What to Know About Diamonds Before Going to a Pawn Shop

You should know a few things about diamonds before heading to a pawn shop, whether you are planning to shop or to sell your jewelry. Experts use a formula called the 4Cs of diamonds to determine their quality and value, which is what the staff at Pawn America in Burnsville, MN, will use as well. Understanding what these four C’s are will help you have an educated conversation with them about value.

Pawn Shop Guide: The 4Cs of Diamonds

1. Cut

The cut is the most important factor of the diamond because it will determine how the gem sparkles. Cuts that are too shallow or deep will not reflect the light properly and will look dull as a result. The ideal cut will sparkle out of the flat top of the diamond – also called the table – so looking at the diamond from the top as you move it in the light will tell you whether the cut is good.

2. Color

Color is the second most important factor. The best quality diamonds don’t have any color at all, while poorer quality ones have a yellow tint. Color is rated on the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) color scale of D to Z, with D diamonds being completely colorless and Z diamonds being yellow or brown. G and H are some of the most common diamonds found since D stones are rare and worth much more.

3. Clarity

Clarity refers to how perfect the diamond is. The GIA scale separates them into four categories, with FL (flawless) as the best quality and 13-12 as the worst. Clarity is not usually an important factor, as most blemishes can’t be seen with the naked eye. Stones rated VS or SI tend to be the best value since they have imperfections that can only be seen under a microscope but are more affordable than rare flawless diamonds.

4. Carat

Carat refers to the weight of the diamond, though people often confuse it as the size of the stone. Other factors matter more than size; for example, a poorly cut large stone will look smaller than a small stone with a perfect cut. Prices tend to jump dramatically at the one and half-carat marks, so diamonds of the best value for appearance are just under these marks. For example, a 2.4 carat diamond will be significantly more affordable than a 2.5 carat one, even though the weight difference is minuscule.

Pawn America has become a trusted source of diamonds for the Burnsville area. If you’d like to sell your items, take it into them for friendly and reliable jewelry appraisals. If you want to buy jewelry, visit their store to browse their extensive selection of stones at reasonable prices. Their jewelry buyer fully inspects all pieces and offers a lifetime care plan for your purchase. Visit their website or call them at (952) 435-7296 for more information.

This post was written by our friends at Vivial for our NearSay page!