When a person has a piece of diamond jewelry, they often assume that they have something of value in their hands. Diamonds have long been considered a precious stones and there are many well-known diamonds that are worth a lot of money. It is that perceived value that sends diamond jewelry owners to get a diamond appraisal NYC done. They may not be able to get a value on their piece of jewelry that compares to the Cullinan diamond ($400 million) or the Hope Diamond ($350 million) or even the Allnatt Diamond ($3 million), but it is always nice to know what the true value of the diamond they have is.
What is Considered in The Value of the Diamond
Any reputable dealer that does a diamond appraisal NYC will consider four major areas when looking at a diamond. Those four areas are:
- Carat – The weight of the diamond is measured in carats. A carat weighs 2 grams. Carats can be described with up to two decimals. A one and a half carat diamond would be described as 1.50 carats. The heavier a diamond is, the more valuable it will be. The Cullinan diamond weighs 3,106.75 carats.
- Clarity – A diamond appraisal NYC will look for any imperfections in the diamond. These can include cracks, black specks and other sings that are not always visible to the naked eye. The appraisal will give a grade for clarity of the diamond. The grades are from highest to lowest: FL (flawless), IF (Internally Flawless), WS1, WS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3. The higher the grade, the more valuable the diamond.
- Cut – Raw diamonds are cut and polished into the finished diamond. The cuts are measured for symmetry, length and proper angles. The proportions of all of the cuts play a large role in the values. There are many different types of cuts that are popular in diamonds. The value depends on the intricacy and the quality of the final shape.
- Color – Diamonds can come in many colors. They can also be colorless. A grade is assessed based on the color of the diamond. The grades are letter grades that start with the letter D. Letters D through F are considered colorless. Diamonds with different degrees of color in them will get a grade from G through Z. The value of color depends on how rare that color of diamond is.
The appraiser will take all four of these areas into account to come up with a value of the diamond. They will also consider the value of the piece of jewelry that the diamond is in. The jewelry value will depend on what type of jewelry it is, what type of metal it is made out of and how intricate it is.
All of the different things that go into a diamond appraisal NYC can help explain why it takes a little time to get a good appraisal. It can also explain why different appraisers can put different values on the same diamond or jewelry. It is a good idea to make sure that a qualified and trained appraiser is doing the work to get the most accurate value.
