There is never a wrong time to present the woman in your life with a classic piece of jewelry. While fashion and fads make their way in and out of the mainstream, diamond jewelry remains a classic. Beautiful and timeless, a classic piece of diamond jewelry can be worn any time of day with anything from casual jeans to a business suit to a little black dress.

A diamond solitaire necklace, diamond stud earrings, a diamond anniversary band, and the three stone anniversary ring are four classic designs that withstand fashion trends because of their elegance, simplicity, and wearability.

Whether the celebration is a birthday, anniversary, or "just because"... the gift of diamonds is the most time-honored way to express the importance of your love. When the time comes to present her with diamonds, make it a surprise! This is a moment she will always remember, and you will never forget the look on her face when you give her that gorgeous gift!

Diamonds

For centuries, men and women have found that sparkle and brilliance of a quality diamond expresses their deepest emotions and symbolizes their enduring love. Yet with so many beautiful diamonds to choose from, and no two alike, how do you pick the right diamond while spending wisely?

Elliott's Jewelers can assist in selecting the right diamond for you. Our experts are knowledgeable and can explain the 4C's, as well as, show you a selection of diamonds in a range of prices. While all diamonds are beautiful, only by comparing diamonds will you be able to appreciate what makes one more beautiful and valuable than another.

Choose a beautiful diamond that combines the qualities of the 4C's that you most value. Then you are ready to give the most enduring gift of love. Born of the earth, reborn on the woman you love, this diamond is more than a precious gem and all that it symbolizes... it's a piece of forever.

The four C's   

To establish a diamond's quality, Elliott's Jewelers examine each of the 4C's - Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight. The combination of the 4C's determines the value of a particular diamond.

For example, if a colorless diamond lacks clarity, is small, or not well cut, it will be of lower value. The finest stones possess the rarest quality in each of the 4C's, and are the most valuable.

Strive for a diamond that offers the best combination of the 4C's. Ultimately, you'll discover the unique combination of the 4C's that makes a particular diamond the right choice for you. It's beauty and brilliance will capture the true sentiment of the occasion.

The diamond engagement ring

The diamond engagement ring, love's most enduring symbol, was born more than five centuries ago and has grown stronger with each passing year. Throughout the centuries, the romantic tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring has flourished. The wide variety of diamonds, along with the availability of settings in numerous styles and designs, gives today's couples unparalleled choice in this ultimate symbol of love.

Elliott's Jewelers can dazzle the bride-to-be with the newest diamond engagement rings ranging from elegant diamond solitaires in classic shapes to innovative new collections.

Once you are versed in the 4C's of diamonds, deciding how much you want to spend on this once-in-a-lifetime purchase can be difficult, if not, overwhelming. To assist men in gauging what to spend, jewelers often recommend using two months' salary as a guideline. You can trust Elliott's Jewelers to respect your budget and appreciate and honor your individual taste.

Click here to see selection of some of our designs.

How Diamonds are Priced
 

Carat     Clarity    Color   Cut   What to Spend   Confidence

Many people are confused about how diamonds are priced. The best explanation is that asking for the price of a diamond is like asking for the price of a house. A real estate agent can’t quote you a price for a house without knowing its size, condition, location, etc. This process is the same one used when buying a diamond. A diamond’s beauty, rarity, and price depend on the interplay of all the 4Cs—cut, clarity, carat, and color.

The 4Cs are used throughout the world to classify the rarity of diamonds. Diamonds with the combination of the highest 4C ratings are more rare and, consequently, more expensive. No one C is more important than another in terms of beauty and it is important to note that each of the 4Cs will not diminish in value over time.

Once you have established those 4C characteristics that are most important to you, a jeweler can then begin to show you various options with quoted prices.

 

THE DIAMOND QUALITY PYRAMID
A Tool to Help Understand a Diamond’s Value

The Diamond Quality Pyramid is a framework to help you compare diamonds. While all diamonds are precious, those closest to the top of the pyramid—possessing the best combination of cut, clarity, carat weight and color—are the earth's rarest and most valuable.
 

CARAT
Refers to the weight of a diamond.

Carat is often confused with size even though it is actually a measure of weight. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. One carat can also be divided into 100 “points.” A .75 carat diamond is the same as a 75-points or 3/4 carat diamond.

A 1-carat diamond costs exactly twice the price of a half-carat diamond, right? Wrong. Since larger diamonds are found less frequently in nature, which places them at the rarest level of the Diamond Quality Pyramid, a 1-carat diamond will cost more than twice a 1/2-carat diamond (assuming color, clarity and cut remain constant).

Cut and mounting can make a diamond appear larger (or smaller) than its actual weight. So shop around and talk to your jeweler to find the right diamond and setting to optimize the beauty of your stone.

CLARITY
Refers to the presence of inclusions in a diamond.
Every diamond is unique. Nature ensures that each diamond is as individual as the person who wears it. Naturally-occurring features—know as inclusions—provide a special fingerprint within the stone. Inclusions are natural identifying characteristics such as minerals or fractures, appearing while diamonds are formed in the earth. They may look like tiny crystals, clouds or feathers.

To view inclusions, jewelers use a magnifying loupe. This tool allows jewelers to see a diamond at 10x its actual size so that inclusions are easier to see. The position of inclusions can affect the value of a diamond. There are very few flawless diamonds found in nature, thus these diamonds are much more valuable.

Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection, known as clarity, which was established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The clarity scale, ranging from F (Flawless) to Included (I), is based on the visibility of inclusions at a magnification of 10x.

Some inclusions can be hidden by a mounting, thus having little effect on the beauty of a diamond. An inclusion in the middle or top of a diamond could impact the dispersion of light, sometimes making the diamond less brilliant.

The greater a diamond's clarity, the more brilliant, valuable and rare it is—and the higher it is on the Diamond Quality Pyramid.

COLOR
Refers to the degree to which a diamond is colorless.

Diamonds are found in almost every color of the rainbow, but white-colored diamonds remain most popular.

Diamonds are graded on a color scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) which ranges from D (colorless) to Z. Warmer colored diamonds (K–Z) are particularly desirable when set in yellow gold. Icy winter whites (D–J) look stunning set in white gold or platinum.

Color differences are very subtle and it is very difficult to see the difference between, say, an E and an F. Therefore, colors are graded under controlled lighting conditions and are compared to a master set for accuracy.

Truly colorless stones, graded D, treasured for their rarity, are highest on the Diamond Quality Pyramid. Color, however, ultimately comes down to personal taste. Ask a jeweler to show you a variety of color grades next to one another to help you determine your color preference.

Nature has also created diamonds in intense shades of blue, green, yellow, orange, pink or – rarest of all – red. These diamonds are called ‘colored fancies’ and are extremely rare and highly treasured.

CUT
Refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond.

Nature determines so much about a diamond, but it takes a master cutter to reveal the stone’s true brilliance, fire and ultimate beauty.

Based on scientific formulas, a well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another and disperse and reflect it through the top of the stone. This results in a display of brilliance and fire, thereby placing well-cut diamonds higher on the Diamond Quality Pyramid than deep or shallow-cut diamonds. Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow lose or leak light through the side or bottom, resulting in less brilliance and ultimately, value.
 
Cut also refers to shape—round, square, pear, or heart for example. Since a round diamond is symmetrical and capable of reflecting nearly all the light that enters, it is the most brilliant of all diamond shapes and follows specific proportional guidelines. Ask a jeweler to find out more about these guidelines.

Non-round shapes, also known as “fancy shapes,” will have their own guidelines to be considered well-cut.

What to Spend

Buying a diamond means investing in a piece of forever. A true miracle of nature dating from the beginning of time, each diamond purchase is special.

Every individual buying a diamond seeks out the best they can afford. Nature’s variety means that you will always find a diamond to suit your taste, budget and occasion. If you’re about to buy a diamond engagement ring, you may want to consider the often-quoted guideline of spending one to two month’s salary.

You can rest assured that the diamond you buy will be a sound financial investment. Their rare qualities have been sought after for thousands of years. Their desirability and value remain undiminished today and will continue through the years to come.

But, whatever you spend, your diamond will represent one of life’s deepest emotional investments. It may eventually be passed down for generations, cherished not just for what it is worth, but for what it means.

Elliott’s Jewelers - A Quality Jeweler
The 5th C: Confidence
 

Visiting Elliott’s Jewelers is the first step to a smart diamond purchase. We are a jeweler you can trust and are knowledgeable about diamonds, gemstones, pearls, repairs, custom design and engraved gifts. We are here to help you feel comfortable making all of your important purchases.