imperative look of the stone comes from the open and large facets, which result in a higher color with greater clarity.

Asscher diamonds are rectangular, cut with high crown step facets which are known to throw light. Another type of diamond is the cushion cut or pillow diamond. This is an elegant shape that has old-world charm. Other shapes that are less common are kite, trapezoid, and half-moon. Most people who choose the latter style when they buy loose diamonds are for use as a corner stone.

» Learn more about shapes

The 4 Cs are the four most important characteristics in determining the value of a diamond. These include the Clarity, Color, Cut and Carat weight.

The cut of the diamond will determine how brilliant it is. The popular brilliant round diamond will have about 58 facets and 33 of those will be on top of the diamond. An additional 24 crown or star facets are on the bottom and are referred to as pavilion facets. Every facet of a diamond needs to be geometrically in-line with the others. Diamonds that do not have a bow tie or fish eye in them ensure that the diamond is of high quality. While the fish eye will give a diamond a larger appearance, it will also reduce the brilliance. Bow ties, on the other hand, create an undesirable appearance due to a black region that is formed on the stone.

Another of the four Cs and an important consideration when purchasing a diamond is color. Those that are considered colorless have the highest value while diamonds with traces of color are worth less. Some of those that appear colorless when viewing with the naked eye actually have a yellow or brown tint when exposed to illumination and gemscope. Diamonds are found naturally in shades of red, blue, green and yellow shades which are referred to as fancy colorful diamonds. A grading scale is used to grade the color with D that represents colorless running through M to represent yellow.

The Clarity of the diamond is determined by a combination of number, location as well as size and type of inclusions. These imperfections are mineral traces within the stone and may be seen by the naked eye or require magnification with a loop or gemscope. The fewer inclusions a diamond has, the greater its brilliance and clarity will be. Fewer inclusions also mean a diamond has a higher price. When you purchase our GIA Certified wholesale diamonds, you get the diamond with the desired clarity and the lowest price.

Finally, the Carat weight plays a role in the value of a diamond, although not as a single consideration. The Carat is the measurement of the diamond’s weight. A Carat is also divided into 100 points. Carat weight is considered in combination with the other characteristics in order to determine their value, not based on size alone. Nonetheless, since larger diamonds are rare in comparison to smaller ones, those with larger carat weights are much more valuable than those of smaller size which are comparable in other characteristics.

Each is diamond is unique from the next. In order to find the real value of any diamond, you must compare the 4Cs, including Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. Use our search to find the loose diamonds for sale that meet your criteria and fit into your budget.

» Learn more about the 4C's

The Fluorescence of a diamond refers to the blue light that some diamonds emit when placed under black UV lights. The amount of fluorescence varies from a blue glow to a moderate glow with some diamonds exhibiting no glow at all. When a diamond has a colorless grade of D, E, or F, the amount of fluorescence has little impact on its value. However, those with a yellowish tinge such as those with a J rating with a medium or strong fluorescence may appear whiter. This is an additional characteristic that can help determine the value of a diamond.

» Learn more about the other characteristics