Jewelry Store St. Louis, MO| Clarkson Jewelers Blog » Engagement

The 4-C’s… What You Need to Know

Clarkson Jewelers — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:56:35 +0000

CUT: The “cut” of a diamond refers to the actual cutting of the diamond. Cut is arguably the most important of the C’s due to its direct correlation to the sparkle and brilliance of the diamond. High quality diamonds are cut so that when light enters the top (table), it is reflected around the cone-shaped bottom and projected back through the top, delivering a strong spectral sparkle. A poorly cut stone’s proportions will allow light to escape out of the bottom making the diamond appear dull and lifeless.

CLARITY: Clarity is just as it sounds. It refers to the internal and external characteristics of the diamond. In simple terms, the fewer the inclusions or blemishes, the more desirable the diamond (inclusions are inside the diamond, and blemishes are on the outside). A high-powered microscope is necessary to locate most of these tiny characteristics. Keep in mind, a highly included diamond is not only cosmetically less desirable, but also is more susceptible to breakage.

COLOR: Color for white diamonds are rated on a alphabetical scale ranging from D (colorless and exceedingly rare) to Z (light yellow). Most diamonds possess some degree of yellow or brown. Small and nearly undetectable differences in color can make a substantial difference in a diamond’s cost. I general, the more colorless the diamond, the greater its cost. A well-cut diamond, especially the round brilliant, will utilize refraction to disguise some degrees of coloration.

CARAT: Possibly the easiest of the 4-C’s to determine. Carats are established by weighing a loose diamond on a calibrated scale. A carat is equal to 1/5 of a gram. As diamonds increase in size, their cost tends to increase exponentially. For instance, a one-carat diamond will cost considerably more than twice as much as a half-carat stone of the same quality. Keep this in mind as you’re looking for the perfect stone in regards to size.

One of Life’s Most Important Purchases… the Engagement Ring

Clarkson Jewelers — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:30:59 +0000

For most customers, the purchase of an engagement ring is one filled with a multitude of emotions. There’s the nervous excitement of the actual proposal, the bewildering feeling of asking her father or family (if you choose to do so) and the baffling amounts of information on diamonds themselves.

There are so many things to be anxious about in regards to an engagement, please allow Clarkson Jewelers to take the uncertainty and angst out of the ring purchasing process. We’re home the St. Louis’ LARGEST selection of high-quality engagement rings and our sales people are NEVER paid on commissions, so you’re certain to purchase a ring you love and will love presenting on the day of your proposal.

Clarkson Jewelers’ selection includes Hearts on Fire, Tacori, A. Jaffe, JB Star, & Martin Flyer to name a few as well as our exclusive Your Choice Program, which allows you to find a great diamond engagement ring at a budget that suits all needs.

Please read our post on the “4-C’s” of diamond purchasing and please, come visit us when you’re ready to take this giant step in your life.

Register To Win A FREE 2-Carat Ring & Dream Honeymoon!

Clarkson Jewelers — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:48:29 +0000

One of Clarkson Jewelers’ bridal customers can be the lucky winner of a 2-carat Hearts on Fire Eternity Wedding Band and a dream trip for two to exotic Tahiti. Register now, as the contest runs through December 31, 2009 only! Click on the link below to visit the registration page. If the link does not work, please copy and paste the URL into your browser.

http://www.brides.com/sweepstakes/heartsonfire/enter/long/