How to choose a diamond ring
Diamonds
Diamonds are generally known for the four ‘c’s …cut, colour, carat, clarity. Williamson Brown recognise the other
important ‘c’ when choosing a diamond ring – cost.
The five ‘c’s
Cut
This not only refers to the shape – round, square, marquise or pear for example, it also refers to the angles,
proportions, polish and symmetry of the diamond. The cut determines the fire and sparkle and is graded on a scale from
excellent to poor. We have years of experience in identifying and selecting quality stones.
Colour
This defines the degree to which a diamond is colourless. The more colourless the diamond, the more valuable it is. The
colour scale extends from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The purity of colour is easy to spot with our help
and we only sell grades D to H ensuring your diamond is the best quality.
One other factor which will greatly affect the value of a diamond is its fluorescence. This refers to the emission of visible
light when subject to ultraviolet radiation and should be as low as possible. The five terms for describing the strength of
fluorescence range from none (recommended at Williamson Brown) through to strong.
Carat
This is the standard unit of weight for all diamonds. The higher the weight the higher the value. However that is not to
say big is best and weight should be taken in to account with the other ‘c’s in choosing the perfect stone.
Clarity
This refers to the internal features (inclusions) and surface characteristics (blemishes) of the stone when viewed under
10x magnification. The scale ranges from flawless to I3. Some stones can appear mottled or show inclusions to the naked eye.
We aim to use stones ranging from SI1 to VVS1which are those with slight inclusions ranging to near flawless.
Cost
Cost is, we know, important to anyone considering buying a diamond ring. The combination of other ‘c’s tends to determine
the cost. Working together we can help to find a stone whose qualities reflect your budget.
Williamson Brown diamonds are generally certificated over half a carat. Your diamond will have documentation explaining
that the it has been independently certified and detailing all the unique attributes of the individual stone. This is also a
guarantee that the stone has not been sourced from any areas of conflict. Williamson Brown subscribes to the laws of rules of
the Kimberley Process ensuring the stones are ethically sourced.