Some Basics On Blue Diamond Rings

Diamonds for a Blue Diamond Ring have been around for a long time and as they say, diamonds are forever. So what can be done to keep them fresh and appealing? Exclusivity is of course one way. These days a new trend catching up in diamond jewelry is that of buying colored diamonds. Diamonds come in different colors and hues due to the presence of lattice defects and also impurities. One such color is blue.

Like other diamond rings, you can buy your ring in various styles, settings and cuts. Wondering which cut to go for? The cuts that bring the best in colored diamonds are round brilliant cut, oval cut, princess cut and radiant cut. You can have your diamond ring in any cut, but since this is one diamond that has a high flaunt value, most people prefer their blue diamond ring in a prong setting as this setting exposes a major part of the stone.

There are several things one needs to keep in mind when buying a blue diamond ring. Like colorless diamonds, the 4Cs apply here also but with a little difference. While carat measurement for a colorless and a blue diamond will be same, the cut, clarity and color will be taken differently. The cut of a blue diamond should impart maximum possible brilliance to the stone and hide any flaws at the same time. Unlike white/colorless diamonds, clarity is not a deal breaker in case of colored diamonds, but it is important nonetheless. Purity and saturation of color is important for brilliance and fire.

Saturation is nothing but how rich the stone is, in this case, a blue diamond. A richer/ deeper color will increase the cost of your blue piece substantially. Also look for undertone. This can enhance or kill the stone. If an undertone makes the color more intense, it is a plus point and adds to the value but anything which decreases the vividness is a big no-no as it will decrease the value of the stone and consequently the attractiveness of your blue diamond ring. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, blue diamonds are even more so!

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Blue Diamond Ring – How To Get Started

So you are ready to get a blue diamond ring, or maybe a blue diamond engagement ring? You should be aware of a few things first.

Most (and i really mean that to the tune of about 99.5o%) of blue diamonds on the market for a blue diamond ring did not come out of the ground that way. Those are usually diamonds, that had a different color rough (the original unpolished and uncut version of a diamond) and where than treated later on, to bring out a blue color. in case you are wondering what that treatment is, those diamonds get irradiated.

Please do not get me wrong here, those diamonds are very beautiful, i just thought it was important for everyone to know the truth some retailers will avoid telling you. A natural blue diamond is extremely rare, even rarer already set in a blue diamond ring and demands a premium price on the market. I will assume for the moment, that you are not ready to sell your house just yet to buy a natural one, so i will stick with the treated diamond.

A Blue Diamond (treated or otherwise), is judged by the same criteria as it’s white counterpart and that is by what the industry refers to as the 4 c’s: Color: with a treated blue diamond you would want a sky blue, or very deep and even blue, but a natural one will be judged by the depth of color. white diamonds are judged from D-Z, with D being the whitest and M-Z diamonds displaying a yellow to yellow/brownish tint. clarity: this shows how many inclusions (flaws) a diamond has. from best to worst it goes F = Flawless, IF = Internally Flawless (might have some pinpoint or a little scratch on the outside), VVS1 = Very Very Slightly Included (you will need a very strong microscope to see anything), VVS2 = Very Very Slightly Included, VS1 = Very slightly Included (you will not find any inclusions with a loupe = 10 x magnification), VS2, SI1 = (here you can see inclusions with the loupe, although it will be hard for an untrained eye), SI2 = (you should see inclusions with a loupe, even if you are not trained) and this is probably your best bet for a Blue Diamond Ring, since it provides the best balance between clarity and price, SI3(on EGL certificates) = you will see inclusions with a loupe, and probably even with the naked eye, unless you are completely blind, in which case i suggest to bring someone along when you shop, I1,-I5 = very easy to see inclusions without any magnification.

I will take a break for a little bit, but please stay tuned for the next installment, but i will be back with more information on how to pick your blue diamond ring .

Things To Consider

Other Blue Diamond Ring tips:

Do not, ever, buy a blue diamond ring that does not come with certification. The two main organizations that certify diamonds are the G.I.A. (gemological institute of america) and the E.G.L. (european gemological laboratory). Do not accept any other certificates, unless you know and trust the jeweler you are buying from. Both of these institutions have are very reputable and their certificates are detailed.

When you buy online, check out the certificate, make sure that polish and symmetry are good or above and be sure you pick a company that let’s you return your blue diamond ring. This is important, since a diamond may show well on paper, but in reality you actually do not like it. There is nothing wrong, with not liking a particular diamond, since this is a very personal decision and you want to be happy with what you have.

Do not buy jewelry that you can not afford. I know that sounds silly, but it really is not. Jewelry is supposed to be worn with pride and enjoyment. That will not happen, if you look at your blue diamond ring and fret about the money you spend. Also keep in mind, that even though we buy diamonds for their beauty, they also retain their value and keep up with inflation. So even at a later date, diamonds can always be turned into cash, with a profit, if done correctly.

How does all this information pertain to your blue diamond ring?  Well, all of the above is true for a blue diamond, as it is for white diamonds or other colored diamonds, natural or enhanced.

If you are ever offered a natural blue diamond beware, those are so rare, that most jewelers will never even see one and they will most certainly not be set in a Blue Diamond Ring, since it would be much easier for the jeweler to just set it with the customers chosen semi-mount.

The most famous of all natural blue diamonds is the Hope Diamond. The Gemological Institute of America put the weight of this diamond at 45.52 carats (9.104g) and described it as “fancy dark grayish blue”, before changing their minds in 1996 and calling it “fancy deep grayish blue”. Under ultraviolet light, the stone shows an unusual brilliant red phosphorescence, making it truly a one of a kind. This stone is way to big to set in a blue diamond ring.

Feel free to drop me a comment. I shall keep this blog as subject specific as possible, however, since i have spend a long time in the jewelry industry, i will be able to answer almost any questions you may have.

Ok, a friend of mine asked me a simple question: should i buy a natural colored diamond, or an enhanced one. Well, the answer has a lot to do with your pocketbook. Obviously, if you can afford a natural colored diamond, go for it. Most people however, do not have the resources for this, especially if we are talking about a natural blue diamond. Enhanced blue diamonds tend to be very reasonable in price and therefore a good choice for your Blue Diamond Ring, if you are on a budget.