How To Compare Diamonds

This is a very difficult process for a customer and for anyone in the diamond industry. This problem was first officially addressed in 1941 by two pillars of the modern gemology, Mr. Robert Shipley and Mr. Richard Liddicoat. "They took on the monumental challenge of creating a system for consistent diamond color grading". This is the now famous GIA Diamond Grading System of the 4C's. Before them, no system really existed. What they did was to define a system that relies on the following key elements:

• Reliable instrumentation
• Consistent definition of Color and Clarity which compare diamonds against a fixed standard
• Experience, education and training

If any of the basic assumptions above fails, the system to compare diamonds also fails.

But there is more. The standard Diamond Grading Report is limited in providing all elements to best analyze a diamonds. Obviously there are MANY differences such as brightness, scintillation, position and relief of inclusions that determine beauty that are NOT contained on a certification. The basic purpose of a diamond report, or diamond certificate as they are commonly called, is to identify the gem and describe it in detail.

We can assist you

Hannon Jewelers maintains and operate an accredited Gemstone Laboratory on premises. For a nominal fee, we can help you evaluate your diamond selection in order to help you arrive to an educated conclusion of what is the best diamond for your budget and to verify that its quality matches the representation made by the "Certificate" that comes with the stone. For an appointment or for more information, please contact us or call us at 225-766-8242.