A diamond could be the most important purchase of your life.
Buying a diamond may seem complicated at first but this guide will show you all you need to know. 
 
Please take a little time to read this guide.
The look on your loved ones face when you give them a beautiful diamond will make it time well spent.
It’s really simple; most things begin with the letter C: 

The size of a diamond is shown as a fraction of a carat for example a quarter of a carat.
Many people think this is the only measure of a diamonds value.
In reality this is simply the weight of the diamond and the following factors are just as important.

Diamonds are natural so they vary greatly in colour.
Poor colour diamonds can seem to “disappear” because a diamond needs to be as white as possible so it will contrast beautifully against your skin.
 So I recommend that you look at diamonds H colour and above.  
These will flash white against the skin, especially when you have a nice tan!

Diamonds are natural stones so every one is unique.
They all have their own particular birthmarks or “inclusions” that affect the beauty of the stone. These inclusions can so big that they fill the diamond stopping any light reflecting through it.
This makes the diamond cloudy and dull with no sparkle. Just like a rainy, cloudy day!
So it is important to choose a diamond that has no visible inclusions that will spoil your enjoyment of the diamond.
I recommend that you view diamonds SI1 clarity and above.
These shouldn’t have any inclusions that you can see with the naked eye.

Diamonds are cut in a variety of shapes- including round, square, pear and heart shape.
Each cut is has its own particular beauty and you should choose the cut of diamond that you like best.
The quality of this cut can vary from excellent to poor.
And this really will affect how much sparkle you get from the diamond.
Diamonds should be cut so that all of the light that enters the stone is reflected out through the front giving it a beautiful sparkle.
This sparkle is known as “brilliance”.
This is the very first thing you should see when looking at a diamond.
All our diamonds are specially selected to give the most sparkle.

All good quality larger diamonds should come with an independent certificate.
This certificate will clearly tell you the carat weight, colour, cut and clarity of the diamond as well as any unnatural treatments.
All our certificated diamonds are tested by independent organisations so you can be sure that the certification is accurate and unbiased.
Beware of “certificates” that have been produced by the shop or internet company themselves. These are worthless and often inaccurate.

Diamonds can be treated to “improve” a poor quality stone.
Inclusions can be lasered and any cracks filled with glass.
However this glass filling can come out and will drastically reduce the value of the diamond.
We do not sell any treated white diamonds at Stephen Diggle Goldsmiths because we believe the diamond should be just as pure as your love for each other.

Your budget is an important consideration and will influence your choice.
As a guide many people spend around 1 months salary on an engagement ring.
It may seem that by buying from a foreign country or from an internet only company you can get a diamond for a reduced price.
There is always a catch. The diamond could be poorly cut and companies can print their own certificates. By dealing with an internet only company you will not have the chance to view a selection of diamonds and meet the people who will make your jewellery.
When you visit us a trained jeweller will be with you to give you advice and help find the diamond that is perfect for you.

I hope this guide answers all of your questions about diamonds.
If you have any questions about diamonds please send us an E-mail support@sdgoldsmiths.com or phone us on 01733 345757 and we’ll be more than happy to help.

Stephen Diggle Jewellers Ltd guarantees that all of our diamonds are conflict free. Many internet only sites and shops outside of the UK do not offer this assurance.