Sergio’s offers one of the area’s largest selections of loose and certified diamonds. We also have an incredible variety of engagement rings and wedding bands in 14 karat, 18 karat, and platinum. There are always hundreds of settings in stock.
Buying a diamond is more than a purchase, it’s an investment. That’s why it’s important to learn as much as you can about diamonds and what makes a diamond a quality diamond before you buy one. The more you know, the better suited you will be to make a purchase that fits your needs and your budget. And most importantly, it will be a choice you will be happy with for a long time to come.
At Sergio’s we will walk you through the process of choosing the right diamond. The information below is provided to get you started. Once you have made some initial decisions about size, shape and quality, come into the store. We’ll sit down together, look at some different diamonds, and help you make a final choice. At anytime in your selection process. Feel free to come in and ask questions.
The value of a diamond is determined by its cut, clarity, color, carat weight.
Cut
The cut of a diamond refers to its proportions. It does not refer to its shape. The original form of the “rough” diamond determines the final shape and cut of the diamond.
A facet refers to the individual flat surfaces on a diamond. Most diamonds are cut with 58 facets and placed in precise angles in relation to each other. The better the cut and placement of these exact surfaces, the better the diamond can reflect light through the diamond, creating that “sparkle” and scintillation that ads to the beauty of the gem.
Clarity
To determine a diamond’s clarity, it is inspected under a 10x magnification. Internal imperfections called inclusions and surface imperfections, called blemishes are counted. The diamond is then rated on the following scale:
FL (flawless): This is a perfect diamond
IF (internally flawless): This stone is prefect inside
VVS1 & VVS2 (very, very slightly included): Very hard to see the flaw under magnification
VS1 & VS2 (very slightly included): Hard to see the flaw under maginfication
SI1 & SI2 (slightly included): Flaws are visible under magnificatioin
I1/I2 (included): Flaws are visible to the naked eye Diamonds with a rating of SI2 and better have inclusions that are probably not noticeable to the naked eye. But noticeable or not, the fewer the imperfections, the rarer and more valuable the diamond. So an VVS1 might look the same to the average consumer as an SI1, but will cost much more. Higher clarity does not always make a diamond more attractive, but rather, more expensive. Therefore, unless you are looking for an investment, most consumers opt for a diamond with more carat weight and better color rather than a higher clarity rating.
Color
A diamond’s color is rated through an alphabetical scale from D-Z – with a D rating the best. Only the very best colorless diamonds earn a D rating. The lower the rating the more yellow or brown a diamond is. Most consumers are unable to differentiate between diamonds of only one or two color gradations between them, even when comparing directly next to the other diamond. We recommend comparing diamonds graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for the most accurate color rating. Other noted grading laboratories are EGL (European Gemological Laboratories) and IGI (International Gemologial Institute)
