Diamonds
are forever. It's an old line but works like a charm. There really is
no better way to say those three magic words than with a rock. So this
Valentine's as you gear up to buy this precious gem for your
sweetheart, jewellery designer, Varuna D. Jani tells you how to choose
the right one, while Rita Dhody shows you how to wear your diamonds
like a diva.
'C' BEFORE YOU BUY
Carat -
Carat refers to the weight of the dazzler and the bigger the gem the
greater your chances of winning her over! Starting at half a cent,
referred to as 'Star Diamonds', where you have to squint your eyes to
get a careful look, the stone goes into several enviable carats. But
the cost of a diamond is determined by the other Cs as well. Therefore
a two carat diamond will not cost exactly double than a one carat rock.
Cut - Contrary to what you may think, cut
doesn't refer to the shape of a diamond. Instead it refers to the
proportions that were followed at the time of cutting the rough stone.
A correctly cut diamond is one where there is maximum reflection of
light. In lay man's terms that amounts to greater lustre. And that's
probably why the Belgian cut is the most desired. However, with the
foray of lasers into the Indian market desi diamonds are soon catching
up with their firangi counterparts.
Colour -
Colourless is probably what you want to go for. The less colour you see
in your diamond, the higher it is on the colour scale. The colour
grading starts at a 'D' and goes down to a 'Z'. From 'D' through 'I'
the diamond will appear to have no colour to the naked eye. But
starting at 'J' you will notice a hint of yellow.
Clarity -
The clarity of a diamond refers to its purity or lack of 'freckles' or
black spots. A 10 X eye glass is used to judge clarity and the rating
starts at 'F' for flawless down to SI (slight inclusion, where some
spots are visible even to the naked eye) and finally 'obvious
inclusion', where you can see the blemished without the eye glass.
Certificates of authenticity -
Since you're spending several thousands or even lakhs on a diamond,
it’s only wise to pay a little extra and be assured of the quality of
the diamond from a recognised institute.
Varuna D Jani and her dazzling Collection
SHAPE IT UP
The
shape of a diamond is referred to as the 'cut'(but you probably know
better by now!)The classic round shaped diamonds are the most preferred
shape in India because they allow for greater reflection of light (read
lustre), whereas the other shapes are known as fancy 'cuts'.
The
heart shaped diamond oozes sensuality and instantly appeals to most
women who are hopeless romantics at heart. But it is the Princess ‘cut’
which is a sign of royalty and was in centuries gone by the most
preferred shape by czarinas and queens.
The Pear shaped
diamonds evoke strong emotions as they look like tear drops, whereas
the Marquis resembles the human eye. The Emerald cut resembles its
namesake but has an octagonal outline. And the last and probably the
least sought after is the Ascher cut which is similar to the Emerald
in that it has an octagonal outline but is square shaped.
SET IT RIGHT
The setting of a diamond can make all the difference.
Prong Setting -
Most often seen in engagement rings, this setting consists of claws or
prongs that hold at their core the diamond. The prongs can be made tall
such that the diamond is raised above the rings base making it look
larger than it really is.
Pave Setting - This
term originated from the word pavement and is the most appropriate
setting when several small diamonds have to be set together in a
clustered pattern.
Basel setting - In this type of setting the metal band and diamonds seem
inseparable as the metal wraps itself around the stones.
Invisible setting - Almost magically the metal frame is hidden totally from
view. All that’s left to see are those magnificent twinklers.
Stylist Rita Dhody
WEAR IT WELL
Rita Dhody, stylist to the stars, shows you how to show it off!
•
Don't go O.T.T - Don't wear all your diamond jewellery all at once.
Instead, keep it simple by wearing just one diamond studded element
such as a necklace or a ring.
• Opt for diamond jewellery with an antique finish or art-deco pieces because
classics never go out of style.
•
If you have a smaller budget or you find that over time you've invested
in several diamond trinkets, then team them up together in one
bracelet.
• Since diamonds are timeless, there's nothing
seasonal about diamond jewellery, the key is to wear your jewels with
attitude and to enjoy the experience.
IS A DIAMOND A SOUND INVESTMENT ?
Diamonds
over 1 carat have increased in value over the years. However the price
of the smaller diamonds has remained more or less constant over time.
Be
sure however, to always buy your diamonds from a reputed jeweller and
always ask for a certificate of authenticity, which will come in handy
when you decide to re-sell those twinklers.
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