When buying a diamond bracelet, it is important to consider the 4 Cs- Cut, Carat, Colour, and Clarity. Very often, people do not compromise on cut or carat because they denote the brilliance and weight of the diamond.
So, is it okay to ignore the clarity and colour? Experts from Khwaahish Diamond Jewellery who design and sell diamond bracelets in Chennai say that ignoring colour and clarity may give you a diamond that might not have the appeal it should. For more information, let’s delve into our guide to understand how colour and clarity influence your diamond bracelet.
The Role of Clarity & Colour in A Diamond Bracelet
Without a doubt, diamond bracelets are expensive. Therefore when you plan to invest in a piece of diamond jewellery like a diamond bracelet, you must not compromise on any of the 4 Cs.
What is Clarity?
Clarity is a major factor for diamonds because it affects how light penetrates the stone’s internal structure. A diamond with high clarity will appear blemish-free, clear, and nearly transparent. It is clarity that provides the fiery spark and matchless glitter that diamonds are known for.
As we know, it is coal that undergoes immense pressure for millions of years to become a sparkling diamond. Millions of microscopic characteristics are trapped within the stone during the natural formation process. The lesser the number of characteristics, the higher the clarity grade and vice versa.
The Diamond Clarity Chart
The diamond clarity chart is used by gemologists to classify the clarity characteristics according to size, position, and type. The measuring parameters range from Flawless to Included.
The diamond clarity grades include:
- FL or Flawless
- IF or Internally Flawless
- VVS1 and VVS2 or Very Very Slightly Included
- VS1 and VS2 or Very Slightly Included
- SI 1 and SI 2 or Slightly Included
- I1, I2, and I3 or Included
How important is diamond clarity? Let’s get one fact straight- No diamond is pure. However, the closer it reaches purity, the more valuable it is. Diamond clarity is also affected by the shape and size of the stone. Emerald cuts, open-table cuts, shallow pavilions, and Asscher cut diamonds accentuate the stone’s clarity.
What is Colour?
The colour in diamonds is graded using a scale from D to Z, for which D stands for colourless and Z denotes yellow or brown. The closer the stone is to the D scale, the more colourless it is. Colour matters to a certain extent, but the most important thing is to choose a diamond whose colour complements its setting.
The diamond’s colour is also affected by the shape of the stone. For example, a simple round cut can conceal the tint within the stone, whereas an emerald cut diamond with straight facets will display colour more clearly.
How to Determine Clarity and Colour in Tennis Diamond Bracelets
The most popular diamond bracelet design that sells in all popular jewellery showrooms in Chennai is the tennis bracelet. It is a classic investment piece that can be worn with any outfit.
How did this piece of jewellery get its name?
Although its real name is “Eternity” or “Line Bracelet”, the term “tennis bracelet” came into existence when Chris Evert lost her diamond bracelet during the US Open match in 1987. The jewellery may also have gotten its name from the extravagant habit of wearing expensive jewellery by tennis players while playing the game.
Now, back to our topic, If you were to choose between clarity and colour for a diamond tennis bracelet, you might have to compromise a little on the clarity for one main reason: Generally, the diamonds on a tennis bracelet are small, and it is difficult to see any internal flaws or cloudiness.
Therefore if you are shopping for a diamond tennis bracelet, always go for higher grades of colour and cut. However, it is okay to go for SI1 and SI2 grades that are lower in clarity.
Here are some factors to pay attention to while investing in any type of diamond bracelet:
- Check the diamond settings- how the diamonds are mounted on the bracelet and securely held.
- Check the bracelet links to ensure they are secure, strong, and not easily breakable.
- Test the functionality of the clasp to ensure that it remains closed and does not open easily.
- Check for flexibility. Since rigid bracelets are prone to breakage, it is better to buy one that dangles freely from your wrist without kinking.
- Assess the length to ensure the diamond bracelet moves freely on your arm without causing discomfort or without sliding off. The rule of thumb is that you should be able to comfortably fit one finger between your bracelet and wrist.
All the above criteria are easy to check if you shop directly at a showroom near you. However, what if you want to make an online purchase? Read on to know more.
Criteria to Follow While Making an Online Purchase
Look for ideal cut diamonds
When you pit clarity and colour with cut, the latter is ultimately more important than the other two aspects. Before looking for colour and clarity, limit your search to ideal cut diamonds.
Shop for certified diamonds
Look for certifications like AGS, ICI, or GIA. These labs use certain stringent standards to assess clarity and colour.
Choose an eye-clean diamond.
Diamonds with a clarity grade of VS1 or higher are always eye-clean. VS2, SI1 and SI2 are perfect for browsing for low-cost eye-clean stones. It is almost impossible to spot eye-clean diamonds in the VS 2 to SI 2 range. Some diamond shapes hide inclusions better than others, while others display inclusions differently. Check for eye-cleanliness using a reliable diamond shape guide to find the recommended clarity grades for each diamond shape.
Choose colourless diamonds
Choose a diamond that looks colourless concerning its setting, meaning there is no visible colour when it is set inside a metal. Also, opt for brilliant cuts instead of step cuts because they are better at hiding the colours in the stone.
Choose the right metal.
Gold is the best metal that complements the diamond’s brilliance and helps to cleverly mask the colour and clarity defections. Likewise, white gold, rose gold, platinum, and yellow gold are also ideal for diamond bracelets.
Adjust your weight
Adjust your desired carat weight to align with your budget. You can free up more of your budget by opting for eye-clean clarity and a colour grade that appears white concerning the setting.
A Few Final Words
Colour may have a winning edge as far as your diamond bracelet is concerned. However, you should not compromise heavily on clarity either because a diamond with poor clarity will not look like a diamond.
To know more about clarity and colour, you may approach the experts at Khwaahish Diamond Jewellery, Chennai. Click here to browse the latest collection of designer diamond jewellery collections at Khwaahish.
