Diamonds are much more than just beautiful gemstones. They’ve evolved into a status symbol. Even if you are not a fan of these gleaming stones for reasons other than their beauty, you will undoubtedly want one as large as possible so that you can bask in their radiance as much as possible.
Diamonds, as we all know, can be pricey, so if that puts a damper on things, don’t give up hope just yet. The trick is knowing where to make concessions. Here are a few strategies for getting a larger diamond for less money.
1) Be adaptable in terms of shape
Chances are, some of the most gleaming diamonds you’ve ever seen were round. There’s a reason for this. Round diamonds, more than any other shape, are highly faceted, allowing light to enter in a way that maximizes their shine and brilliance
However, this comes at a price, and not just because it is the most popular shape. Round diamonds are extremely difficult to cut and produce a lot of diamond waste. Choosing a shape other than a round brilliant will significantly reduce the cost of your diamond and allow you to go for a larger stone for less money.
2) Lower Color Grade
Color, or lack thereof, is one of the criteria used to evaluate a diamond. Every colorless diamond is assigned a color grade of D-Z, with D-F being the most expensive. Diamonds with a color grade of G-J sell for much less, allowing you to buy a larger stone while still looking great.
They truly do! In the case of a color diamond, the best way to save money is to find a color that is considered slightly more common among these incredibly rare stones. For example, don’t go for a fancy red diamond, which is one of the rarest colors on the planet. Instead, choose a yellow or brown with a low color intensity level that looks strong.
A Fancy Light Yellow diamond, for example, will almost certainly cost less than a Fancy Intense Yellow diamond. Furthermore, the color is created by the elements within the stone’s structure.
For example, black diamonds, among the most beautiful and unique diamonds, get their color from extensive clouds of tiny mineral inclusions like graphite, pyrite, or hematite. So, until you start looking, you never know what kind of color combinations you might find.
If you simply adore the color red but find the asking price far too high, consider a dark pink brown diamond with a reddish tone. Take the time to browse the collections and see what is available. Consider a ruby instead of a diamond because the color is more intense and the stone is less expensive.
3) Compromise the Clarity
Clarity is crucial, especially when it comes to achieving that perfect shine. Even an expert will be unable to distinguish between highly coveted and expensive flawless (FL) and internally flawless (IF) diamonds.
When it comes to more affordable, very very slightly included (VVS1/2) and VS1/2 diamonds, you probably won’t be able to identify the inclusions even with a loupe! To be honest, I would consider a more included stone as long as it is clean to the naked eye.
4) Smaller Carat Weight
The larger the diamond, the higher the price, but what most people don’t realize is that the price increases with each carat mark. That means that while a 0.90-carat diamond and a 1-carat diamond are nearly identical, there can be a significant price difference between the two.
Choose a carat size that is slightly smaller than your desired size to achieve the same look for much less. Another way to achieve a larger appearance is to combine several smaller stones instead of one large stone. A 4-carat diamond will cost far less than four 1-carat diamonds.
5) A Larger Table
Finally, carat weight and table size, which are visible when looking at a diamond, are not the same thing. That is, even if the majority of the weight is on the top half of the stone, smaller carat weight can have a larger table. If this is the case, make sure the stone isn’t so shallow that a large window is right in the center of it.
If the table is smaller but the stone itself is 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.
It all comes down to priorities at the end of the day. While you may desire perfection on paper, unless you are a diamond expert, you will be unable to distinguish between all of the factors that can drastically reduce the price of your diamond, allowing you to go for something a little larger.