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Seven main factors
 should be considered while assessing a diamond's quality and price. These include
 Shape, Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat, Grading Reports or
 "Certifications," and Diamond Fluorescence. The excellence of each factor makes a difference in the quality and price of a diamond. Physical appearance is also important, but the above factors determine it.<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/comparing-diamond-prices-seven-important-factors/" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" class="img-responsive" src="https://backend.petragems.com/public/api/Images/Picture5.webp" alt="Diamond Quality Factors" width="615" height="482" title="Diamond Factors"></a>

Diamond Quality Factors

There are many&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-shapes/">shapes of diamonds</a>&nbsp;available
 in the marketplace. The most common are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/round-cut-diamonds">round</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/princess-cut-diamonds">princess</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/oval-cut-diamonds/">oval</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/asscher-cut-diamonds/">asscher</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/emerald-cut-diamonds/">emerald</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/radiant-cut-diamonds/">radiant</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/cushion-cut-diamonds/">cushion</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/marquise-cut-diamonds/">marquise</a>, and pear.
 Selecting the shape of a diamond depends on your preference, but it would be
 the first step in comparing prices. Fancy-shaped diamonds, e.g., princess,
 cushion, or radiant cut diamonds, are up to 20% cheaper than similar round ones
 of the same carat weight and clarity. On the other hand, over 80% of all
 polished diamonds are round, as it has been one of the most popular cuts
 historically.

Hint: Round
 brilliant-cut diamonds are suitable for investment purposes and can maintain
 value if bought at the right price. It takes a much larger rough stone to make
 a round-shaped diamond than it does to make a princess-cut or cushion-shaped
 one, so you are not getting the fancy cut stones cheaper.

Quality Factor: Shape

In our opinion, the
 second important factor in determining the price of a diamond is the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-cut/">Cut</a>. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/ideal-cut-diamond-proportions/">brilliance</a>&nbsp;of a
 diamond is highly dependent on its cut. A poorly cut diamond will not have the
 desired return to fire and will look small because of its depth. We have seen
 cases where a .80ct diamond would look larger than a 1.0ct diamond simply
 because of its cut.

Hint: To maximize your
 budget, buy a diamond within the very good range. It will give you great fire
 while saving you the amount you would have to pay for an excellent cut.
 However, avoid a diamond with a very deep or shallow cut. Use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/all-diamonds/?a_aid=5c83f22427304" target="_blank" class="external" rel="nofollow">James Allen's ultra HD 3D&nbsp;</a>technology to analyze the cut and clarity
 of a diamond before buying it.

Quality Factor: Cut

The third important
 factor is the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-carat-weight/">Carat Weight</a>&nbsp;of
 a diamond. Carat is the weighing scale for any diamond: the greater the weight,
 the more expensive it will be. Diamonds that weigh below a full carat are
 generally cheaper than those weighing more.

Hint: To maximize your
 budget, buy a diamond slightly under a full carat, e.g., 0.95ct. or
 1.90ct. The price tag is much lower for a slightly smaller diamond than for a
 full carat or two carat. However, both would look identical to the naked eye.

Quality Factor: Carat

The fourth important
 factor in determining the price of a diamond is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-color/">Color</a>. The colors of
 white diamonds range from Colorless to Light Yellow. Being rare, colorless
 diamonds are the most expensive ones. There are 22 grades of diamond colors
 from D to Z: D is colorless and the costliest, while Z is the least
 desirable--light yellow or close to Yellow.

Hint: To maximize your
 budget, buy G-I color diamonds, which look almost colorless and have great
 brilliance, especially G-H color ranges. For higher color grades (J-K), use
 rose or yellow gold settings to offset the yellow tint in the diamond.

Quality Factor: Color

The fifth factor in
 determining the price of a diamond is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-clarity/">Clarity</a>. Flawless
 diamonds are comparable to diamonds with "eye-clean" clarity in terms
 of costs because they are appreciated for having natural birthmarks for
 authentication purposes (ranging from VVS1-VS2). Eye-clean clarity means that
 the inclusions are unnoticeable with the unaided eye. Clarity grading
 determines the number of inclusions within a diamond.

It is assessed based
 on GIA's grading scale, ranging from Flawless or FL, including three or I3.

Hint: To maximize your
 budget, buy eye-clean SI2 diamonds for under 1ct., SI1 for under 1.5ct., and
 VS2 for over 1.5ct.-3ct. They will look the same as flawless diamonds, so there
 is no point paying the extra unless you have room in your budget. However, you
 should make sure they are eye-clean.

Quality Factor: Clarity

The sixth important
 price determinant is the "<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-certification/">Certification</a>"
 of a diamond. A grading report by GIA or AGS will increase the value of the
 diamond you are buying as it will confirm the quality: assurance = higher
 price. However, getting diamonds graded by GIA and AGS is also costly. Ungraded
 diamonds are less expensive, though we strongly advise against purchasing them.
 The so-called "appraisals" will grade a stone that is I1 in clarity
 and J in color as SI1 in clarity and G in color.

Hint: Never buy an
 ungraded diamond. GIA or AGS is your best bet.

Quality Factor: Certification

Depending on the type
 of fluorescence, the price of a diamond can be affected by 5%-20%. Please read
 our post on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-fluorescence/">Diamond Fluorescence</a>&nbsp;to
 understand what it is and what should be avoided.

Hint: Buying a diamond
 with up to medium blue fluorescence might save you up to 10%. It can also make
 H-I color diamonds look much whiter and can be a great ally in saving money if
 done right.

Quality Factor: Fluorescence

While
 comparing the prices of diamonds, keep the above-listed factors in mind to get
 the best diamond within your budget. Mastering these factors will give you great
 confidence in any diamond market.

Conclusion

Diamonds are rare and precious, making them expensive due to their quality and brilliance. There are seven main factors to consider when comparing the quality a

Diamond Factors for Assessing Quality Charts