{"id":409006522,"date":"2020-05-15T08:21:13","date_gmt":"2020-05-15T13:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/?p=409006522"},"modified":"2020-06-24T08:35:35","modified_gmt":"2020-06-24T13:35:35","slug":"diamond-buying-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/diamond-buying-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Diamond Buying Guide: What&#8217;s More Important Diamond Color or Clarity?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When shopping for a <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/self-improvement\/vintage-diamond-ring-care\/\">diamond<\/a>, color and clarity are the two characteristics you will need to pay the most attention to. But is it possible that one of them could hold more importance compared to the other during the selection process? The following is a deeper look at when to focus on color, and when to shift the focus to clarity.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" class=\"wp-image-409006523 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/word-image.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/word-image.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/word-image-375x500.jpeg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_Color_Affect_the_Appearance_of_a_Diamond\"><\/span>How Does Color Affect the Appearance of a Diamond?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_50 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\" role=\"button\"><label for=\"item-64911cad1606a\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-64911cad1606a\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-visibility-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/diamond-buying-guide\/#How_Does_Color_Affect_the_Appearance_of_a_Diamond\" title=\"How Does Color Affect the Appearance of a Diamond?\">How Does Color Affect the Appearance of a Diamond?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/diamond-buying-guide\/#In_What_Way_Does_Clarity_Affect_Diamond%E2%80%99s_Look\" title=\"In What Way Does Clarity Affect Diamond\u2019s Look?\">In What Way Does Clarity Affect Diamond\u2019s Look?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/diamond-buying-guide\/#What_Affects_Diamond_Brilliance_the_Most_Color_or_Clarity\" title=\"What Affects Diamond Brilliance the Most: Color or Clarity?\">What Affects Diamond Brilliance the Most: Color or Clarity?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/diamond-buying-guide\/#When_Is_Color_More_Important\" title=\"When Is Color More Important?\">When Is Color More Important?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/diamond-buying-guide\/#When_Clarity_Matters_More\" title=\"When Clarity Matters More\">When Clarity Matters More<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>According to the Pricescope Diamond forum, an independent source of information for diamonds and jewelry, the GIA and AGS certification grades diamond based on charts. For GIA certification, diamond color grading occurs according to a letter scale. Here, D is the top grade and is used to signify that a diamond is indeed colorless.<\/p>\n<p>The lower a diamond is graded on this chart, the more tinted it will appear.<\/p>\n<p>Stones that have been graded K or even lower on the GIA grading chart are those containing a slight yellow coloring. The yellow tint will continue to become more noticeable as you continue to proceed down the grading chart.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Read a GIA Grading Report Video by GIA\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bZ2UtygPnt4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_What_Way_Does_Clarity_Affect_Diamond%E2%80%99s_Look\"><\/span>In What Way Does Clarity Affect Diamond\u2019s Look?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The clarity in the diamond world refers to the number of inclusions (internal flaws) as well as the overall number of imperfections contained in a diamond. It\u2019s also worth noting that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pricescope.com\/wiki\/diamonds\/diamond-clarity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">clarity<\/a> in this case also refers to the surface imperfections on the diamond, as well as how visible they become once placed under a magnification lens.<\/p>\n<p>In the clarity grade, FL (Flawless) is the highest grade and is given to stones that don\u2019t contain any internal flaws, even when observed using a 10X loupe. If looking at a stone with a low clarity grade, you can expect to see imperfections such as lines or black spots inside the diamond.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Affects_Diamond_Brilliance_the_Most_Color_or_Clarity\"><\/span>What Affects Diamond Brilliance the Most: Color or Clarity?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For a diamond, its brilliance is perhaps its most significant attribute. The intensity of a <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/perfect-engagement-ring\/\">diamond\u2019s brilliance<\/a> is often influenced by the diamond cut. While color and clarity don\u2019t have a direct effect on brilliance, they are known to greatly contribute to its overall visual appeal.<\/p>\n<p>Even though the color will by itself not diminish or increase brilliance, a colorless diamond tends to appear livelier, brighter, and whiter.<\/p>\n<p>For clarity, the lack of or absence of flaws does help to add to its impression. This is what makes it appear sparkling clean, even when observed using the naked eye.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"4Cs of Diamond Quality: Diamond Clarity Grading by GIA\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IJioSelJOko?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_Is_Color_More_Important\"><\/span>When Is Color More Important?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There are instances when it makes more sense to opt for a high-grade color at the expense of top clarity. A good example is when one intends to place the stone in a white setting. In such a scenario, it will be vital to ensure the diamond doesn\u2019t contain any noticeable tints.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_Clarity_Matters_More\"><\/span>When Clarity Matters More<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Clarity will typically begin to matter more when it\u2019s deemed to be too low. When using the naked eye, you won\u2019t notice much difference between the diamonds in the FL and IF grades as well as those in the VS1 and VS2 clarity grades.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" class=\"wp-image-409006524 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/word-image-1.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/word-image-1.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/word-image-1-500x374.jpeg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The 4Cs are of the utmost importance when buying a diamond. However, you shouldn\u2019t choose to place too much concentration on carat (size) at the expense of clarity. Clarity is important during the selection process as it will also have a direct impact on the price tag and light performance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When shopping for a diamond, color and clarity are the two characteristics you will need to pay the most attention to. But is it possible that one of them could hold more importance compared to the other during the selection process? The following is a deeper look at when to focus on color, and when [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1554,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"categories":[3852,3874],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409006522"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1554"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=409006522"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409006522\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=409006522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=409006522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=409006522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}