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Overview of the FOUR C’s
Because the best decision you can make when it comes to buying a diamond is an informed one, we have created this guide to educate you on the four Cs of diamonds. You will learn how to understand cut, color, clarity, and carat weight of diamonds.

This easy-to-read guide will give you the tools you need to buy your quality diamond with confidence.

1 - Cut:
The cut of a diamond refers to much more than its shape. A diamond's visual beauty is a reflection of its cut, which determines its brilliance, or sparkle. A poor cut can reduce the brilliance of an otherwise perfect diamond, while a great cut can set an average diamond on fire. LaMonir exclusively carries diamonds that have been carefully cut to maximize their brilliance

2 - Color:
Color is the presence or absence of yellow tint in a diamond. When it comes to color in diamonds, less is definitely more. Colorless diamonds are the rarest and accordingly, they are priced the highest. To help you choose a diamond that appears colorless to the naked eye, LaMonir has assembled a collection of diamonds with the highest grade of color as well as this guide, designed to educate you on the color range of diamonds and how to select the diamond that is perfect for you.

Colorless: D, E, and F
Near colorless: G, H, I, J
Faint yellow: K, L, and M
Yellow/brown: N-Z The most desirable color for a diamond
Top quality, slight traces of color visible to a trained eye
Near colorless in small stones. Larger stones will appear tinted
Stones will show a yellowish tint to an untrained eye

3 - Clarity:
The clarity of a diamond is determined by its identifying characteristics. Consider clarity as the diamond's internal thumbprint. No two are exactly alike. The impact on the diamond's quality is influenced by the size, number, location, and type of inclusion. Diamonds with very few inclusions are the most valuable as they are the rarest. LaMonir provides not only the information you need to determine the grade of clarity that is right for you, but also a wide range of stunning, clear diamonds to choose from.

4 - Carat Weight:
While you may already know that a diamond's weight is expressed in carats, this guide is intended to inform you about the exponential rise in value of larger diamonds due to their rarity. Because purchasing a diamond requires you to consider each of the four Cs, we can help you to give the right amount of weight to the size of your diamond and chose the one that will fit your budget and look dazzling in its setting.

Certification:
Carefully reviewing the grading report of a diamond is imperative to ensure that you are getting the diamond you want. This report, also known as the diamond certificate, verifies significant characteristics of a diamond, including its cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. LaMonir is pleased to educate you on the importance of this valuable document.

Care:
Although diamonds are extremely hard and resilient, care is needed to protect your investment. Learn how to keep your diamond brilliant, secure, and beautiful for a lifetime.

D I A M O N D C A R E
Diamonds are durable and resilient; in fact, they are the hardest substance on earth, amazingly resistant to damage caused by impact or extreme heat. This does not mean that they do not need care. Taking proper care of your diamond is the best way to ensure that it stays beautiful and valuable for a lifetime. LaMonir offers important preventative measures by providing jewelry in which the diamonds are securely set and presenting rings in soft enclosures that may be used to store your precious jewels when they are not in use.
Additionally, it is important to regularly clean your diamond to remove the unwanted build up caused by everyday activities, frequently used chemicals and beauty products. Using a gentle detergent and soft toothbrush is an affordable and effective way to keep your diamond jewelry clean. It is also wise to periodically bring your diamond to a professional to have it cleaned and checked to make sure that the setting remains secure.

How do I know which one is right for me?
In many respects, buying a diamond is no different than making any other purchase. It ultimately is determined by your budget. However, before completing your purchase consider this; how many times has someone admired your jewelry and then pulled out a magnifying loupe or a scale and asked “May I appraise your ring?” It just doesn’t happen. At LaMonir, we are meticulous about choosing diamonds that face up well and look great to the unaided eye. A budget conscious shopper may want to consider the following guidelines:

Choosing a Cut: Focus on selecting a shape that appeals to you. The setting should suit the stone and protect sharp or vulnerable corners. You may want to consider the type of activity or occasion you expect to wear your jewelry. Rings and bracelets that are more exposed and in frequent use may be safer with rounded stones. Pointed stones can be protected with channel or bezel settings. Earrings, pendants, brooches or special occasion pieces can generally allow for more flexible choices.

Choosing a size: Most people tend to choose ‘round’ sizes such as 1 carat, ½ carat etc. Carat points are a very minute unit of weight, so a slightly lighter stone might not look noticeably smaller, but could lower the price. Some settings can make a diamond appear larger, particularly in men’s jewelry. In a multiple stone piece it is best to consider the overall appeal rather than the weight. Two half carat diamonds are not equally valuable as a single whole carat stone.

Choosing a color: A color grade can greatly affect the price of a diamond, but is most noticeable in unset stones viewed side by side under special, bright lights. Our experienced sorters are careful to match stones perfectly for each piece. Our expert jewelers choose the right metal for each diamond. Stones with a hint of yellow will look best in yellow or rose gold; slightly grey stones will appear bright in white gold or other white metals. Compromising a color grade does not necessarily compromise beauty when properly set.

Choosing a clarity division:
As with color, most diamond inclusions are only visible to trained professionals under magnification. Only the lowest grade diamonds may appear to be noticeably peppered or cloudy and are used mainly for promotional type jewelry or the tinier accent stones. Very clean stones are rare and costly. At LaMonir we choose the best looking diamonds to accommodate a range of budgets. We are confident that we are offering superior value and quality.

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