The benefit of choosing a loose diamond over a stone that has already been set is fairly obvious: you get to pick which diamond you like best. However, that can often be a challenge for a newcomer to the diamond game. After all, they may all look quite similar to the untrained eye. To someone with experience, each diamond has its own caliber - something that makes it special, different, and unique in its own way. At the same time, choosing a loose diamond needs to take into account the stone's quality.

Loose diamonds are all graded on a scale for their color and clarity, as well as the kind of cut they're given. Consumers who aren't knowledgeable about diamonds often end up paying out their money for an inferior cut, instead of investing in their purchase to buy a diamond that is at its clearest, brightest, and is almost flawless.

Loose Diamond Colors

Diamonds that are completely colorless are rare and very, very expensive. However, the grading scale of diamonds will help you to select one that is almost colorless - namely, between D and F on the grading scale. G diamonds to I diamonds are near-colorless, while anything below J will show a hint of yellowish tinting. The problem is that you may not always notice this unless you look at the diamonds side-by-side, which is another benefit to buying loose diamonds - you can always compare! It's also important to note that the color of the diamond, while typically more valued on a personal basis for being colorless, does not affect the brilliance of the stone itself. That's where the clarity comes in.

Loose Diamond Clarity

Those diamonds which have fewer internal flaws are considered more valuable, as it is quite rare to have a flawless stone! However, a slightly flawed stone will not affect the brilliance and beauty of your diamond, since these few flaws will not be visible to the naked eye, and in some cases, even a jeweler will have to really look to pick them out with his magnifier. Any grade of diamond higher than SI2 is considered eye clean, which means you can't see them without a magnifier, while I3 diamonds are somewhat darker - they begin to take on a milky appearance, and definitely convey less fire when exposed to the light.

Once you have these elements down, you should focus on the cut of your diamond. With loose diamonds, it's easier to examine the style of cut you prefer, and it's important to select a cut that enables the stone to reflect the most light. An excellent or superior cut will make the most of a stone's natural qualities, allowing the light to enter into the diamond and bounce back into the viewer's eye - and that's where you'll find your loose diamond conveys to you its fire and brilliance, and whether it is right for you.