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The Ivanka & Co Guides

Choosing a diamond

Start with what you can see, then read the report. The steps below restate the 4Cs, the shape guide and the certificate guide.

1. Choose the shape

Round is the most widely chosen shape for engagement rings. Elongated shapes such as oval, marquise and pear show more surface area from above than a round of the same weight. Step cuts such as emerald and asscher show inclusions more openly.

2. Read the 4Cs

Cut has the greatest effect on sparkle. Colour runs from D (colourless) to Z. Clarity is judged at 10x magnification. Carat is weight, not size. One carat is 0.2 grams.

Begin with cut. Then choose the lowest colour and clarity grades that still look white and clean in your metal and shape. Spend what remains on carat.

3. Read the grading report

A grading report describes the stone. It is not an appraisal. GIA and IGI state whether a diamond is natural or laboratory-grown. Verify the report number on the laboratory's website.

The loose diamonds currently listed are natural. Most include a GIA or IGI report you can open from the listing. The engagement ring designer also lets you choose lab-grown or natural when you build a ring.

4. Set it in 18K gold

You can pair a loose diamond with an engagement ring setting in 18K gold by contacting the team. Yellow and rose gold warm a near-colourless stone. White gold is less forgiving of colour.

Questions

Which of the 4Cs matters most?
Cut has the greatest effect on how a diamond sparkles. A well-cut stone of modest colour and clarity often looks better than a poorly cut stone with higher grades.
Are the loose diamonds natural or lab-grown?
The loose diamonds currently listed are natural.
Can I see the certificate before buying?
Yes. Where a report is available for one of our loose diamonds, it can be opened as a PDF from the diamond's listing.
Can I set a loose diamond in a ring?
Yes. Choose a loose diamond from our list and contact our team to pair it with an engagement ring setting in 18K gold.

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