The holiday season is upon us. For retailers, December is the month to shine bright amidst the competition and be at the top of people’s minds, when they set out to fill those empty shopping bags with sparkling gifts.
We’re all accustomed to enticing Christmas promos, but this year, Vancouver-based Ann-Louise Jewellers is taking things a step further by offering one lucky winner a diamond for Christmas.
As winner of the contest, which anyone can enter just by liking their Facebook page and submitting their entry online, one entrant will take home a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certified half carat diamond, graded Si clarity and F colour with a triple excellent ideal cut, which would regularly retail for $3,800.
If you’re thinking about buying something sparkly for that special someone special in your life, or even getting engaged over the holidays, here’s a guide to the 5 most important things to keep in mind when buying diamond jewellery.
1. Shop with someone you trust
If you are a newbie to the world of diamonds, bring along a friend of the person you are buying for, just make them promise not to ruin the surprise. They’ll probably have great insight about what to pick. Plus they might know some important information you don’t, like ring size, favourite cuts, gold colour, etc.
2. Go for classics
If you still have no clue what to get, avoid styles that are too trendy. Go with something classic like a white gold pendant, a pair of solitaire diamond earrings, or a simple halo or solitaire style ring. Classic is timeless, so it will always be easy to wear in years to come.
3. Diamonds are still a girl’s best friend
Diamonds continue to be the gemstone of choice for jewellery shoppers. For this reason, you will find a very wide selection of designs to choose from in every jewellery store. What will differ with each retailer is its level of expertise, customer service and after-sales servicing as well. Do your homework and find preferably a local jeweller, that will be reliable when it comes to sizing, repairs or upgrades down the line. For a truly local Vancouver jeweller try shopping at either Siba Jewellers or Ann-Louise Jewellers to name a couple.
4. Learn the four Cs
Cut, colour clarity and carat are the four Cs that define diamond grading. We often think of a diamond’s cut as shape (round, emerald, pear), but a diamond’s cut grade is really about how well it transmits light and sparkle, which depends on how well it was shaped (cut) from its natural form. Cut is graded from excellent to poor. Colour evaluates the level of whiteness of the stone on a scale from D to Z (D being the highest). Clarity grades the stone based on the amount of inclusions (natural birthmarks) that are visible in it. Inclusions are part of the nature of diamonds, but it will be their size, visibility and position that affect the overall appearance of the stone and its clarity grade.
5. Make it personal
Try to think of something symbolic or personal. Get it engraved with a special message, initials, or meaningful date. Some jewellers will also offer custom-made service, so that you may work on your very own design with them. This shows you took the time to really think about the gift and create something just for her. You will need to order it ahead of time though, so don’t leave it to the last minute especially because the holidays are the busiest time for jewellery shopping and it may take longer than expected.
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