Lowry Antiques

What to consider when buying or selling diamonds

Lowry Antiques (Tonypandy, Wales) offers best price on buying and selling diamonds, we are happy to consider any diamond jewellery including diamond necklaces, diamond rings, diamond earrings and diamond bracelets. It doesn't matter on the quality of your fine jewellery, Lowry Antiques are always happy to advise on the value of your diamonds.

If you are thinking of buying or selling diamonds here are a few key considerations that expert diamond sellers use to classify diamonds. Experts refer to four main characteristics, often called the diamond value factors, they help to evaluate the quality of finished diamonds.

Colour - Diamonds

Contrary to popular belief diamonds aren't colourless stones, they are almost colourless with a pale brown or yellow tint. All diamonds sit within a defined diamond colour range and are graded by the lack of inherent colour, the purer the colour of the diamond the greater the value. A diamond is often referred to having a 'fine colour' if there is little or no visible colour.

Diamonds are classified within a D-Z colour range, D colour diamonds are the most valuable taken with other consistent factors like clarity, carat weight and cut. Diamonds that fall outside the diamond colour range are referred to as fancy-coloured diamonds.

Mounted diamonds less than half a carat are often quite difficult to grade and subtle differences in the top five or six colour grades can be hard to define. Staff at Lowry Antiques, however, have expert diamond knowledge and can help grade your diamond necklaces, diamond rings, diamond earrings or diamond bracelets effectively. We're always happy to offer advice and offer best prices on all diamonds bought and sold.

Clarity - Diamonds

Clarity in diamonds refers to the imperfections inherent in any diamond. Most diamonds have imperfections, internal imperfections are referred to as inclusions and surface irregularities are called blemishes, combined these are classed as clarity characteristics. High clarity diamonds have few imperfections and command greater prices when buying or selling.

Flawless diamonds are rare, however and most diamonds will contain significant inclusions or inclusions that are visible to the naked eye, these diamonds are relatively cheap to buy and sell. If diamonds have inclusions that are visible under 10x magnification they will be of a greater value and tend to make up the bulk of the diamond retail market.

Cut - Diamonds

The Cut of a diamond as a value factor refers to the proportions, symmetry and finish of a diamond, diamond experts refer to this as the make of the diamond. There are a number of ways of cutting a diamond to maximise a diamonds optical properties so valuing the cut of a diamond requires an expert eye. A well-cut diamond, well proportioned and highly polished can make light behave in breathtaking ways.

There are three parts to a diamond, the crown, the girdle, and the pavilion. Some diamonds have a tiny flat edge at the base of the pavilion, this is commonly known as the culet and the flat edge at the top is called the table.

The distance from the bottom of the girdle to the culet is referred to as the pavilion depth. A shallow or deep pavillion allows light to escape from the sides or bottom of the diamond, it's imperative that a diamond maximises light through its crown so cutting a diamond to maximise return of light depends on getting the table size, crown angle and pavilion depth perfect.

Carat - Diamonds

The carat of a diamond refers to the weight of a diamond there are certain 'magic sizes' for diamonds - half carat, three-quarter carat and one carat diamond weights are considered more desirable, there's little difference between a 0.99 carat diamond and a 1 carat diamond, but the price differences can be significant.