Diamond Education
As one of the most significant purchases in your life, Hempen Jewellers expert staff are committed to educating and helping you understand the intricacies of the diamond market giving you a sense of confidence when making your selection of the best diamond jewellery available. Whether it is explaining the 4 C’s of diamond grading, sourcing loose diamonds from within Canada or around the world or showing or extensive diamond selection. With close to 50 years of creating wearable art, we look forward to exceeding your expectations and creating the exact piece of jewellery you are looking for.
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4C’s Diamond Education
In 1953 the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed a universal diamond grading standard, known as the 4C’s (cut, colour, clarity and carat weight). The creation and development of an international accepted diamond grading system was a major break through. Diamond purchasers now know exactly what type of diamond they are purchasing based on the 4C’s grading system.
At Hempen Jewellers 90% of all diamonds sold of .50 carats and greater come with a GIA diamond grading report. This is extremely important as GIA certificates are a blue print of a diamonds quality and characteristics. GIA is a research and educational institute and does not represent diamond sellers or sell diamonds. Accept no other diamond grading report.
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Cut
The most important of the 4C’s cut determines the brilliance and beauty of a diamond. Diamonds cut to ideal proportions display brilliant reflections of light and sparkle. GIA diamond grading reports describe cut grades as – Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good and Excellent. Hempen Jewellers strives to sell only the most brilliant diamonds of high cutting grades ensuring maximum sparkle, brilliance and beauty.
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Colour
The most desirable diamond colour is actually no colour at all. Diamond value is established the closer a diamond reaches the colourless scale. Diamonds that show signs of colour generally display hues of brownish or yellow tones. Hempen Jewellers offers a wide selection of loose diamond in the colourless and near colourless scale (D-H).
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Clarity
Diamonds are very unique, no two are the same. Most diamonds have some form of an impurity or flaw within. Clarity is graded using magnification of 10x to determine a diamonds clarity. Diamond clarity ranges from flawless to I3.
Flawless (FL) – No impurities or inclusions using 10x magnification
Internally Flawless (IF) – No impurities or inclusions using 10x magnification, only blemishes visible to a qualified diamond grader using 10x magnification.
Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) – Inclusions are very difficult to see using 10x magnification by a qualified diamond grader
Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) – Inclusions are minor and range from difficult to somewhat easy to identify using 10x magnification by a diamond grader
Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) – Inclusions can be detected to a diamond grader using magnification of 10x
Included (I1, I2 and I3) – Inclusions are noticeable to the trained naked eye of a diamond grader with normal vision and obvious under 10x magnification
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Carat
Carat is a measurement of weight. One fifth of a metric gram equals 1 carat. Half of a carat is described as 0.50 carats, a carat and a quarter is 1.25 carats and so forth. Generally diamonds with higher carat weight demand higher prices however carat weight can be the least determining cost factor if the other 3C’s are on the lower end.
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Hempen Jewellers 5th C – Customer Confidence
Hempen Jewellers is committed to providing the necessary education so you have the confidence to make the right diamond purchase. Hempen Jewellers only purchases diamonds where the inclusions are strategically located under the crown facets avoiding diamonds that have unformed black carbon spots. Our highly qualified staff will show you our GIA certified diamonds using a microscope under 10x magnification. Hempen Jewellers looks forward to educating you on the 4C’s and offering you the most competitive pricing.