Diamond FAQ - Diamonds-USA.com Diamond Guide



I found a diamond in your web-site that I like, is it available?
Diamond Pricing Factors
Where are the head offices of diamonds-usa.com
What does clarity enhancement mean?
What is a "Laser Drill?"
What is Fluorescence?
What is the effect of "Polish" and "Symmetry" Lab grades on Brilliance and Fire of diamonds ?
What is "Cut" and " Ideal Cut " ?
What are AGS "0"."1" "2"......"10" cut grades?
What is an "Excellent Ideal Cut","Tolkowsky Ideal Cut" or "Premium Cut"?
What do you charge over the price tag for shipping and insurance?
What is "Clean to the naked eye"?
Can I collect my diamonds in person in the diamonds-usa.com Manhattan office?
Do you have a diamonds selection show room in your New York office?
What guaranties I have that the diamonds I receive are actually the diamonds I ordered ?
What types of payment do you accept?
Where do you ship diamonds?
How long till I'll get the diamond after it was paid for?
How do I find my ring size for ordering ?
What are Color-Enhanced Diamonds?
what are the facts about Fancy Colored Enhanced Diamonds?
What is "White Gold with Palladium".

 

I found a diamond in your web-site that I like, is it available?


Yes. All diamonds that are shown in our web-site are available for purchase. 

Diamond Pricing Factors


Diamonds value is related to their Color, Clarity Cut and Carat weight-these are the famous diamonds 4C's.The highest color in the diamonds color scale is "D"(colorless)and going down to more yellow shades ending at "Z" color. To learn all about diamond colors, percentage proportions and clarity definitions please go to the Diamonds Tutorial Page . 

Where are the head offices of diamonds-usa.com


Diamonds-usa.com cutting facilities and jewelry workshops are located in the Diamonds exchange Complex in Israel, the world's largest diamond center. We have a distribution office in Manhattan. 

What does clarity enhancement mean?


Clarity enhancement is a process in the manufacturing of diamonds. We enhance the clarity of the finished diamond by inserting a substance into the surface imperfections of the diamond which makes them invisible. This process improves the clarity grade by an average of two grades.
Not every diamond can be clarity enhanced because only specific flaws can be fixed. Actually only one out of every 500 diamonds is a candidate for clarity enhancement.

The clarity stated in the EGL certificate indicates the current clarity after enhancement was done. This process is well established, and it is in use for more than ten years.
We give a life time warranty for clarity enhanced diamonds and we will fix any problem at our expense. Until today, we have yet to receive a single complaint about our diamonds. With our Clarity Enhanced diamonds the sparkle, reflections, and overall brilliance stays the same as a non enhanced diamond.

For more details refer to page Clarity Enhanced Diamonds 

What is a "Laser Drill?"


Laser drill hole is a microscopic hole we make with a laser beam to reach an inner black carbon inclusion so it can be removed by boiling the diamond with a very strong acid. It is a common procedure and cannot be detected by the naked eye and sometimes even with a magnifying glass. This is an irreversible process.  

What is Fluorescence?


Fluorescence as a term means that a diamond will glow (in blue) under a UV lamp. It was used originally in diamond certifications as additional information for identification.

The impact of blue fluorescence on price depends on its noticeability.For some higher color stones, fluorescence gives the stone a milky white appearance, which greatly lowers value. In some instances, the fluorescence is hardly noticeable and has minimal impact on the stone's brilliance and value. Fluorescence often adds value to lower color stones as it gives the stones a whiter, brighter appearance. Some buyers regularly pay better prices for highly fluorescent "I" color and lower stones. Yellow fluorescence may require an additional 5 to 10 percent discount. Generally, the higher the quality and price per carat the stronger fluorescence lowers value.

For your information,we do not have any diamonds in stock that are milky or cloudy.

Price adjustments required for blue fluorescenced diamonds:
For "D" to "H" colors:
Very Strong(=very distinct),I.F to VS2: -8% to -12%, SI1 to I3 : -3% to 0%
Strong(=Distinct)I.F to VS2: -5% to - 7%,SI1 to I3: -1% to 0%
Medium(=Moderate)I.F to VS2: -2% to - 4%,SI1 to I3: 0%
Slight to Faint:0%

For "I" to "N" colors:
Strong and Very Strong 0% to +4% !!!
Medium --------------------0% to +3% !!!

 

What is the effect of "Polish" and "Symmetry" Lab grades on Brilliance and Fire of diamonds ?


A common mistake about what controls the "fire" or brilliance of a diamond -This mistake is made by in-trade professionals as well !!:

The "life" (brilliance & fire) of a diamond is determined mostly by the proportions and the angles of the facets and not by the "Symmetry" or "Polish" grades stated by the EGL or GIA grading reports (certificates).

For example :If a diamond is cut with all facets symmetrical and the final polish of the facets (which can be notified only through a microscope) is perfect the diamond will be graded "Very Good" or better in "Polish" and "Symmetry" BUT if the the Depth% of this diamond will be 54% and the crown angle will be 22 degrees the diamond will look dull and with VERY LITTLE brilliance !! 

What is "Cut" and " Ideal Cut " ?


If you're purchasing a diamond for personal enjoyment, such as an engagement or anniversary ring, you should focus your efforts on finding a diamond that is brilliant .

The beauty of a diamond is its brilliance called often as " fire" or "life” , it is determined by the diamond's "CUT" and a little by its color. The best brilliance (the reflections of light coming out of the diamond) is achieved by the "Ideal-Cut " diamond, in round diamonds mathematically proven and in other shapes determined by trade thumb rules and visual inspection.
Some people really lose touch of reality and get caught up in the quest for the perfect diamond. A basic understanding of the GIA grading system will ensure that you get the most for your money and don't get taken advantage of, and the "Ideal-Cut' to the "Very Good cut" will ensure you will get a diamond that has the best brilliance.

No one can tell the difference between AGS"0" and AGS"2" or between I.F (FLAWLESS) to a VS2 or between a D to an F color from just looking at a set diamond!!!

GIA Researchers Conduct Study on Round Brilliant Cuts. Researchers at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) concluded from the results of a study on diamond cut that there is no single best set of proportions for a round brilliant diamond that maximizes fire. The results appear in an article titled "Modeling the Appearance of the Round Brilliant Cut Diamond: An Analysis of Fire, and More About Brilliance," published in the Fall 2001 issue of Gems & Gemology.  

What are AGS "0"."1" "2"......"10" cut grades?


AGS "0" is the first and best Ideal Cut as defined for Round diamonds by the A.G.S. (American Gem Society). Using a scale of zero to ten, the worst is AGS "10." We at Diamonds-USA.com regard AGS "0","1"and"2" as "Ideal-Cuts".  

What is an "Excellent Ideal Cut","Tolkowsky Ideal Cut" or "Premium Cut"?


EGL laboratory defined this cut grades for Round diamonds , "Excellent" is first "Tolkowsky" is second and "Premium" is third best cut. 

What do you charge over the price tag for shipping and insurance?


The prices quoted on the web are all inclusive and are USA Tax-Free. 

What is "Clean to the naked eye"?


By definition diamonds with clarities of I.F , VVS1, VVS2, VS1 , VS2 , SI1 , SI2 , are eye clean (= clean to the naked eye,clean to an unaided eye looking from top down from 25 cm distance) SI3 is the border line and in some cases SI2 as well. For that reason we also checked each SI2 diamond in our inventory and marked our opinion regarding the visibility of the SI2 .  

Can I collect my diamonds in person in the diamonds-usa.com Manhattan office?


Yes,You can pickup your chosen diamond/jewelry .There is an additional fee for this service . 

Do you have a diamonds selection show room in your New York office?


No, diamonds-usa.com, being a manufacturing company and maintaining its wholesale prices to the public, does not have a show room in our New York office at this time. 

What guaranties I have that the diamonds I receive are actually the diamonds I ordered ?


We ship every diamond with it's independent lab report, EGL, GIA or IGI. We offer a no questions asked Ten days money back guarantee. The ten days are from the day you receive your diamonds purchase. Should you elect to return your diamonds for any reason throughout this ten day interim, you will receive a full refund . We have been selling diamonds over the net since 1997 and had no complaints. Please visit our "About Us" page. 

What types of payment do you accept?


- Major credit cards; American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club, Discover. Authorize your card and Receive your Purchase Before the funds are captured!!. Read about it on our :Terms & Conditions page. - Wire Transfers to our Chase Manhattan Bank Account - you get a 2% discount off of the website price. - Pay with your PayPal or Google Account (Google checkouts receive a 2% discount by using the special discount code GCODUSA2). Please note that the funds are captured before shipment of your parcel, in accordance with the PayPal/Google policy.  

Where do you ship diamonds?


We ship worldwide.  

How long till I'll get the diamond after it was paid for?


Three business days for loose diamonds within the continental USA and Canada, allow up to two more days for jewel setting and sizing. Eight business days to the UK and rest of Europe and 11 business days to all other countries (shipping is quicker for some countries, please call us for more details). 

How do I find my ring size for ordering ?


Please refer to the CONVERSION CHART at our "Diamond and Jewelry Tutorial" at: Jewelry Tutorial. 

What are Color-Enhanced Diamonds?


Fancy colored diamonds are natural diamonds that have been treated with electron accelerators operating at various energy levels, according to the color required. The treatment creates a highly stable and permanent color change, without leaving any harmful traces of radiation on the diamond. Therefore, the diamond can be used in jewelry immediately.
As only one of every 10.000 mined diamonds is a natural fancy color diamond, Fancy color diamond Jewelry became extremely rare and therefore very expensive.Diamonds-USA.com fancy color enhanced diamond Jewelry collection are the closest you can get to the real thing at a fraction of price. 

what are the facts about Fancy Colored Enhanced Diamonds?


1. The color will not fade, it penetrates the entire diamond
2. Fancy Colored Enhanced Diamonds are not lab created; they are natural and real diamonds
3. Although color enhanced Diamonds have color, they still poses the same refractive index,vv because they are natural and than has the same brilliance after the enhancement
4. Fancy colored Diamonds Don't become radioactive!
5. Fancy colored enhanced Diamonds may come in Blue Green, Canary Yellow or even Pink.
6.They look exactly the same as the natural Fancy color diamonds only at a fraction of the price. 

What is "White Gold with Palladium".


Did you know that there is no "white gold"?, gold is a yellow metal and will always be yellowish even when using the "white gold" alloy jewel that is dipped and covered with white Rhodium metal coat. It doesn't interfere when using regular "white gold" for earrings or pendants but when using it in rings after 6 to 12 months it will scratch off and the yellowish tint will appear and a redipping will be necessary. We at Diamonds-USA are proud to offer our clients the "18K White gold with Palladium" alloy for all ring bands, this alloy is much whiter than the regular "18K white gold", it is grayish /white and has no yellow tint at all. We still coat it with the Rhodium dipping but it is also used without the dipping. This alloy is used only with high end Jewelers and is a good substitute for the Platinum which is double the price.  
 
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