What to Know Before Buying a Diamond (beyond the 4 C’s)

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Clarity grading matters, but always look at a diamond (with magnification and without) before buying it

Our best advice right from the start: After observing hundreds of thousands of diamonds, the best advice we can give is to look at any diamond in person before buying it. Every diamond is different, and two diamonds of the same quality will not look exactly the same, no matter what the salesperson tries to tell you. Diamond grading is important, and should be considered, but no one should ever buy a diamond based on its grading alone.

You can’t judge a diamond piece’s value based on total carat weight

Clusters of small diamonds have significantly less value than one large stone with the same total carat weight, given similar clarity grades. A tennis bracelet with a 3 carat total weight made of 30 stones will be significantly more valuable than a bracelet with the same carat total weight but made of 60 stones, if the stones are roughly the same clarity and color. Check out our post on the difference between Carats and Karats.

What type of jewelry will the diamond be set in?

Earrings typically look better with larger diamonds of lower clarity because they are often viewed from a further distance than rings

Some diamonds work better for different types and styles of jewelry. Earrings typically look better with larger diamonds of lower clarity because they are typically viewed from a further distance than rings. Diamonds set in yellow gold will look a few color grades higher than if they are set in white gold. Round diamonds larger than 2 Carats are often considered too big to look appropriate in rings, and a shopper looking for an extra large stone for a ring would usually do better with a pear-shaped diamond or another unique shape.

Diamonds need to be secure

There is always a trade off between style and security when considering what a diamond should be set in, and it’s something you should always think about. If you are considering a piece with many small diamonds and few, very small prongs around those diamonds, you should know that the diamonds may be far more likely to fall out than a piece with slightly bigger stones and slightly bigger prongs. On an engagement ring, accident-prone people may opt for 6 prongs instead of 4 prongs for the extra security. Stones don’t magically stay in place and some styles are less secure than others. Always consider or ask about these issues when purchasing a diamond.

The 4 C’s

The 4 C’s are usually the first talking point when it comes to diamonds. There is a wealth of information available all over the internet on the 4 C’s, so we will be brief. The 4 C’s are Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat. Color is how white the diamond is, Cut describes its symmetry and in theory how much it sparkles, Clarity is a measure of a stone’s inclusions and some other visible characteristics, and Carat is how much the stone weighs (how big it is). As each of those qualities go up, the value of a diamond raises. These qualities can be measured by trained jewelers with a very low margin for error, or graded in a laboratory for more exact calculations. No single category of the 4 C’s is definitely more important than another when judging how nice a stone will look in jewelry; however, the best-looking stones for the money usually have no category that is too low on the scale. Check out our guide on buying an engagement ring for more information.


A Beginner’s Guide to Shopping for Engagement Rings


If you are thinking about proposing, it can be very intimidating to start shopping for an engagement ring. If you don’t know the first thing about jewelry and diamonds- don’t worry! If you have time to visit us at Silver City, we will always be able to help guide you toward buying the ring that’s right for you. If you don’t, or want to start thinking about it from home, here is a beginning guide on how to start your search.

#1- How much should you spend?

Tradition suggests that three months salary is the “correct” amount to spend on an engagement ring, but everyone has their own unique financial situation. Whatever the number you choose is, you will want to know your budget ahead of time.

#2- Styles of engagement rings

Engagement rings come in many styles and each have their own expression. Your goal is to pick the style that your soon-to-be fiancé wants most and expresses her personal style. A solitaire setting (which is a plain-ish ring with a single diamond) is a classic choice for the lady who likes tradition. A halo setting (which is a ring in which a larger stone is encircled by smaller stones) is a trendy choice for the socially-conscious lady who is always on Pinterest and Facebook and keeps up with the latest fashions. Those are the two most popular styles right now; however, there are many other styles of engagement rings, from bezel set to three stone. If you don’t know which one she wants, then go shopping and look at the styles in jewelry stores. Or ask her friends or relatives if they know what she likes. If they don’t know, check out what kind of rings her married friends have.

#3-  The Diamond

The center stone in an engagement ring is where most of the cost is. The first question you should try to answer is, what shape would my soon-to-be fiancé like the most. The second thing you need to do is learn a little about the characteristics of diamonds and decide which are most important to you. Color, cut, and clarity make a diamond look nice, size makes it stand out. You will have to figure out where your priority is, but it’s advisable to keep the clarity and color at reasonable level. After considering these questions, go look at diamonds in person! Diamonds can not be accurately captured with a camera, you must see them in person to be able to truly know how nice they are. Look at diamonds and then ask what their grade is, take note of what qualities the diamonds have that you find nicest. Keep in mind that even diamonds graded exactly the same do not look exactly alike.

#4- Where to buy your engagement ring

Jewelry stores are not all created equal- many will give you a good deal on the right piece and many more will sell you a bad product for as much money as possible. First, choose a store that has experienced and educated staff who will work with you to find the ring that’s right for you. Second, keep in mind that some jewelry stores have much higher markups on their pieces than others, charging as much as double or triple for the same diamond. Make sure you compare prices. Third, don’t forget that your ring may need service and repair over the years, and choose a store that will be there if your ring needs to be sized, re-pronged, or fixed in any way. At Silver City, we do all these things and more. We are a great place to begin your search for the most important ring you will ever purchase.

Identifying Quality Jewelry

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Quality jewelry is jewelry that lasts, that looks good throughout the years, and that doesn’t fall apart when you wear it every day. With so many jewelry products available to buy, how can a normal person know which ones are quality? Fortunately, even if you aren’t a gemologist, there are many easy ways to tell if a piece is worth your money.

Don’t trust the mall, the TV, or places you visit on a cruise to sell quality jewelry!

Most major “rip-offs” in jewelry come from two places, mall chains and TV sales channels; with cruise ships easily being third. The majority of pieces that they sell are either grossly overpriced, easy to break and virtually unrepairable, or not what they claim to be.

Stay away from hollow!

Some retailers sell pieces that are comprised of hollowed out metal. This is a dishonest way for places to make it seem like they are charging less for the same product. While it saves cost in metal weight, hollow pieces are extremely easy to break and very difficult or impossible to repair. Hollow chains and bracelets might cost half of what the same size piece would cost, but will likely fall apart before a year passes. At Silver City we carry only solid pieces that should last you a lifetime.

Plating never lasts!

There are many examples of pieces being plated in the jewelry industry. Gold plated silver is sold as a cheaper alternative to yellow gold. Sterling silver is sold with rhodium plating that makes it look whiter then sterling’s natural color. Some white or yellow gold pieces are sold with plating in areas that show designs or make it look fancy with two colors. All plating will come off quickly and is impossible or extremely cost inefficient to redo.

Be wary of tiny diamonds!

Many popular styles of jewelry include lots of tiny diamonds in a large cluster. This allows retailers to claim that the piece has a high total carat weight while saving themselves cost. Often these stones are supported by very little and will fall out constantly with wear. Even if you like the cluster style, buying a piece with fewer, larger diamonds will normally result in a piece that stays together better.

Magic/illusion set rings are big trouble!

Magic or illusion set rings are where manufacturers set many smaller stones together to make it appear like one larger stone. These stones put together with each other like a jigsaw puzzle and can easily fall out. If one of the stones does fall out, the ring can be entirely ruined with no way to repair it. At Silver City we refuse to sell magic set rings and advise people to never buy them.

At Silver City we only sell pieces that meet our high quality standard!

With over 150 years of combined jewelry experience, we only sell pieces that know are well made and that we are confident will last. Come see our selection today!

What is Gold?

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Gold is one of the oldest and most valuable metals in the world. It has a bright yellow color and is very easy for jewelers to work with. Gold is the traditional metal for engagement rings and wedding bands.

What does karat mean?

Pure gold is extremely bright yellow and too soft for jewelry, so jewelers alloy gold with other metals to make a stronger, different colored alloy. These alloys’ level of gold purity is what karat refers to, with 24 karat being pure gold. 8 karat gold is 33% gold, and 67% other metals. 10k is 41% pure gold, 14k is 59% pure gold, and 18k is 75% pure gold. The higher the karat of the alloy, the yellower and softer the alloy is.

What karat gold is the best?

In the United States, 14k is the most popular karat for its color. 18k gold is a much brighter yellow and, while very popular in Europe, has been considered less attractive in the United States. 10k gold is also a popular choice because it is cheaper yet looks almost the same as 14k. Karats higher than 18k are considered to be too soft for jewelry in Western society, and anything lower then 10k is considered to not be real gold. In terms of durability, the higher karat gold alloys are softer but have a higher resistance to chemicals like household cleaners and acids that the human body produces. 10k is less likely to break when pulled on, but will slowly become brittle over time as the other metals in the alloy wear away. 18k is very easy to bend but can withstand chemicals extremely well. 14k is the middle ground of the two and is probably the best all-around choice.

Is 18k better then 14k?

No. 14k is the industry standard for jewelry because of its color and strength; it has nothing to do with it being more affordable. 10k, on the other hand, is used to save cost and is sometimes used in inferior quality jewelry. 10k is still very good for heavy men’s chains or bracelets that require each link to carry more weight.

What is white gold?

White gold is created when gold is alloyed with white metals, usually nickel, in order to make the alloy white instead of yellow. White gold is usually 14k or 10k and will have a yellow tinge to it. Some retailers and manufacturers thinly plate their white gold pieces with a brighter white metal called rhodium which will typically wear off in a few months.

Why choose gold for my jewelry?

Unlike silver or platinum, virtually every jeweler should be able to repair and service gold. Gold is easily recognizable, and its value is recognized in every country on Earth. It’s easy to clean, and jewelry made of gold can last for generations if maintained properly. For thousands of years, gold jewelry has been an important part of human culture and is treasured by people who appreciate legacy and tradition.

Are there any negatives to Gold?

Gold is the industry standard for jewelry that all other metals are judged against. Gold has no specific downsides for jewelry.

What is Silver?

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Silver is a classic precious metal that has been used for jewelry throughout human history. Its brilliant white color is as beautiful as any other metal when cleaned and polished properly. It, along with gold, is soft enough for jewelers to shape but strong enough to last a lifetime.

What does Sterling Mean?

Sterling silver is the standard silver alloy used for jewelry. It is at least 92.5% pure silver, and the remaining 7.5% is usually copper. Hundreds of years ago, silversmiths found that if they mixed silver with other metals, it added some strength to their creations. In order to make sure that the silversmiths were still mostly making their pieces of silver and not cheaper metals, a legal standard was created that said that anything marked and sold as silver would need to be 92.5% pure silver.

What are the advantages of Silver in jewelry?

Silver is much less expensive then gold, is easy for jewelers to work with and repair, and has a thousand year old legacy as a metal of beauty, artistic quality, and value. It is naturally white and can look stunning as a mounting for colorful gemstones. Silver is also known for a wide variety of medicinal purposes and is naturally antibacterial; because of this very few people have any allergic reactions to silver.

What does it mean that silver tarnishes?

The main issue with using silver for jewelry is that it tarnishes. Tarnishing means that when silver is exposed to the air, it will slowly produce a small layer of silver sulfide on the outside, which is a blackish substance that will make the piece look dull if it isn’t cleaned off. Fortunately, silver can be cleaned in seconds by simply dipping the piece into silver cleaning solutions that are easy to find and cheap to purchase. At Silver City, we sell two varieties of silver cleaner that will last for years and only cost about $7 each.

Is there such thing as tarnish-free Sterling Silver? (the answer is No)

Some retailers sell sterling silver that they misleadingly say will never tarnish. The truth is that anything made of silver will tarnish if it is exposed to the air, as it is one of the chemical properties of the metal. In order to claim they have tarnish-free sterling, some manufacturers plate their sterling silver with a very fine layer of another white metal that doesn’t tarnish. This plating will usually only last months before the silver is exposed to the air, and the piece will begin to tarnish.

Why does some Sterling Silver look whiter than other Sterling Silver jewelry?

All sterling silver is the same color. Some retailers, unfortunately for their customers, will plate their sterling silver jewelry with a chrome-like metal to make it look shinier in the showcase. This plating will come off in months and is unable to be reapplied in any lasting way. The good news is that real sterling silver is naturally white and beautiful and only needs to be properly cleaned and polished to get as white and bright as the day you bought it.

Are there any other disadvantages to Sterling Silver in Jewelry?

Sterling silver is softer then gold, and it is very risky and inadvisable to set diamonds in it. Sterling silver also requires more heat to repair, which can sometimes cause complications if a sterling piece has gemstones in it that can’t be heated.

Gifts for Her

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If you are looking to buy jewelry as a gift for a wife, girlfriend, or mom, it can be difficult to choose. Jewelry comes in many shapes and sizes, and there are many options to choose from. If you come to Silver City, our jewelry specialists will help you choose a great gift. If you can’t come in or you’d like think about it ahead of time, this is a quick guide to get you on the right track.

Yellow or White Gold?

Most women either wear only yellow or only white gold. If you aren’t sure which one she likes, look at the jewelry she’s wearing next time you see her. If she wears no jewelry at all or you can’t figure it out, today’s most popular choice for women is to wear white gold.

Birthstones or Diamonds?

If you are looking for a nice piece of jewelry without breaking the budget, a piece with a birthstone is always the first place we recommend. Birthstones are thoughtful, traditional, and sentimental. At Silver City, we have a huge inventory of birthstone jewelry, with genuine and lab-created varieties available. If you want a custom approach instead, we can make a piece to your exact specifications. If you don’t know that she loves her birthstone, or you want to make a bigger statement, diamond jewelry is always a winner. There are diamond pieces of all kinds available at many price points. You don’t have to spend a fortune to buy a nice diamond piece!

Earrings, Pendants, Rings, Necklaces, or Bracelets?

Earrings are a piece of jewelry that most girls can never have too many of. A nice pair of birthstone earrings is always a solid, affordable choice if you aren’t sure what she likes. Rings are the next most consistent choice, if you know the kind of ring she likes. Some women love large stones, and some prefer subtle, petite rings. Like earrings, women can always have more than one ring! If you know that she has a nice chain to hang it from, then pendants are also a lovely gift. Pendants, like rings and earrings, have the advantage of being useful to women for matching specific outfits. If you know that she doesn’t have a nice chain, then that may be the best answer for you. Women’s chains are usually one of the cheapest jewelry options, and you may have enough money left over to buy her a pendant too! Finally, if none of these options sound like the right answer, there are bracelets and gemstone necklaces available. Bracelets and necklaces usually have much more metal in them than other pieces, which can increase costs, but they are also often more impressive.

Still not sure? Come see us!

Our staff are expert jewelry professionals, and we will go through our huge inventory with you to find a piece you (and she) will love!