Going through an ideal solitaire jewellery buying experience

Diamonds are not only precious but also rare and expensive. We invest a good deal of time and energy when we go shopping for diamond jewellery. Another thing about a diamond is that it's the most versatile stone when it comes to being a part of jewellery; you can wear it on all kinds of occasions.   But is that really true? Most of us might wonder, if diamond jewellery is really versatile, then what’s the need of solitaire jewellery? And the answer is, while solitaires and diamonds are not worlds apart, they are definitely different. Some of us may not know this but solitaire jewellery features just a single diamond on the ornament, with no side stones.   Solitaires ring For a basic understanding, solitaires are diamonds but at the same time, not all diamonds get the status of a solitaire. Take an engagement ring or a pair of solitaire stud earrings for example. A single stone on an ornament standing out obviously holds more value.   Purchasing solitaire jewellery is also slightly trickier than buying diamond jewellery. And there’s a very simple reason for that; with the former the focus is mainly on the stone while with the latter, the attention is divided due to the glitter of several rocks on one piece.   With your solitaire getting this kind of attention, you wouldn’t want to compromise on its quality. At the same time, there are other considerations like the budget, the authenticity of the stone and the certification. Here are some things you can take care of to ensure that you make an informed choice and get the best solitaire jewellery you would like to own -   The quality of a solitaire diamond comprises the 4 Cs - Cut, Carat, Colour and Clarity. These are the basic but the most important parameters that make the final diamond a pure and beautiful look. Of these four, the colour and clarity are the two inherent and natural attributes of a diamond. Likewise, the cut and carat don’t just depend on the skill of the craftsman but are also interrelated.   Colour & Clarity: There two “Cs” are naturally found in a diamond. An excess of these two characteristics in a diamond can considerably diminish its beauty. Especially with the clarity; the more inclusions there are inside a diamond, the lesser light it reflects. At the most, you can have your jeweller remove some of the external blemishes on the stone but the ones inside stay. Solitaire earrings   The colour of a diamond is a personal choice. On a diamond colour grading scale, the stones are classified on the basis of their colour from D-Z. The colourless diamonds start from D and as it moves towards Z, the colour in the diamond increases. Stones under Z have a light yellow tint that can be mounted on coloured metals.   Cut & Carat: The brilliance of a solitaire comes from the way it is cut. For a solitaire to really sparkle, an excellent cut is highly recommended. This means that the diamond will be cut, keeping in mind the perfect symmetry and reflect all the light that enters the stone.   A carat is a unit for weighing diamonds. The weight of a diamond change according to its size, which is determined by the cut. It is not always necessary that the cut will make a very big difference to the carat but if it does, it can influence the pricing. And that is yet another important point to remember while shopping for solitaire jewellery.   An investment as expensive as this should be carefully researched. The diamond industry still has some issues where standard and transparent pricing is concerned but that is slowly changing now. Moreover, if you are on a budget and cannot afford a very expensive solitaire ornament, then you might want to consider compromise on the clarity, colour or cut. As long as the changes are really miniscule and not easily noticeable, it is safe to go for a lighter stone with little more colour and less clarity.   After that, a diamond certificate is what you need to ensure that your diamond has been ethically sourced. The ones which are illegal contribute to rebel wars, violate human rights and lead to the disruption of peace worldwide. They are known as blood diamonds and also cause harm to the diamond industry’s reputation. Solitaire Necklace   In addition to that, the certificate, usually issued by third-party grading laboratories, is proof that the solitaire one has purchased has been graded on 40 parameters and is good to go. Thus, one can also ensure that they have a stone that is authentic and have paid the right price for it.   Above everything else, buying solitaire jewellery should be a well-thought out and planned process. And the more guidance one can get in this regard, the better it is. This is precisely why diamond jewellery websites have a section on diamond education that covers this kind of information. This article is authored by Jignesh Mehta, Founder & M.D. R.S. Diamonds. To know such updates on fashion, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Download our magazine Spunky Indian for exclusive stories.