Personal Consultation
By Benji, Content ManagerDiamonds are far more than just a stunning gemstone. They have become a status symbol. Even if you are not a fan of these sparkling stones for anything other than their beauty, you will surely want one as large as can be so that you can enjoy its splendor as much as possible. As we know, diamonds can get a little pricey, and if that presents a damper on things, don’t give up hope just yet. The trick is, knowing where to compromise. Here are a few things you can do to get a bigger diamond for less.
A 1.41 carat Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond
1) Be Flexible with the Shape
Chances are that some of the shiniest diamonds you have ever come across were round. There is a good reason for this. Round diamonds are highly faceted allowing light to enter in a way that maximizes its shine and brilliance, more than any other shape. (You can check out our collection of fancy colored round diamonds here.) This, however, comes at a cost, and not just because it is the most popular shape. Round diamonds are incredibly difficult to cut and result in a great deal of diamond waste. Selecting any shape other than a round brilliant will bring down the cost of your diamond significantly and will allow you to go for a larger stone for less money.
For example, check out this 2.24 fancy yellow triangle! A totally irregular shape, but with an incredible look!
2) Lower Color Grade
One of the ways a diamond is evaluated is by its color, or lack thereof. Every colorless diamond receives a color grade of D-Z, with the most expensive grades being D-F. Diamonds with a color grade of G-J go for much less, thus allowing you to purchase a larger stone, and still look great. Really, they do! In the case of a color diamond, the way to save would be finding a color that is considered somewhat more common among these incredibly rare stones. For example, don’t aim for a fancy red diamond which is known as one of the rarest colors on earth. Instead, go for a yellow or brown and look for a lower color intensity level that looks strong. For example, a Fancy Light Yellow diamond will certainly cost less than a Fancy Intense Yellow diamond. Also, it’s the elements within the structure of the stone that creates the color. So you never know what type of color combinations you might find until you start looking. Therefore, if you just adore the color red but find the asking price far too high, look for something like a dark pink brown diamond that has a redish tone. Again, take the time to look through the collections and see what is available. Alternatively, consider a ruby instead of a diamond since the color is stronger and the stone is more affordable.
Even a light colored stone can look absolutely brilliant
3) Compromise on Clarity
Clarity is certainly important, especially if you’re looking for that perfect shine. Even an expert, will not be able to tell the difference between the highly coveted and highly expensive flawless (FL) and internally flawless (IF) diamonds. When it comes to more affordable very very slightly included (VVS1/2) diamonds and VS1/2 you likely won’t be able to identify the inclusions even if you used a loupe! The truth is, I would recommend considering an even more included stone as long as it is clean to the naked eye.
Read everything about diamond clarity here.
A 1.05 carat fancy vivid yellow orange, pear shaped diamond with an SI2 clarity
4) Lower Carat Size
It is no secret that the bigger a diamond, the higher the price, but what most don’t realize is that the price increases with every carat mark. That means that even though a .90-carat diamond and a 1-carat diamond are almost the same, there can be a significant difference in price between the two. Choose a carat size slightly below your desired size and you will get the same look for far less. Another way to achieve a larger look is by pairing several smaller stones together instead of one large stone. Four 1-carat diamonds will cost much, much less than a 4-carat diamond.
Although this fancy intense purplish pink Argyle diamond looks amazing in this ring, it is only a 0.42 carat stone
5) Larger Table Size
Lastly, carat weight and table size, which is what you see when you look at a diamond, are not one and the same. Meaning, even if you have a smaller carat weight, it could have a larger table, if the majority of the weight is on the top half of the stone. If this is the case, just make sure that the stone isn't so shallow that there is a large window right in the center of the stone. Alternatively with a colored diamond, if the table is smaller but the stone itself is a little larger, meaning there is more depth in the stone and the bottom carries more weight, there will be more area for the color to bounce around within the stone and it will show a stronger color.
In the end of the day, it’s all about priorities. While you may want perfection on paper, unless you are a diamond expert, you will not be able to tell the difference between all of the factors that can drastically reduce the price of your diamond, allowing you to go for something a bit bigger.
Like the look? Browse through our collection of colored diamonds and let us know which ones you like best!
