The term ‘rock’ is commonly used to describe a diamond of a significant size, and so along with this our intrigue over big stones has grown. Its a popular word when describing celebrity engagement rings, as their status goes hand in hand with the size of the diamond they present for their loved one. Its all very well drooling over the latest big diamond in the celebrity world, but in the real world, does size really matter?
Size and Quality
Most have a realistic budget that they work towards when they are looking to purchase a diamond, and so ‘rocks’ for the majority of people are not always practical. It is also important to remember, however, that the value of a diamond is based on the well-known ‘4 C’s’, which includes the specifics of the quality of the diamond and indeed the size as well. Furthermore, diamonds of a large carat size may not be practical for everybody during day-to-day wear, or they may just not suit your taste, and so in this option the quality is the main focus in your search.
Does Size Really Matter?
Of course personal opinion is at the heart of this debate, and once weighing up the options this is what the decision ultimately relies on. If having a better quality diamond is important to you then sacrificing the size and being totally happy knowing that you have a great quality diamond is the best decision. If having a stone that looks bigger, yet is not of the highest quality is more important, then this would be the best decision. When taking into consideration the positives and negatives of both size and quality it is clear that there is not necessarily a ‘right’ answer.
However, an important factor to take into account is the certificate of the diamond. As GIA are known as the strictest grading diamond laboratory it is possible to sacrifice the quality of the diamond slightly in favour for a bigger carat diamond, without having a noticeable impact on the appearance of the diamond. For example, when choosing an EGL certificated stone, the lower in quality the stone becomes, the more of a negative influence it has on the appearance of the stone. Therefore, we advise that you choose a stone which is of at least VS1 clarity and F (preferably) or G colour in order to ensure that the diamond is eye clean and is white. Therefore, if the quality characteristics are of importance to you, then you may have to sacrifice the size of the diamond.
With a GIA certificated stone it is guaranteed that an SI1 clarity stone will be eye clean and that an H/I colour will still be white. Therefore due to the stricter grading this could mean that you could afford to have a bigger stone without diminishing the quality.
So what’s more important to you, a big flashy ‘rock’ or a premium quality diamond?
