You know the old saying about diamonds, girls and best friends. You also know that diamonds are extremely lucrative and easy to liquidate, especially if you’re fortunate enough to find the right buyer: enter Chicago Gold Gallery. Our team of diamond buyers are Gemological Institute of America experts trained to properly appraise your diamond and give you the best price possible. Here’s how we do it.
Grading Diamonds 101
Our diamond buyers in Chicago are happy to appraise 1-carat diamonds and larger. We also buy diamonds of all shapes: single-cut, mine-cut, European, Asher, cushion and marquise. We welcome radiant, pear, oval, emerald and princess as well as round diamonds. Regardless of shape, we examine how each diamond “performs” in a variety of categories that apply to all diamonds.
We confirm weight and examine color/clarity grade. Color grades range from D (colorless) to Z (light color). Most diamonds fall on the spectrum between letters F and J, that is, colorless to nearly colorless. Diamonds with I to J color grades are particularly common on most commercially produced jewelry, especially platinum and white gold settings.
Let’s be Clear: It’s Still a Diamond
Like all diamond buyers everywhere, diamond buyers in Chicago assess diamond clarity grade. Clarity color grades correspond to an 11-point G.I.A. scale ranging from IF (internally flawless) and Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1) to Very Slightly Included (VS1), Slightly Included (SI1) and Included (I1). There are several smaller gradations of clarity within each grade that we access by examining your diamond under a microscope at 10X.
Naturally, colorless diamonds and those with less inclusions are desirable because they are extremely rare. We appraise your diamond according to the above scales to see how close it comes to perfection, not to dismiss it for its imperfections. Imperfect diamonds are the norm. We merely use the scales as an established standard of excellence with which to gauge a diamond’s inherent flaws and value.
We offer you the most money that your diamonds naturally deserve. For smart, fair diamond buyers Chicago, visit Chicago Gold Gallery today!
