The skilled craftspeople who design and create diamond jewelry usually obtain these precious gems from a special wholesaler specializing in diamonds for sale. The stones which used in and other pieces have ideally been through a thorough lab analysis as well as a certified appraisal. You'll want to confirm this prior to your purchase of any diamond jewelry.

Gradation and Valuation

This is the first step. Diamonds for sale must be analyzed in a qualified gemology lab (gemology is that sub-specialty within the field of geology that concerns the study of precious and semi-precious stones). These are known as the "Four Cs:"

- Carat

- Color

- Clarity

- Cut

The first of these, carat, refers to the weight and mass of the stone. A carat is approximately equal to one-fifth of a gram. Color is just that. Diamonds for sale come in a wide variety of colors that range from ice-clear to black depending on what other elements are present; pink and blue diamonds can be especially valuable. Clarity is determined by any "flaws" - interior cottony patches that are visible from the outside.

Cut is a less objective characteristic; this depends on the skill of the diamond cutter. Some cuts are more suitable for certain types of diamond jewelry; more elaborate cuts may better show off the gem's shine and brilliance, or "fire."

Appraisal

When diamonds for sale undergo an appraisal, they are being assigned a fair market value. It is very important when considering the purchase of diamond jewelry for investment purposes. An appraisal is required to insure jewelry such as , diamond earrings, or diamond rings.

Gem-Quality Stones

Diamonds used in industrial situations such as grinding, are of a completely different class than those used in pieces such as . In addition, artificial diamonds are less valuable than their naturally formed counterparts.

The quality of the setting also has some effect. A cheaply-made setting does little for a gem's value, while a carefully crafted custom setting can enhance its value substantially.

Whether you are purchasing diamond earrings as a gift, are looking at diamond engagement rings and diamond wedding ring sets in anticipation of a joyous union - or are considering diamond jewelry as an investment - it's a good idea to educate yourself thoroughly in order to make sure that you are getting a fair value for your money.