Bridal Guide
When shopping for that special diamond piece its important to remember that old timely phrase, "quality over quantity." The shape and cut of the stone are always much more important than it's size. Most importantly it must incorporate your own personal style and lifestyle. Thats why here at Joseph Alessander we spend a great deal of time in the design process - discussing a variety of options with each customer - in order to create the most unique and personal piece. We will focus on the 4 C's when you select your diamond.
The 4 C's
CUT
Focuses on the quality of the angles, proportions, facets, and finishing details. A well-cut diamond will reflect light to give it the perfect sparkle. The ideal cut of a diamond is symmetrical and neither too shallow nor too deep.
​
Colour
Focuses on how colourless the diamond is. The clearer the diamond, the higher the grade. A diamond with a slight yellowish tinge will generally be less valuable than a perfectly crystal-clear diamond. That being said, some deeply colored diamonds can be extremely valuable. These are referred to by the GIA as “Fancy Colored Diamonds.” The grading scale for diamond colour is determined alphabetically from D to Z.
clarity
Focuses on how clean the diamond is of inclusions (internal flaws) and blemishes (surface defects). Clarity grade is determined by trained gemologists.The final grade depends on the size, nature, number, location, and relief of the inclusions/blemishes. Clarity rankings vary from flawless (FL) to eye visual inclusions (I).
carat
Focuses on the weight of the diamond. The higher the carat grade, the increase in focus on clarity. This is due to inclusions being much more easier to identify in larger diamonds. Diamonds are priced per carat and prices increase as the diamond weight increases because larger diamonds without inclusions are more rare and difficult to find. Please click video icon below left for diamond size comparison.
Natural or lab grown diamonds
Here at Joseph Alessander we work with both natural and lab grown diamonds depending on each clients requirements. What is a lab grown diamond? Well, they are chemically identical to natural diamonds, the main difference is their formation process. Natural diamonds are created deep in the earth and lab grown diamonds are "grown" in a controlled laboratory setting. One of the main benefits of choosing a lab grown diamond is that they can be a more affordable option. They also offer ethical and environmental benefits for consideration. Each persons decision to choose either a natural diamond or lab grown is a personal one. We are able to source natural and lab grown diamonds for clients to compare before making any final decisions.