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How Are Diamonds Priced

Ralph Mueller & Associates employes only GIA-certified gemologists who will provide an fair and accurate appraisal of your diamonds. Get the best price for your diamonds, and ask about how are diamonds priced, by contacting us today!

How Are Diamonds Priced?

Have you been wondering, "How are diamonds priced?" If so, the following information from Ralph Mueller & Associates may be helpful.

Diamonds are given a value based on how they measure up against four basic criteria. These standards for rating diamonds have been set by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world's premier authority on diamonds and other precious gems. The four main criteria that are used to evaluate diamonds are known as diamond cut, clarity, color and carat weight. These standards are recognized internationally. This rating system in which the diamond industry assesses and categorizes diamonds determines their quality and essentially, how diamonds are priced.

  • Carat is the unit of measurement for a diamond's weight, rather than its size, and generally, the more a diamond weighs, the more rare and valuable it is. The GIA certification report will indicate the number of carats in a diamond with the symbol, 'ct'.
  • The diamond cut grade, although often confused with diamond shape, refers more to how proportioned the diamond is. The diamond's proportion and symmetry has to do with the relationship between the diamond's size, shape and angle of each of its facets. The GIA certification will indicate a rating based on the diamond's depth and how light interacts with it, using ratings from ideal to poor to determine how diamonds are priced.
  • The GIA color grading scale for diamonds uses alphabetical letters to indicate color quality. The letter, 'D' is assigned to colorless diamonds. The ratings continue through the alphabet as more yellowish or brownish tint is seen in the diamond. The closer the diamond comes to being colorless, the more valuable it is considered.
  • Diamond clarity is determined by how flawed the diamond is. Naturally, the more imperfections that are detected by a gemologist, the less the diamond will be valued for quality.

How are diamonds priced? All of these criteria are taken into consideration and consolidated into one report which will dictate at what level the diamond can be bought or sold. Ralph Mueller & Associates employes only GIA-certified gemologists who will provide an fair and accurate appraisal of your diamonds. Get the best price for your diamonds by contacting us today! 

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