How to Choose a Solitaire
What’s the first image that comes to your mind as soon as you hear the word ‘solitaire’? We won’t be surprised if you say it’s a gorgeous ring. In a world of ever-changing jewellery trends, solitaire diamond rings have made their place as one of the most sought-after trinkets. Rings notwithstanding, solitaires are a celebration of beauty and brilliance. Add a solitaire to any jewellery and it is sure to evoke timeless elegance. Such is its appeal! Such is its sparkle!
But choosing a solitaire is easier said than done. If you are not careful enough, you may end up buying a fake stone. Are you planning to buy a diamond solitaire? We tell you how to choose one. Whether you are buying solitaires from your local jeweller or online, there are a few things you should pay attention to. In this article, we talk about everything you should know about choosing a solitaire.
What’s A Solitaire?
So, first things first! What exactly is a solitaire and how does it differ from a normal diamond or gemstone? To put it simply, a solitaire is a single diamond or gemstone. The term solitaire is often used to denote ornaments set with just a single diamond and without any side stone. When set in any jewellery, a solitaire illustrates the significance of one solitary stone within the design.
Though the most popular type of solitaire jewellery is engagement rings and wedding rings, your options are not limited to rings alone. You can find solitaire diamond pendants that feature a single diamond hanging from a chain. Then there are solitaire earrings set with one diamond per earring. The basic idea behind solitaire jewellery is to highlight the beauty of the stone. But your solitaire jewellery will be as good as bad as the stone itself, isn’t it? So, it’s important that you select your stone with care. Here are a few useful tips to help you out:
What to Look for When Selecting a Solitaire?
Perhaps nothing illustrates the proverb ‘less is more’ as much as a diamond solitaire does. Classy and elegant, such sparkling beauties can add a touch of radiance to your look. When selecting a solitaire, it’s important to focus on the features as well as the quality of the stone. The quality of a solitaire, for that matter any diamond, is assessed at four different levels. These four levels are represented by the 4Cs: cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. Let us look at each of them in detail.
Cut: The cut of a solitaire can impact its value to a great extent. You can consider the cut as the most significant of the four factors. It tells you about the reflective quality and brilliance of the diamond. There are many ways a stone can be cut, such as the round, oval, emerald, marquise, cushion, trillion, and princess, to mention a few. The better the cut, the brighter the diamond looks. So, make sure that your solitaire has a good cut and it shines brightly. Some cuts, like the round brilliant, render the stone more sparkle and brilliance than others. Likewise, certain other cuts such as the oval and marquise makes a stone look much larger than it actually is. You need to consider all these factors while choosing your solitaire jewellery.
Colour: Diamonds are found in nature in many hues. Starting from colourless, they can go up to light yellow or even brown. Colourless diamonds are the rarest and the most desirable ones as well. Unsurprisingly, they are also the most expensive ones you can find in the market. This means, the more colourless your solitaire, the greater its value will be. If you are looking for a high-quality stone, go for one that is colourless or nearly colourless.
Clarity: Most diamonds are known to have natural imperfections in them. The internal imperfections are known as inclusions and the external ones are known as blemishes. These imperfections influence the clarity of a diamond. Sometimes the imperfections are not visible to the naked eye. When you select your solitaire, try to get one that is high on the clarity grade. This means it will be low on imperfections.
Carat Weight: The carat refers to the weight of your solitaire measured in metric carats. One carat is equal to 1/5 gram. It is further divided into 100 points. Note that the carat has no impact on the beauty of the diamond, but it can greatly determine its price. Also, two stones of equal carat weight can differ much in value. This is due to the difference in their cut, colour, and clarity. So, consider the carat weight of your stone after the other 3Cs.
Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Solitaire
Buying a solitaire is a big investment. You would obviously want to get the best value for your money. Try to steer clear of these common mistakes when making the deal.
Not doing your research: Do not buy your solitaire in a rush. Take your time to understand your requirement. Also, decide how much money you are willing to spend to buy the stone. Get an idea of the 4Cs and understand how to determine the quality of the solitaire. You also need to think if you are willing to compromise on any of the 4Cs in order to stick to your budget. Is your budget fixed or flexible? Having an answer to these questions will help you to make a better decision.
Not opting for certification: Do not overlook the importance of certification when you buy gemstones. A certificate issued by an authorised agency grades a diamond on the basis of the 4Cs. So, you can know about the stone’s cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight accurately. You also get to know if the diamond is a natural one or not. When you get a certificate from a reputed organisation, you are assured of the diamond’s authenticity and quality. This means you reduce the risk of paying more money for an inferior stone. So, always insist to buy a certified diamond.
Not going for a reputed retailer: When you buy solitaire jewellery, always consider the reputation of the retailer you are buying it from. If you go for a dependable jeweller, you are more likely to get certified diamonds. So, you will know that the diamond you are buying is real. Moreover, well-known retailers offer a guarantee on their products. On the other hand, if you go to an unknown retailer, you may not get any of these facilities. Also, in the absence of a certificate, you may have to pay more money than what your diamond is worth. Today, you can also buy jewellery online. Though it saves you the time of going from one shop to another, you need to make sure that you shop with an online jeweller who sells high-quality and certified products. Checking user reviews is a good way to assess the reputation of online buyers.
If you can avoid these common mistakes, you will be able to make an informed decision. As they say, a diamond is forever. So, select your solitaire with care and enjoy its beauty forever and ever.
