One of the most exciting things you can do, in my opinion, is fall in love with a diamond.
A joyous occasion, filled with excitement and sparkle. This can also be a little overwhelming, if not used to some terminology. Let me explain the most important terms when looking for your perfect diamond.
COLOUR
Diamond colour grading starts at the letter D. For me the colour, or lack of, is most important. The colours I work with are exclusively D, E & F which are rare, colourless diamonds and are more valuable because of this lack of colour. This means there is no tinge of yellow going through your stone. The lower down the alphabet the more yellow the diamond.
CUT
This is second on my list of important credentials. I use round brilliant cut diamonds. This is the best cut if you want your stone to sparkle and dance and have a beautiful show of light and sparkle.
CLARITY
This tells you of any inclusions or blemishes in your diamond. Too many inclusions will affect the way light bounces around the diamond, and could lead to a dull diamond.
I use Si 1 - Si 2 which means slightly included 1 and 2 and can inclusions can only be seen under a jewellers loop.
CARAT
For me, carat size is the least important. It makes no difference in how your diamond will sparkle and shine or even look, however it is still important to know what weight your diamond is to know the value.
DIAMOND SETTING
Although not one of the 4 C’s, a diamonds setting is a rather important factor. Be it a ring or a necklace, I set all my diamonds in a rub over setting. This is where the metal surrounds the entire diamond which creates greater security and also ensures a smooth, sleek, minimalist look. Your diamond has an uninterrupted view.
It also means the setting won’t snag on clothes. Choosing your setting to fit your lifestyle is also a good idea, the rub over setting is a low maintenance setting, requiring minimal maintenance. Whereas a claw setting needs maintenance after wear and tear.
GIA CERTICIATION
If choosing a ring or necklace with me, any diamond measuring more than 4.75mm comes with GIA certification. This is a .4ct stone. The certification lists your diamonds characteristics and grading. It also includes a diagram of your diamond showing it’s proportions.
Currently, there’s a lot of talk about lab grown diamonds, but for now I’m continuing to use natural diamonds in all my jewellery.
When researching you should absolutely know all the details about your diamond, be it large or small, if not just for your own peace of mind. I personally love to know every detail about something that is handmade.
Whatever diamond you decide upon, make sure it’s a diamond you love, a diamond you will cherish forever and, as always if you have any questions feel free to contact me info@rachelswan.com
You can view Rachel's diamond collection here

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